CANS

Providing Food and Supplies to Those in Need

Caroling for Cans: The concept is simple: teenagers and families meet together each holiday season to go caroling. Instead of seeking praise (usually the singing is not quite praise-worthy), we ask listeners to donate 3 cans of food to hear us sing. Remarkably, we significantly increased our donations when we asked for 5 cans to hear us stop singing.

All kidding aside, this program is administered locally in Utah by The Caldwell Family Foundation. We typically raise between 500 and 1,000 pounds of food per night with multiple groups out - all of which is donated to the Utah Food Bank. Perhaps best of all, this particular program is run and staffed by volunteering teenagers from local schools who are taking their first steps in service and philanthropy.

Utah Food Bank: In addition to our annual effort under Caroling for Cans, the Caldwell Family Foundation supports the Utah Food Bank throughout the year with cash donations.

United Way Changing the Odds: This innovative program coordinated by the United Way of Salt Lake aims to bring together existing public and private resources to allow all children and their families, regardless of circumstances, have the same chance to succeed in school and in life.

The program focuses on very specific geographic needs down to the school and even neighborhood level. By coordinating foundations, state, city, church, and other non-profit resources, the United Way has accomplished incredible success, including:
  • Increased School Readiness: The achievement gap for at risk 3 and 4 year olds was completely closed in a pilot program.
  • Improved Academics: Sixth graders improved math and language arts skills improved by 15%
  • Improved Financial Stability: The number of low-income households receiving free tax assistance and claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit was up 51%.
  • Improved Children's Health: The number of children immunized and receiving regular healthcare is up 36%