Focus Areas

Housing purple

We invest in essential housing throughout the West and Midwest. A prominent social driver of health, affordable housing provides many community benefits including increased consumer spending, job and economic growth, reduced evictions, and decreased homelessness. In addition, it provides stability for children who need safe, stable places to learn and grow.

Nation-wide, there is a shortage of 7 million homes for our country’s 11 million plus low-income families (National Low-Income Housing Coalition). According to the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, for the first time in 40 years, more Utahns are in need of a home than there are homes available. Since 1991, Utah’s housing prices have increased more than San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle. It is an issue that we all care about. Working with key partners, we are securing and preserving affordable units for seniors and working families so they have a safe, affordable, and peaceful place to live and work. 

Since 2022, we have invested more than $80 million dollars in essential housing for working families and vulnerable seniors.

Education purple

The Call to Action Scholarship Program offers eligible students unparalleled assistance so they can achieve their academic goals. The need-based scholarship funds the full cost of attendance for four years ($25,000 maximum annually) at non-profit, regionally accredited public universities and colleges in Utah, Idaho, Iowa, and Colorado.

In addition to financial aid, our Scholars receive access to mentorship, academic counseling, leadership development, and personal and professional support.

Since 2007, we have awarded over $6.6 million in scholarships to students throughout the State of Utah.

Our 2024 scholarship program application is now closed.

 

 

Hunger purple

An estimated 44 million people are faced with hunger every year in the United States, including more than 13 million children. Hunger knows no boundaries and it touches every community in the United States.

Since 2020, the Call Foundation in partnership with FJ Management's subsidiary Maverik, has helped provide over 16 million meals* to Feeding America in its fight against hunger. In 2023, Maverik’s food waste reduction program also donated over 500,080 pounds of food, which is equivalent to 416,733 meals* pounds of surplus food helping to provide over 433,401 additional meals. The food waste reduction program is active in more than 400 Maverik stores across 13 states.

*MealClaim - $1 helps to provide at least ten meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local member food banks.

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The Call Foundation’s Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood & Family Mental Health Grant Program supports organizations and initiatives that assist children (ages zero through eight-years-old), parents, caregivers, and teachers. The foundation seeks to ensure all children and families in Utah and our region have equal access to high-quality early childhood education and mental health services. 

Our Strategy

A child’s early experiences have lifelong physical, social, and emotional impacts. While positive experiences position a young child for a stronger life, traumatic experiences during those early years may result in long-lasting, negative consequences.  This early phase of life is critical for positive brain development and building a solid foundation for a healthy and successful life.

Research shows that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) can harm a person’s health and well-being into adulthood, and may result in poor health outcomes like chronic disease, developmental delays, homelessness, sustained poverty, and increased risk for involvement in the criminal justice system. Unfortunately, children of color are much more likely to experience trauma and toxic stress and thus some of these negative outcomes.

High-quality early childhood education and mental health care support and sustain a child’s success throughout life.  Early involvement in these programs supports educational attainment and success and increases earning potential. In short, healthy, well-educated children bolster full communities for generations. 

We strengthen children and families through investments in equitable access to early childhood education, early childhood and family mental health, affordable housing, and food security.