2011 Finale

What an amazing year with over 1800 Christmas Backpacks; over 1800 pairs of new running shoes delivered and 12 families to date helped off the street through Project Hope. Stephen won five awards this year including Leaderof Tomorrow, Autism Leader in Community, All Stars Alberta Youth Philanthropist 2011, Citizen of the Year. In his humble receiving of all of these Stephen simply said"Maybe now more people will know about homeless kids!" Daryl Janz chose Stephen as an Inspiration Story in December and again the message is about Stephen rallying many young people to pitch in , dig hard and dig deep to climb this moutain of ending homelessness for kids and families! Stephen wants to thank everyone who helped him this year! Happy New Year

Stephen Dreams Out Loud at the Crossroads Market

Drop off your donations Dec 1st - Dec 24th at the Crossroads Market.

Read more details - Click Here

Making Your Charitable Donations Work Harder!

We have been chosen to be on the backgrounder for Philanthropy Week next week for Community Spirit Program for Alberta.

A Message from Alberta's Community Spirit Program:

As we approach the end of 2011, we want to remind you about the benefits of the charitable tax credit, not only to your donors but to your organization as well.

Alberta has one of the highest charitable tax credits in Canada. The provincial tax credit was enhanced a few years ago to help increase private charitable donations to Alberta’s nonprofit and charitable sector. As a CRA-registered charity, now is the time to get to know about the tax benefits to donating to charity.

When an individual Albertan files their personal income tax, they total up all their charitable donations during a calendar year. They may be eligible to receive a combined 50% non-refundable tax credit on the total of donations made above the $200 threshold. Donations below the $200 threshold continue to receive a combined tax credit of 25%.

Visit the following link to see just how much of a tax credit you can generate when you give money to registered charities in Alberta like Stephen's Backpacks: Community Spirit Grant program for Alberta - Tax Credits

2011 Christmas Drop-Off Locations Announced

Get involved today with Stephen's plan to give out a record number of backpacks in 2011!

Read about where you can drop donations off and how you can be involved in the Get Involved area of the site.

Click here to jump right to the Drop-Off Locations

Check Out Recent Article Written about Stephen's Award!

Visit the Media Area to read two articles writting about Stephen's Backpacks!

2011 Christmas Volunteer Schedule Released

Visit our Get Involved page and find out all about how you can get involved in the 2011 Stephen's Backpacks season. The Christmas Volunteer Schedule can be found there too - or just click here.

2011 Airdrie's Best Citizen

We were called by the Airdrie Cityview Newspaper last week to let us know that Stephen had won Best Citizen for Airdrie. Stephen would like to humbly thank all the people who voted for him.

Stephen's dream is to bring a Happiness Hotel to our fine City of Airdrie where children can stay until we can find them a permanent place to live. He has even drawn and colored the blueprints for this fine haven.

"Every child should have their own home with grass to run on; their own bed to sleep in and lots of toys--Stephen Mcphee 2008

Click here to read more!

INNspiration House Kicks off Stephens Backpacks OCT 6th 2011

This Thanksgving our children will enjoy a warm home; family get togethers, and lots of good food; turkey and all the trimming and of course pumpkin pie. There are many children in need in our province who will not have this luxury this Thanksgiving--for them it is a dream. INNspiration House comes to Airdrie from Inn from the Cold. It will visit businesses each representing an important need- Inches A Weigh will host a wonderful breakfast at 9:30; McArthur Fine Furniture represents every child needs a bed to sleep in; Watches 'N More Promotional Products is supplying Stephen Backpack Bundles to sell to support the importance that every child needs warm clothes this winter; Time to Play shows the importance of a good start to a child's education; Superstore for a barbeque at 4:00-every child needs healthy food and it will end up at our Stephens home showing the importance that every child needs someone who cares. Pizza and Pepsi for everyone! Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours.

Stay tuned to our website for this years Christmas backpacks Assembly starting Dec 3rd- Dec 17th

New Photos added!

Check out the Photo gallery for new photos added from a Footprints 2011 event.

Click here for the Photo gallery!

Stephen Leaves 1600 special Footprints on the lives of children in need this fall!

