ELIZA BARLOW
photography
AARON PEDERSEN
Philanthropy is a family tradition for Kelly Scott-Gray. Her parents, Guy and Dr. Shelley Scott, have long been dedicated supporters of the University Hospital Foundation, and Scott-Gray is just as passionate about giving back.
Now, the 32-year-old is looking for ways to spread her love of giving to the next generation of supporters, for whom even the word “philanthropy” might conjure up images of fundraising galas in evening gowns and tuxedoes. And she’s already meeting with success as co-chair of the Silver Bell Soiree, along with Laura Kinghorn-Smythe, the other co-chair. The inaugural event at last year’s Festival of Trees attracted 375 guests, raised over $60,000 for the University Hospital Foundation and won Outstanding Event in the fundraising event category at the Edmonton Event Awards with a hip and fun cocktail party that any 25- to 45-year-old could enjoy.

The catchment area for the University of Alberta Hospital’s lung-transplant program is huge, covering the better part of four provinces and three territories — a total of approximately six million square kilometres. That’s one-third the size of Russia. Patients from as far away as Winnipeg, Regina, Yellowknife and Prince George are all eligible to be treated at the hospital. And organ donors can come from anywhere in the area as well.
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Q: You spent time in Vancouver working with companies such as lululemon. What brought you back to Edmonton?
I grew up in Edmonton and lived in Arizona for a short time. My husband, Darren, and I had moved out to Vancouver where he was doing his medical residency, so we could have a bit of an adventure. We decided we wanted to have kids, and decided to move home to be closer to family. We moved home two weeks before my daughter, now two, was born, and have another baby due any day! (She gave birth to a boy after the interview.) Edmonton has that small-town feel, it’s a little friendlier here. As a community, Edmonton really pulls together and has a philanthropic spirit.
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