AFP Saskatoon Chapter is delighted to share that this year's National Philanthropy Day luncheon will be held on Thursday, November 13th, 2025, at Prairieland Park.
Each year, hundreds of communities across North America come together to recognize the countless ways philanthropy has made a difference. AFP Saskatoon Chapter is excited to recognize and celebrate the many individuals and organizations that strengthen our community through their acts of generosity. Charitable organizations are invited to recognize their supporters with one nomination in each category: Honoured Supporter Award and Youth in Philanthropy Award, and their dedicated fundraising staff through the Chamberlain Scholarship.
2025 NPD Luncheon Youth Panel - The Future of Philanthropy
This year, we are proud to shine a spotlight on the next generation of changemakers. In place of a traditional keynote speaker, our luncheon will feature an inspiring Youth Panel—a moderated discussion showcasing the voices of emerging leaders, fundraisers, and changemakers from Saskatoon and surrounding communities.
Our panelists, representing diverse backgrounds and experiences, will share their insights on the evolving landscape of philanthropy, the role of youth in driving community impact, and innovative approaches to giving. This engaging conversation will highlight how the next generation is shaping the future of charitable work and inspiring positive change.
The moderated panel promises to provide fresh perspectives and energize our audience with stories of passion, commitment, and vision.
Moderator: Steve Shannon
Steve Shannon has been a mainstay of the Saskatoon community for decades. As one of Saskatoon’s leading radio broadcasters for 35 years, he lent his time and voice to many worthwhile causes in Saskatoon, including 10 years as a volunteer board member Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation (SCHF), with 3 of those years as Board Chair. His dedication to the community ultimately led him to change careers in 2010, when he became the CEO for SCHF.
Steve continues to be an active community volunteer for organizations that touch many lives across our city. To name just a few: he sat on the Regional Liaison committee for Canadian Blood Services for 25 years and has been a blood donor 123 times, he is a member of the Saskatoon Usadians Executive Association, has emceed the Remembrance Day Service in Saskatoon for the past 45 years, has been a mentor for Leadership Saskatoon for the past 20 years, and has been a Steam Engineer for the Western Development Museum for 55 years.
Steve has been honoured to receive numerous awards for his community involvement including the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal for Volunteerism in 2005, the B’nai Brith “We’re Proud of You” award in 2009, 25-year service award from Ducks Unlimited, 75th Anniversary certificate from the Royal Canadian Legion and the Queen’s Jubilee medal in 2024.
Steve and his wife Cindy have a 23-year old son, Billy, who is studying to be a kindergarten teacher.
Panelist: Clara Layfield
Clara has been sharing her healthcare journey for nearly 10 years. During this time, she became an ambassador for Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation and was part of many campaigns. She had the chance to share her story and help raise funds for pediatric and maternal care. Her family frequently stayed at Ronald McDonald house, which led her to become an ambassador for them as well. Over the years she has run her own fundraisers through a non-profit she created called Dragsters4Diabetes. The funds raised go towards finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes, as well as JPCHF and Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan. For the past 3 years, Clara has delivered toys to both locations at Christmas time to brighten the days of families going through hard times. She is currently in her third year of a biomedical science program at the University of Saskatchewan and intends to go into Medicine. Clara enjoys giving to others and helping to change the face of healthcare by sharing her personal story.
Panelist: Archie McGrath
Archie McGrath is a Grade 11 student in the SAGE Program at Walter Murray Collegiate with a passion for youth-driven change.
He serves on the Youth Advisory Council with the Saskatoon Community Foundation, where he helps review and approve grant applications across multiple local charities. Archie is also a successful grant applicant himself, having secured a $5,000 microgrant from OceanWise for an environmental initiative he co-founded with three other youth.
Beyond local engagement, Archie contributes nationally through organizations such as The Starfish Canada’s Youth Advisory Action Committee and the Students Commission of Canada Youth Roster, in which he also acted as a delegate for the nation-wide Canada We Want Conference in Toronto.
Motivated by a belief in the power of collective action, Archie continually seeks opportunities to elevate youth voices in philanthropy and community leadership. He hopes to continue to build inclusive and sustainable solutions that empower young people to be change makers in their communities.
Panelist: Angi Patel
Angi Patel is a Master of Science student in Community and Population Health Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan. Her work bridges community-engaged research, youth leadership, and health equity. She founded and served as President of UNICEF USask, expanding a 300-member volunteer network that earned the Vera Pezer Award for student engagement. Nationally, she represents youth as a UNICEF Canada Youth Advocacy Program delegate and U-Report Ambassador, where she helps amplify young voices on social issues and public health through national campaigns, policy dialogues, and the 2025 Youth Advocacy Summit.
Angi’s community involvement extends across diverse nonprofit and charitable sectors. She has volunteered as a Client Companion at Royal University Hospital, contributed as a Graphics Designer for the Canadian Medical Student Press, and co-founded CommUniLink, a campus-based mentorship and wellness initiative promoting student connection and resilience. She has also led advocacy and outreach projects focused on youth empowerment, equitable education, and social inclusion, collaborating with student unions, healthcare organizations, and community groups to create safer and more accessible spaces for engagement.
Her research experience includes patient-oriented projects with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and community-based research with Métis Nation–Saskatchewan exploring the lived experiences of Métis cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. Recognized with the Government of Canada’s Global Skills Opportunity Award and the Youth in Philanthropy Award, Angi is passionate about advancing equitable access to healthcare through collaboration, advocacy, and education.
For more information about this year's celebration, please contact the 2025 National Philanthropy Day Chairs Miren Luczka at miren.luczka@usask.ca or Vicki Corbin at v.corbin@saskatoonlibrary.ca
National Philanthropy Day Organizing Committee
Co-Chair: Vicki Corbin, Saskatoon Public Library
Co-Chair: Miren Luczka, University of Saskatchewan
Leanne Barrington, Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Arielle Deslauriers, Royal University Hospital Foundation
Kristen Grenci, YWCA Saskatoon
Krys Hertzke, Saskatoon Community Foundation
Namarta Kochar, Women in Mining and Women in Nuclear Saskatchewan Inc. (WIM/WiN-SK)
Bohdana Kornelyuk, Nature Conservancy of Canada
Kate Lardner, University of Saskatchewan
Jay Richards, LutherCare Foundation
Stacey Schewaga, University of Saskatchewan
Event Manager: Tal Blouin, Spark Creations & Bookings