1600 children will start school this fall with brand new indoor and outdoor shoes for school. Our Footprints campaign was a huge success again this year. Aug 20th many volunteers will assemble shoes in our Airdrie warehouse putting them in a special tote bag. Thanks to Superstore and COBS Bread a special lunch will be provided.
Aug 26th delivery to many shelters, food banks and the Piikani and Siksika Nations will take place in a big yellow school bus.
It is a reality that many children will not have new shoes to start school in our province this fall but we know that 1600 will!!!Special thanks to Superstore and Zellers for their outstanding contribution to Footprints 2011.

Click here for information of Footprints 2011!

Her Majesty Sends Warm Wishes to Stephen's Backpacks

We received a wonderful letter from Buckingham Palace this week congratulating Stephen on his efforts through Stephen's Backpacks and extending warm wishes and thanks for the copy of Stephen's Book that Her Majesty received from His Excellency David Johnson. Stephen had met His Excellency when he won Leader of Tomorrow through Volunteer Calgary. It is wonderful to know that we are all on the same journey together trying to make the world a better place to live in and it is very encouraging and humbling to know that our message even reached Her Majesty. What a blessing!

Click here to read the letter from Her Majesty the Queen.

Hope in a UHAUL!

Read our update on Stephen's Outreach to Slave Lake.

Click here!

Stephen's Outreach to Slave Lake Update!

We have committed to help rebuild the life of a family who lost everything in the fire at Slave Lake. The family is a family of four with a baby boy and a 2 ½ year old little girl with Mom and Dad. We will be furnishing their home. They have relocated and at present are in a dwelling with absolutely nothing.

We are working with Major Roy at the Salvation Army to select the families who need our assistance.

Click here for more info on Stephen's Outreach to Slave Lake

New Photos added!

Check out the gallery to see some new photos from 2011 Events.

Included are photos of Stephen with Premier Stelmach as well as with the Governor General His Excellency David Johnston!

Click here to visit the Gallery

His Excellency Dreams out Loud with Stephen!!!

Thursday a special breakfast was held in Calgary for the winners of Volunteer Calgary. What a wonderful honour to meet His Excellency The Right Honourable David Johnston. Stephen shared his book Dream Out Loud and they campared ties. What a wonderful supporter of Calgary's volunteer community-His Excellency said" You can feel the energy in Calgary as soon as the plane touches the ground!" Certainly a day to remember!

Stephen is Nominated for Leader of Tomorrow!

Stephen has been nominated for Leader of Tomorrow through Volunteer Calgary, sponsored by Encana. The formal dinner event is on April 13, 2011. Premier Stelmach is attending the event. It should be exciting!

Watch for updates after April 13th to see if Stephen won!

YES!!!!! 2010 Finale

Stephen celebrated his 2010 Finale at Cornerstone Foursquare Church Dec 11th. The grand total of Christmas Backpacks filled to overflowing with love and hope for children in need across Alberta was 2504.

Stephen also made it possible for our little shoe boy to have a beautiful home for Christmas. Stephen's Backpacks sent a team of 14 people to set up their new home and surprise Mom. His Mom wrote a letter thanking all the people who reached out to give her family new hope. She said it had rekindled her "FAITH!" Merry Christmas little one---that is what Christmas is all about!

New Media to Watch!

We've just posted a feature video made by Edge Video TV in our media area.

Check it out!

I'll Be Home For Christmas Indeed!

Check out the before and after photos!

Before and After


Click here for more information about this awesome project!

McArthur Fine Furniture

McArthur Fine Furniture has come on board to help Stephen bring a very special shoe boy Home for Christmas Dec 11th. McArthur Fine Furniture is a center for dropping off items for this family in Airdrie. Robert's strong support in thsi project has been wonderful. We hope to make this an Airdrie tradition every year to bring families home for Christmas! They are completely setting up the nursery in this surprise fro Dec 11th. Thankyou McArhtur Fine Furniture for believing in a little boy's dream to make a difference!

A Gift of Hope

Inn from the Cold told us of another family of 6 who just moved into an apartment and had no furnishings at all. It did not take long for loving hearts to come together and on Sunday, a very special moving company in Airdrie delivered a dining room, living room, TV ,Dishes, Food and a Christmas tree with all sorts of decorations. and all sorts of other Christmas goodies. Special thanks to the Shannons who went down for the delivery. Thank you to everyone who particiapted and worked so hard so quickly to bring this Gift of Hope!

Calgary Week 2!!!

