- Created in collaboration with
United Way of Calgary and Area
The Social Impact Lab
Unity Technologies
J5 Innovation and Design
Ginito Consulting
Ear Candy - Voice Acting
Felix de Sousa – Jack
Anna Cummer– Mom
Tyrell Crews – Dad
Gord Marrlott – Announcers - Project Team
Jackie Mattock Howard – Project Lead (United Way of Calgary)
Lynn Holdsworth – Project Consultant (United Way of Calgary)
James Gamage – Project Consultant (United Way of Calgary)
John Vardalos – Project Lead (J5)
Isla Vardalos – Artwork (J5)
Daniel O’Shea – Scripting (Ginito Consulting)
Beau Shiminsky – Audio/Sound Production (Ear Candy)
Jeff Wong – Senior Animator (Unity Technologies)
Ken Thurston – Senior CG Generalist (Unity Technologies)
Tony Szkultecki – Senior Technical Artist (Unity Technologies)
Ksenia Kozhevnikova – Senior 3D Generalist (Unity Technologies)
Luke Hollinda – QA Analyst (Unity Technologies)
Dustin Engen – Senior Project Manager (Unity Technologies)
Jeff Poussard – Software Developer (Unity Technologies)
Tyler Payne – Solutions Design Lead (Unity Technologies)
Pete Laird – Senior UX/UI Designer (Unity Technologies)
Humberto Corte – Sound Designer (Unity Technologies)
Jim Bowen – Partner Success (Unity Technologies)
Education & Inclusive Economic Opportunity
Project Empathy – Jack’s Story

Competition in the charitable sector, shifting demographics and changing attitudes impacting giving are quickly disrupting philanthropy in fundamental ways. To meet this challenge, United Way and J5, a Canadian design studio, created The Social Impact Lab to experiment with emerging technologies using human-centred design and rapid prototyping to address significant social problems in our community.
Project Empathy is a planned series of VR experiences built in Unity to immerse donors in the lives of our most vulnerable citizens. Our first production is Jack’s Story, about a 10-year-old boy who lives in poverty with his family. By immersing the audience in Jack’s life and imagination, we explore challenges including unemployment, social isolation, mental health issues, and lack of basic needs. Also, the project consists of an in-person curated discussion about the realities of those living in poverty to enhance the digital experience and help the audience make the connection to actions we all can do to help.
Developing this project has been a two-year journey with unique challenges (e.g., COVID-19), but the team’s passion and commitment to providing an immersive, interactive, highly personal experience that increases empathy has not wavered. Jackie Mattock Howard, the team lead, indicated, “I am convinced increasing empathy drives that innate human desire to help.”

The entire project designed, developed and delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The VR experience is being provided to potential donors under strict COVID-19 protocols. For those at Unity who work with a mostly industrial clients, it was rewarding to be creative and emotive on this project.
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