Calgary family donates nearly $900K to Hope Mission for Christmas

It's a major Christmas boost for Hope Mission, as the estate of a long-time neighbour has made a six-figure donation.

The estate of Henry Heuver, a pillar of the landscaping community in Calgary, has gifted Hope Mission with nearly $900,000 ahead of the Christmas holidays.

“We just want to be there to help our community and help those folks who need it,” said Scott Reith, Hope Mission’s Calgary manager.

“This generous gift allows us to do just that.”

Heuver’s children presented a cheque worth $889,673 to Hope Mission on Tuesday.

“It was important to him because it was local, and it was important that it would help the local people, and Hope Mission is right here,” said George Heuver, Henry Heuver’s son.

“So it aligns perfectly with what my mom and dad wanted to do.”

Henry Heuver passed away at the age of 89 in February.

In 1964, he and his brother started Foothills Landscaping, which still operates today.

The office is located across the street from Hope Mission, and the Heuvers say it was their dad’s mission to help as many people as possible, including the most vulnerable in Calgary.

“We grew up in Renfrew, and he had an office in the house, and dad wanted to be more professional and decided as a landscaper that he wanted to have his office outside of his house,” said George Heuver.

Hope Mission is a not-for-profit Christian social care agency that takes care of many in the vulnerable population in Calgary.

“On our prevention side of things, we’ve got about 50 folks a month getting food hampers and community dinners,” said Reith.

“We’ve seen two to 300 people have a nice, hot meal.”

Reith says around 40-50 people use their dayside facility daily to get help securing identification or to escape the cold.

He says the donation will go a long way in helping with programming and renovations.

“We are adding showers, probably, a laundromat and it’s been a vision of mine to have a medical clinic,” said Reith.

He says some of the money will also be used to upgrade Camp Hope west of the city by building cabins for children to use during week-long camps.

Reith says Hope Mission has received donations for nearly a century.

“We started in 1929,” said Reith.

“It was the pastor and his wife, and they were serving soup. Our first big donation was $200.”

George Heuver says he’s proud of the legacy his parents left and is excited to see the money used at Hope Mission.

“I really like the idea of helping the neighbourhood, helping with the medical,” he said.

“I’m stoked about the camp they’re going to have for these kids because I really enjoy camp. I really like what they’re going to be doing with the money, and I hope to be giving some more myself.”