Kids in the Hall Bistro Volunteer Profile

As our 2014 Kids in the Hall Bistro Fall Gala approaches on October 17th, we reflect on the important role volunteers and donors play for the youth enrolled in skill development at the Bistro.

For Brad Butterfield, it’s the stories of strength through adversity that keep him inspired in his role as Chair of Kids in the Hall Bistro’s fundraising committee.

Youth arrive at Kids in the Hall Bistro (KITH) for on the job training and a connection to school and outreach support. When the committee meets each month at the Bistro, Brad is reminded of the results of the program. “At our meetings we are greeted by a youth tending to our table. It’s a scene so different from where they were at a few months ago. They are learning life skills right in front of us.”

Brad describes the bistro as a unique social enterprise: “What people may not know when youth enter the bistro is the full spectrum of options they can leave with. It’s not a single set of outcomes. They leave KITH with skills that are transferable into the service industry, but also with the option for further education.”

His most memorable moment was when a youth, who was in the program for just a few months, gathered the courage to start the gala off with a song. He describes, “It wasn’t just public speaking, it was singing! It takes so much confidence to offer to perform at a gala of over 200 people.”

Brad’s role has been to spread the word about the work of Kids in the Hall to the community and to everyone he knows, from inviting his neighbours to purchase a table at the annual gala, to facilitating company grants from his employer, IBM Canada. $10,000 in company grants has been raised so far. This involvement is a multi-year commitment and will leave a legacy for Kids in the Hall Bistro.

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Tickets are still available for the 2014 gala. You can order yours today by contacting Kayla at 780.424.7543 ext. 115 or kbertrand@e4calberta.org