Scholarships
Who We Help
Every Spring, ASCEND is proud to award a $1,000 scholarship to a Calgary senior high school student pursuing post-secondary education in a field related to technology. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada, and plan to enrol or be enrolled full-time in a post-secondary, technical training, or apprenticeship program in the field of technology, computer studies, digital media, digital music etc. Contact us if you are not sure if your program applies.
Selection is based on both the discretion of the ASCEND Board of Directors as well as the recommendation of the faculty of the participating secondary school.
We encourage the parties involved to nominate a recipient who shows promise and potential as a creative and resourceful person, someone who thinks "out-of-the-box," and who demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning.
The award is issued in June for students enrolling in the following Fall or Winter semester. If you are interested in applying for this award or know of a suitable recipient, please email ASCEND for more information at info@ascendcharity.ca
Today, technology is an essential component for accessing world knowledge. Unfortunately, many Calgarians cannot afford to purchase their own computers, laptops, and tablets, essential tools in today’s ever-changing world. In addition, many community organizations providing support for these families do not have the financial means to cover the costs of these technologies.
This is where ASCEND comes in.
With your help, we are able to support these families and organizations with their technical needs. What these families lack is not capability or motivation. Often, they simply lack the financial resources needed to equip themselves with the necessary tools.
The PREP Program, located in Calgary, is a not-for-profit organization that supports families raising a child with Down syndrome. ASCEND is proud to donate iPads and other technologies to their educational and therapy services.
Closer to Home Community Services (CtH) is a charitable organization in Calgary that provides a range of family-centred services to vulnerable children and families. CtH provides services designed to meet the unique needs of children, youth, and families in the Calgary community. ASCEND has donated various technologies, including laptops, iPads, and graphing calculators to eligible families identified by CtH.
Patch, a Program of Hull Services, is a free, community-based program that works in collaboration with Calgary Housing Company. Patch offers a broad range of services and support to families living in Calgary low-income housing. This includes homework help and tutoring, summer recreational activities and day camps, as well as access to telephone, Internet, and photocopying. ASCEND supports Patch by donating computers and Internet expenses to their community homework programs. A large number of children utilize these technologies and services on an ongoing basis.
Calgary Immigrant Educational Society (C.I.E.S.) is a non-for-profit organization dedicated to providing support services to the immigrant community in Calgary. The primary goal of C.I.E.S. is to provide these individuals with the necessary tools to become active and successful members of the Calgary community. ASCEND is proud to support C.I.E.S. with the funds needed to purchase in-class technology resources. In August 2017, ASCEND partnered with CIES to host a weeklong English Language & Computer Literacy Program for women in Alberta’s immigrant community.
Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (C.I.W.A) is a non-profit organization that focuses on the unique needs of immigrant and refugee women in Alberta. ASCEND has assisted CIWA by providing funds for their technological resources, helping their clients adequately prepare for the workforce.
Sonshine Community Services is a social service provider for women and children fleeing family violence in the Calgary area. ASCEND is proud to have equipped their resource and counseling rooms with new computers.
The Narrow Road Home, located in High River, Alberta, offers individualized recovery and healing programs for women in crises. ASCEND has provided support by funding their need for computers, iPads, and Internet support.