Stephen has reached an amazing 1010 Christmas backpacks filled to overflowing. Each bag has been carefull y put together by many wonderful volunteers. Bless each adn every one of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to help. We still need help over the next two weeks. Please call 852-9308! Donations can be dropped off at many locations in Airdrie and Calgary check out our webpage! Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Our First Week!!!!

WOW Airdrie! Over 500 Backpacks completed and ready to go. This is a true indication of Airdrie huge heartbeat to come together and make a difference. Stephen sends a big thank you to all who came out to pack these gifts of hope and love.

Raising Dough for Steph's Backpacks

Special thanks to COBS Bread in Airdrie! We raised almost $1500. to help with Stephen's Christmas gifts of Hope that will touch kids all across Alberta.
Some of the most basic things like a loaf of bread we sometimes take for granted. To some children it is a special treat. Bless all of Airdrie who came out to support Stephen! Stephen loved the cinnamon buns!

Grand Kickoff 2010 Nov 13th

Please join our new Mayor Peter Brown and many volunteers who make it happen year after year to bring joy to thousands of children at Christmas. Please join us at our Airdrie Warehouse 2903 Kingsview Blvd. Unit 204 for the festivities. Lunch is generously provided by The Real Canadian Superstore in Airdrie. Our theme is "The Spirit of Volunteerism" Thanks Airdrie...Stephen had the dream five years ago and you made it happen. Please check your drop off locations on our website.

November 24th 12:00-7:00pm Raising Dough to Help Stephen's Kids

COBS Bread will be having their grand opening in Airdrie in Towerlane Mall Nov 24th at 12:00pm and will be giving all of their first day proceeds to Stephen's Backpacks to start off our year for Christmas Backpacks. Come out and enjoy the best buns, bread and goodies in town and at the same time help raise dough for Stephen!!!! Bob thank you very much for thinking about Stephen and joining our team to make a difference!!!!

November 2010 Superstore Employees Rally to Help Stephen

Airdrie Superstore fundraised almost $500 to start off our program this year. They have also put a huge display to collect items for our program of Christmas Backpacks this year. They donated over $900 worth of candy at 50% off. The employees are amazing in their hearts to support our Stephen's passion to help children in need. They are providing all the food for November 13th's Kickoff to recoqnize our volunteers. Suzanne the store manager has gone above and beyond to really make a difference in our community. This is the real meaning of Christmas!!!Thank you and hugs from Stephen

Airdrie Fire Victiims

Stephen to the rescue again with backpacks for a very special 16 year old and a baby boy this October. The backpacks were filled to overflowing. The coolest thing Stephen thought was a hoodie with ties that were headphones. Stephen's new friend thought it was pretty cool too. His Mom was very touched by the heart of our little nine year, old still on a mission to make a difference to children in need!!!

August 2010 Walk a Mile in My Shoes

Stephen delivered shoes to a little 5 year old this year. He had never had new shoes. His Mom wrote a letter and told of how her son slept in one pair of his shoes and put the other under his pillow. In our world today we can't even imagine being so blessed by a simple pair of shoes. Stephen has some other surprises this Christmas for our little shoe boy friend...stay tuned!!!!!

Stephen Leaves a Footprint

What a wonderful outpouring of love again from our community to support Stephen in his passion to make sure all children have new shoes to start school!! A luxury for these kids; and something we simply take for granted. Ths year 1500 pairs of new running shoes will find their way to children in need across Alberta. Aug 14th we will be assembling in our Airdrie Warehouse and Aug 20th we will deliver to the shelters receiving these wonderful gifts of hope for kids to start school. Stephen again in his humble way; leaves a Footprint on many lives of children in need.

Gibson Energy Energizes Stephen's Dream!

Gibson Energy joins Stephen's team to support his efforts to make over 100 children smile this Christmas! We look forward to seeing you at our Dec 15th Finale at Cornerstone Church at McNight and Deerfoot at 3:00pm!

"Thank you for helping"!!! says Stephen!

The Real Canadian Superstore is a Shoe in for Stephen's Backpacks

Rose and her team at the Airdrie Superstore spent hours organizing and assembling shoes and discounted items for the backpacks. Over 800 paris of shoes were discounted to $5 to help Stephen with his Footprints campaign this fall. The result 1100 children were sent to school smiling with new shoes this new school year; almost double last years total. WOW!!!
The staff then organized a fundraiser and purchased over 75 backpacks for Stephen's backpack campaign. Skids of scarfs, socks, school supplies, and other backpacks items were discounted to contribute even more support!
Thank you for your huge blessing to Stephen's efforts to bring rays of hope this Christmas to many needy children!

