How Make Your Mark changes lives, $1,000 at a time

When we think about life-changing sums of money, your first thought might go to some pretty big numbers: $80 million, $10 million, or $1 million.

We don’t usually think of $1,000 as life-changing, but two teachers and their students might just persuade you to shift your thinking once you hear how they used a $1,000 Make Your Mark grant from United Way to make our community a better place.

Make Your Mark inspires students and teachers alike

Meet Jordan and Philip.

Jordan has taught photography at Harry Ainlay School for many years and was comfortable with his teaching routine.

Philip is a first-year Harry Ainlay design teacher, exploring the subject for the first time. While undergoing his training at Alex Janvier School, he worked with Donna, who told him about Make Your Mark.

Since 2016, Make Your Mark has helped teachers at schools across the Alberta Capital Region educate students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 about social issues, the opportunities to help in community, and how students can become changemakers. With the help of a $1,000 grant from United Way, kids are empowered to make a real difference through hands-on, student-led community and social justice projects.

When the time came to consider applying for Make Your Mark, it was Donna who gave Philip the encouragement and motivation he needed to apply.

Through their Make Your Mark student project, Harry Ainlay School students forged authentic relationships with Pleasantview Seniors Lodge residents.

Bridging generations through genuine connection

From all that, the ‘Bridging Generations’ project was born. It was a simple idea to bring teenagers together with seniors to explore the effects of social isolation in elder generations.

Harry Ainlay’s Design and Photography students were matched with seniors from Pleasantview Seniors Lodge. Students were tasked with learning about the seniors to document their stories.

The students made regular trips to the Lodge to take photos and interview the seniors they were matched with. At first, they were just going through the motions — asking questions, snapping pictures, checking off boxes. But something quite unexpected was also happening: the students and seniors were building real relationships. These weren’t just interviews — they were connections.

And the seniors found that the student visits brought life and energy to Pleasantview Seniors Lodge.

“It makes you feel young again, and we laugh a lot,” Pleasantview resident Maureen told Global News in an interview about the project.

The students held a public photo exhibit at Southgate Mall that was attended by the mayor and other notable community members; the exhibit was then brought to City Hall for display. The Bridging Generations project even received an award at United Way’s Red Tie Gala.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Creating long-lasting community change

GEF Seniors, the organization that operates Pleasantview Seniors Lodge, was so impressed and inspired by the impact this project had on their residents that they’re now planning to introduce elements of it to other seniors’ homes across their network.​

When Harry Ainlay School students found out that some of the seniors would be spending Christmas Day alone, they left their own celebrations to visit Pleasantview — just to make sure their elder friends didn’t have to spend the day by themselves.​

In fact, most students still visit the seniors at Pleasantview. Some plan to keep volunteering even as they head off to university. And, for the students in Grade 11, not only are they continuing the project next year, they plan on bringing their friends along with them.​

Photography teacher Jordan watched the Oilers hockey playoff games at Pleasantview, helping to take away the sting of the series loss. And Philip already has his inspiration for this fall’s Make Your Mark project, joining hundreds of other classes who have already registered for the 2025/26 school year.

And one more thing: when those Grade 12 students crossed the stage at graduation, they had a few extra guests in the crowd. A bus full of Pleasantview ‘Grand-friends’  came to cheer them on and celebrate this milestone together.​

Pleasantview ‘Grand-friends’ attended Harry Ainlay’s high school graduation this spring to celebrate the students’ achievements.

Empower young leaders through Make Your Mark

So maybe $1,000 doesn’t change your bank account forever. But it can change your heart. It can change your relationships. It can change a classroom. A care home. A whole community.

This is the power of Make Your Mark. But even the best programs need funding to sustain and grow.

United Way is looking for a new presenting sponsor for this program, and individuals can also donate to Make Your Mark. Any gift amount, from $10 to $1,000+ goes to empower young leaders to be community changemakers.