A privately funded foundation for hope
We walk alongside people facing mental illness, addiction, poverty and hardship, helping them rediscover dignity, healing and hope. Because every act of kindness creates momentum that ripples outward to transform lives.
Kindness is more than deeds. It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch. It is anything that lifts another person.
We believe kindness creates momentum, every act of care can inspire another and ripple outward to transform families, communities and entire generations.
Our Mission
To empower individuals and communities through compassion-driven programs focused on mental health, addiction recovery and sustainable community development.
We are a privately funded NGO devoted to people the world too often overlooks: those carrying the weight of mental illness, addiction, poverty, trauma and homelessness. We exist to bring hope, healing and dignity, reminding every person we meet that second chances are real.
Read our storyOur Vision
A world where mental health care, recovery support and basic human dignity are accessible to everyone, everywhere.
About the Foundation
The Markin K Kossowski Foundation for Hope was founded on a simple conviction: that no one is beyond hope and that dignity belongs to everyone. We meet people in their hardest moments. And we stay.
We bring light to circumstances that feel hopeless, helping people imagine a future worth walking toward.
We support recovery of mind, body and spirit through care, counsel and steady human presence.
We honor the worth of every person, restoring respect, belonging and the confidence to begin again.
We lead with kindness in everything, because compassion is the momentum that changes everything else.
Areas of Impact
Our work flows into four connected areas, each one a doorway back to dignity.
Awareness, access to care and the work of removing stigma so no one suffers in silence.
02Counseling, rehabilitation access and reintegration support for the long road home.
03Education, mentorship, warmth and wellness outreach in under-resourced regions.
Area of Impact 01
Behind every statistic is a person trying to hold on. We raise awareness, open doors to care and work to dismantle the stigma that keeps people from asking for help. Through outreach and education, we help communities recognise mental illness for what it is, a wound that can heal with support.
Area of Impact 02
Recovery is rarely a straight line. And no one should walk it alone. We help people access counseling and rehabilitation, then support the harder, quieter work of reintegration: rebuilding routines, relationships and self-belief. Every relapse met with compassion is one step closer to lasting freedom.
Area of Impact 03
Hardship is rarely just one thing: it is cold nights, empty cupboards and doors that won't open. We meet practical needs and invest in lasting change through education, mentorship and wellness outreach. From keeping our cities warm to nurturing young futures, we help communities rise together.
Momentum, measured
Stories of Hope
A few of the moments that remind us why this work matters.
When the temperature drops, our outreach makes sure no one on the street is forgotten, with warmth, supplies and the simple message: you matter.
Recovery begins again every morning. With counseling, community and steady encouragement, people are rebuilding lives once thought lost.
Through awareness, access to care and the steady message that no one has to struggle alone, people are finding support, dignity and a way forward.
Featured Story
In 2025, our team travelled to Vietnam to source winter coats, baby clothes and warm essentials for people in need across Alberta. Follow the three-day journey of warmth, gratitude and human kindness.
In Their Words
“They didn't see a problem to fix. They saw a person worth showing up for. That changed everything for me.”
“For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had dignity again and a reason to keep going.”
“Volunteering here reminded me how much one act of kindness can ripple outward. I've never given more and received more.”
The Founder's Vision
“I have seen how quickly life can take everything from a person and how a single act of compassion can give it back. This foundation is my belief made real: that hope is worth funding and that every life is worth fighting for.”
The Markin K Kossowski Foundation for Hope was created to be present where it is needed most, without bureaucracy, without judgment and without giving up on anyone. Privately funded and personally driven, it carries one promise into every program: that kindness, given freely, becomes momentum that never stops.
In the spirit of Markin K Kossowski
Be Part of the Ripple
Every gift, large or small, becomes warmth, care, recovery and hope for a person who needs it. Because change begins the moment someone decides to act.
Secure giving via Square · 100% privately funded foundation
Get Involved
Hope multiplies when more hands carry it. Here's how you can help.
Fuel real programs with a one-time or ongoing gift. Every dollar moves directly toward hope, healing and dignity.
Give TodayOffer your time, skills and heart, from outreach and events to mentorship. Find purpose by helping others find theirs.
Become a VolunteerOrganizations and businesses can amplify our impact together. Let's build something lasting, hand in hand.
Explore PartnershipQuestions & Answers
We support individuals and communities affected by mental illness, addiction, poverty, trauma, homelessness and hardship. Our work centers on hope, healing, dignity and second chances.
As a privately funded foundation, your gift goes directly toward our programs: mental health support, addiction recovery, and community and poverty relief. Donations are processed securely through Square.
We welcome volunteers across outreach, events, mentorship and program support. Reach out through our contact section and tell us a little about how you'd like to help, we'll find the right fit.
Absolutely. We collaborate with businesses, community groups and organizations who share our values. Get in touch and we'll explore how we can create greater impact together.
Our initiatives include Keep Our Cities Warm, the Sourcing Journey, Alberta future projects and the Alberta Children's Summer Camp.
Contact Us
Whether you'd like to give, volunteer, partner or simply learn more, we would love to hear from you. Every conversation is a chance to change a life.
