The Brakemen Foundation
Built on Western Roots.
Driven by Community.
Since 2012, The Brakemen Foundation has brought people, businesses and community partners together through distinctive events and shared experiences. Today, every Brakemen initiative helps strengthen Zero Hungry Kids and expand access to school-day nutrition for children who need it.
Who We Are
Built to bring people together for a purpose.
The Brakemen Foundation was established in 2012 around a simple idea: bring good people together, create experiences worth showing up for and turn that energy into meaningful community impact.
For more than a decade, businesses, volunteers, sponsors and community supporters have helped Brakemen turn connection into action. Today, that work is focused on one clear purpose: building a stronger Zero Hungry Kids.
Why Brakemen?
The name reflects how Brakemen works. A brakeman was one essential part of a larger railway crew; our foundation is built on the same principle - people, partners and volunteers each doing their part to move something meaningful forward.
Shared effort. Clear purpose. Meaningful impact.
Our Evolution
From grassroots foundation to focused fundraising engine.
What began as a grassroots volunteer foundation has evolved into the fundraising and community engine behind Zero Hungry Kids, while remaining hands-on, volunteer-led and grounded in the relationships that built it.
Why We Exist
Zero Hungry Kids is the reason behind everything we do.
Zero Hungry Kids works to improve access to reliable nutrition for children facing food insecurity, with practical school-based support at the centre of its work.
Every Brakemen event, sponsorship, partnership and fundraising initiative supports Zero Hungry Kids. The experiences are how we bring people together; the impact is why we do it.
Fill the Fridge
16 school fridges. 16 schools. 6 communities.
Through Fill the Fridge, Zero Hungry Kids provides and stocks 16 school fridges across 16 schools in 6 communities. Participating schools receive the program at no cost, helping make fresh milk reliably available during the school day.
How We Raise
Fundraising experiences people want to be part of.
Brakemen creates distinctive events, corporate experiences and community fundraisers that bring people together and give partners a meaningful way to support Zero Hungry Kids.
Calgary Stampede
A signature Calgary experience with purpose behind it.
Each July, Brakemen brings corporate partners, clients and guests together around the chuckwagons, western hospitality and one of Calgary's most iconic traditions.
From behind-the-scenes barn access to the energy of race night, the Brakemen Stampede experience gives companies a memorable way to host clients and recognize their people while helping fund Zero Hungry Kids.
Signature Events
Distinctive Brakemen events with a growing tradition.
Celebrity Chef Showdown, Honky Tonk Olympics and Runway for Tomorrow each bring a different audience together while sharing the same purpose: generating support for Zero Hungry Kids.
Explore Signature Events
Special Fundraisers & Collaborations
Room to build something different.
Special fundraisers, partner collaborations and new concepts give Brakemen the flexibility to create timely, relevant experiences when the right opportunity comes together.
See How We Build EventsComing Up
Come for the experience. Be part of the impact.
Every Brakemen event supports Zero Hungry Kids. Explore what's coming up, invite your people and help turn a great experience into meaningful school-day support.
Runway for Tomorrow
An evening of fashion, connection and purpose in support of Zero Hungry Kids and its Fill the Fridge initiative.
Celebrity Chef Showdown
The 12th annual live culinary competition returns with mystery ingredients, western atmosphere and serious bragging rights.
Honky Tonk Olympics
The 3rd annual Brakemen original brings back team competition, western-inspired challenges and live music.
Get Involved
Turn participation into impact.
There are several ways to move the mission forward: attend an event, sponsor an experience, build a partnership, support Fill the Fridge or make a direct gift to Zero Hungry Kids.
Attend
Join a Brakemen event and help turn a memorable experience into support for Zero Hungry Kids.
Sponsor
Help make an experience possible while connecting your organization, clients and people to a meaningful local cause.
Partner
Bring your people, resources or ideas into the mission and help extend its reach.
Fill the Fridge
Help keep fresh milk available in participating school fridges at no cost to the schools.
Donate Directly
Make a direct charitable gift to Zero Hungry Kids.
Be Part of What Comes Next
Great experiences can do something meaningful.
Every ticket, sponsorship, partnership and direct gift helps strengthen Zero Hungry Kids and extend the reach of Fill the Fridge into more schools and communities.