TransCanada's Three Year Comittment to Stephen's Dream

TransCanada has committed $5000. each year for three years to help contibute to Stephen's Dream of bringing hope to the homeless children. Because of this effort Stephen's Backpacks Society was able to reach the Piiikani, Metis and Sisika Nation, Healthy Families in Didsbury, Red Deer and Airdrie Food Bank, and many other shelters. A plaque displaying pictures of these ricipients receiving their gifts will be placed in our new warehouse and then given to TransCanada for their lobby!
A huge thank you from Stephen for supporting his dream.

Metis Children are Blessed

School backpacks filled with love and supplies were given to Metis children this September with lots of Christmas backpack gifts still to come! Stephen is very happy to give all children a small gift of hope.

Stephen Helps Set Up New Inn from the Cold Ministry

May 20th 2009 Stephen's Backpacks Society donated almost $2000 worth of furniture, dining chairs, bedside tables, beds and bedding and the sponsored the first meal of roast beef and yorkshire pudding to Cornerstone Foursquare Church to feed Calgary's homeless a hearty meal through a new Inn from the Cold ministry. One homeless woman wept at the banquet set for them with fresh flowers, knapkins in the glasses and chocolate covered strawberries. The evening was captured in a simple message from a homeless man as he came up for a third helping of roast beef.."This is better than a letter from home !" He said.

Happy 8th Birthday to our Stephen!

Airdrie Canada Safeway is holding a birthday celebration for Stephen. Come out and enjoy some of Stephen's favorite chocolate cake. May 9th 2009 between 11:00am and 2:00pm. Please bring new running shoes for Stephen's homeless children to start school with this fall. It will be a wonderful celebration!! see you all there!SHoes can be dropped off at Cornerstone Church in Calgary 1227 48th Ave NE in Calgary until June 30th 2009 and at Canada Safeway in Airdrie until June 30th. Leave a footprint on a child's life.

Canadian Living Award 2009

Nancy McPhee, one of the founders of Stephen's Backpack's Society has been chosen as a finalist for Canadian Living Magazine's Me to We Awards. An opportuntiy to win $5000 for Stephen's Backpacks to help with Stephen's passion for homeless children! Contest closes May 8th 2009
Place your vote www.metoweawards.com.

Airdrie Fire Devastating loss for 16 year old

Stephen's Backpacks received a call regarding a 16 year old young girl who had lost everything in a devastating fire in March in Airdrie. The same night we made phone calls for donations to community businesses for support. Over $1500.00 worth of hair appliances, gift certificates, clothes, food hygiene items and of course a backpack filled to the brim were delivered the very next day to this young woman. Airdrie once again proves the amazing heartbeat that makes this such a blessed place to live.

Alberta and Canada Dream Out Loud!

The results are in for 2008 and what a year this has been for our Stephen's passion to reach out and help the homeless. 1025 backpacks filled with gifts of love were handed out to children in need across Alberta! Not only that but four baby backpacks even went to Malawi, Africa!

Stephen's dream of a helicopter ride came true in Edmonton and he was met at the Hope Mission by His Worship Mayor Stephen Mandel. 300 backpacks filled to the brim were handed out at the Hope Mission.

Dream Out Loud sold over 1000 copies in two months. All proceeds are going to assist two families by helping them to get off the street through Inn from the Cold. Well Done Alberta!!!!!!

What can you put in a backpack?

Some people are having a hard time finding the list of what can go into backpacks. It can be found by clicking the link below, or you can visit the "Get Involved" section of this website and choose "Sponsor a Backpack".

Backpack Content Information and Guidelines

2008 Alberta Great Kids Award

Stephen was honoured in June 2008 with 2008 Alberta Great Kids Award by Janis Tarchuk, Alberta Children and Youth Services and Premier Ed Stelmach.

Dream Out Loud Book Launch - November 1st, 2008

Canada Safeway, Airdrie - Towerland Mall will be hosting the launch for Stephen's book, Dream Out Loud, by Nancy McPhee.



Books will be available for purchase. $19.99 plus GST. All proceeds will go to helping the working homeless acquire homes in Calgary and area.

Come out and have your book signed by the author and meet the book's inspiration, Stephen McPhee in person!

Hope to see you there!