Executive Spotlight: Sarah Khalifa Building Connection Through Compassion in Calgary

By Lyra Brown, VP Communications

For Sarah Khalifa, volunteering has always been about connection.

Whether supporting vulnerable individuals in hospitals or spending time with seniors in long-term care, she has witnessed firsthand how small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact. That belief is what drew her to Cards for Care Alberta and inspired her to join the growing Calgary leadership team.

Sarah Khalifa, Vice President of Donations for Cards for Care Calgary, is helping build a culture of compassion through volunteer engagement, community connection, and meaningful acts of care across Alberta.

“As someone who volunteers with vulnerable people, in both hospitals and senior homes, I know how important connection and little moments can be,” Sarah said. “Cards for Care creates those little moments and allows connections to be formed, both among volunteers and with the people receiving the cards.”

As Cards for Care Alberta continues expanding its presence across the province, Sarah is helping build a foundation for future growth in Calgary. Inspired by the organization's success in Edmonton, she saw an opportunity to help bring the same spirit of compassion, creativity, and community engagement to a new city.

“Seeing the great work this team achieves in Edmonton, I knew I wanted to be a part of this and continue that in Calgary,” she said.

Sarah's passion for community service has given her experience in a variety of healthcare settings, where she has seen how isolation can affect patients, seniors, and families. Through Cards for Care, she hopes to help create moments of encouragement and belonging for people who may be facing difficult circumstances.

“I am excited to expand both my connections and my impact within the healthcare community,” she said. “Being the person who gets to put a smile on someone’s face helps create a community where people can feel cared for and supported.”

For Sarah, handwritten cards carry a special kind of meaning. A self-described sentimental person, she still keeps every card she has ever received.

“As someone who keeps every card ever given to me, I know how valuable it is to receive something created by someone else's hands,” she said. “Whether it's the words written inside or the handcrafted card itself, those gestures can create connection and improve morale for people who may be feeling isolated.”

As Calgary operations continue to develop, Sarah hopes to help grow both volunteer involvement and community engagement throughout the city. She believes volunteering should be accessible, welcoming, and rewarding for everyone.

“I am hoping to bring in new volunteers and create a safe space for people to branch into the world of volunteering,” she said. “I feel incredibly privileged to volunteer my time and support different communities, and I hope to share that love of volunteering with others.”

As Cards for Care Alberta expands into Calgary, leaders like Sarah are helping ensure that growth remains rooted in what matters most: human connection.

Through every card written, every volunteer recruited, and every relationship built, Sarah hopes to help create a community where kindness is shared freely, and no one feels forgotten.

Because sometimes the smallest gestures leave the greatest impact.