Calgary innovator Mike Procee’s curiosity bloomed into a flourishing relationship with Carya
At Carya, our community is built by people who give from the heart — people like Mike Procee, whose passion for connection and innovation is helping Calgarians transform ideas into impactful realities.
Mike Procee not only invests in Carya monetarily, but he also offers his time, presentation skills (more on that later), and his large network of connections to the work we do. Mike is a community builder, and Carya is fortunate to have him as a strong advocate.
A moment of curiosity that sparked it all
Mike found Carya through his avid involvement in the community.
“When I first started supporting Carya, I did not know a lot about the organization. I got involved in different sorts of events in the community. I saw them at those events, and I started working a little bit more with them.”
That early curiosity soon turned into a deep appreciation for Carya’s impact and transparency.
“Since being involved with Carya, though, it’s been absolutely amazing to learn of the impact that it’s having in its community. As I donate my time or donate my dollars, it’s really important to see and measure that direct impact, and I think that’s something Carya does an amazing job of.”
From donor to Carya’s superstar host
Mike has become a staple at our flagship fundraiser — Carya’s Top Chef.
Every year, Carya’s Top Chef brings corporate and culinary Calgary together for a special evening of cooking and fundraising. The exciting and intense hour-long cooking competition gets even spicier as the auction gets under way and event attendees get to bid on challenges for the corporate competitors.
As host and auctioneer, Mike doesn’t just keep the evening moving — he makes it unforgettable — and life-changing for so many.
“You immediately know that $1,000, $2,000, $3,000 in donations is going immediately into counselling sessions, different things for families, different things to support the community, he said. “And that’s been really cool to see.”
With his signature ability to command a room and his quick wit, Mike draws the crowd in from the very first moment. He shares stories about the lives touched by Carya’s programs, reminding everyone that behind every bid and every donation, a real person is gaining support, connection, and hope.
This year, Carya’s Top Chef raised $150,000, topping last year’s previous high of $125,000 raised. And Mike’s dedication to the event is part of that success.
“Every year it gets bigger, every year there are new ideas around it,” Mike says. “It’s been incredible to see something that was just an idea flourish into this big event for Calgary.”
A continued impact in the community
Mike has some simple advice for anyone considering supporting Carya:
“Just do it.”
“Get to an event and see the impact directly in the community… It really starts with curiosity, asking about the services. The staff was super supportive and guided me through that process.”
Carya’s corporate volunteers are a big part of Carya’s community, helping to bring people together over food at the exciting Chow and Chatter events, and making an impact across the city at Carya’s three locations. But corporate involvement goes further than that.
“Reach out to your internal giving team and see what resources you can use from the organization to help donate as well. A lot of times, our organizations offer different volunteer opportunities or donation matching—start there and connect with Carya directly.”
We’re so thankful for donors like Mike Procee, who champion Carya and embody true innovation in Calgary.
To learn more about all the ways that you can get involved with Carya, click here.