GIVING BACK

New West Gifts Back: Sharing Christmas Joy

Here at NWS, we believe that we are called to love the poor, the hurting, and the marginalized.

For the third year in a row, New West Music & Arts Society hosted a unique concert that embodied what Christmas is all about: giving from our hearts, showing love, and sharing joy.  New West Gifts Back: Sharing Christmas Joy was the highlight of our Christmas season; our members of New West Symphony & Chorus and New West Student Ensemble were thrilled to be able to give the gift of music, show love and share joy to vulnerable members of our community through our music and gift-giving.

On December 15, 2024, New West Society gifted “Sharing Christmas Joy” concert tickets to 1400 individuals and families in Calgary who are experiencing significant financial challenges, who are stressed and hurting…. and who needed an infusion of JOY into their Christmas.   We are grateful for the many social service agencies who helped us distribute tickets to their clients, so they could attend our New West Gifts Back: Sharing Christmas Joy concert.  Some of these agencies include:

Mainsprings (formerly the Calgary Pregnancy Care Centre)            Sonshine Centre
The Immigrant Education Society           Emma House        Kids Up Front
Inn from the Cold           FearIsNotLove           Ruth’s House
The Dream Centre           Jesus Loves You Society
New Canadian Friendship Centre
Discovery House           CSC Compassionate Ministries

To the individuals and organizations who financially partnered with us: THANK YOU for helping New West SHARE JOY this Christmas!

We have been encouraged to hear from so many of our guests and agency staff!  One man from Ukraine was moved to tears of joy during the concert by one song in particular – even though he didn’t understand the lyrics.  A young boy exclaimed to one of our Members on his way out how he was mesmerized by our brass section… he now wants to play trumpet at school!  At the end of the concert, a mother shared how amazing it was to be able to come to a concert like this with her daughter, and she thanked us for sharing joy with them!  A small group leader from Red Deer rents school busses to bring almost 100 new immigrants and refugees to the concert, and he shared how this concert opens doors to them being able to show God’s love to their friends in new ways.  What a privilege it is to meaningfully intersect with so many people in this way!

It’s NOT too late to GIVE!

Providing a free concert to Calgary’s most vulnerable at Arts Commons’ Jack Singer Concert Hall is an immense joy and privilege; as you can imagine, however, it is also expensive.  In addition to renting the beautiful Jack Singer for the day and paying their production and house staff, New West also sends every invited child, teen, and adult guest home with a gift bag valued at approximately $10 each.

As an arts-based, non-profit organization, New West Society relies on individual donors and corporate sponsors who believe in what we do throughout the year, but for this concert in particular.  If you’d like to partner with us to ensure we can continue to SHARE JOY, here’s how you can donate:

  • etransfer: funds@newwestsociety.com (please put “Sharing Joy” in the e-transfer message)
  • credit card through New West’s CanadaHelps page (choose the “Sharing Christmas Joy” option)
  • cheque: mail your donation to New West Society: PO Box 64312, RPO Thorncliffe, Calgary, AB, T2K 6J7