A manager at a local kitchen design and renovation company has found a creative way to increase donations to charity and is our Inspiring Albertan this week.

Like many businesses in Alberta, Legacy Kitchens in northeast Calgary is facing challenges dealing with the economic slowdown.

In a move to boost employee morale, Communications Manager Kim Buller came up with a team building idea that would also benefit one of the company's favorite charities.

Buller decided to get the employees involved, divided them into thirteen teams and issued a challenge.

“Everyone was assigned to a team and they were given $100 of seed money and they could take that money and do anything they wanted with creativity, team work, hard work and they had one month to basically turn it over into a profit, ” said Buller.

Andy McGuire's team used scraps of wood to make cell phone holders and offered them for sale.

“What a great thing to do. You know let's input some positivity here and do something that really can bring excitement and creativity and also make a huge impact,” said McGuire.

One group built a child sized kitchen and put it up for auction.

“I was inspired how different groups came together. We had the warehouse working with operations, we had design working with other staff. It was just really incredible to see,” said Natasha Chorney.

Opportunity International makes short-term loans to small businesses in developing countries and money raised from selling the items will go to its programs.

John de Bruyn runs Opportunity International in Columbia and says the money will mean a lot to the businesses who will borrow it.

“It gives us enthusiasm to have a wonderful donor partner that not only gives but truly appreciates how the money is impacting the lives of the people that we serve,” said de Bruyn.

The Legacy Kitchen teams have turned the $1300 in seed money into $19,000 for the charity in just one month.

For what she did for employees at Legacy Kitchens and for businesses in developing countries Kim Buller is our Inspiring Albertan this week.

(With files from Darrel Janz)