Stephen’s Story
What does it mean to Dream Outloud?
At 5 years old, a young boy with autism named Stephen McPhee began a journey led by his kind heart. He is teaching the world what it means to Dream Outloud.
It all began when Stephen was busy playing and overheard his parents discussing a homeless man in the newspaper. He stopped in his tracks and asked, “Mommy, are there kids on the street?” Stephen’s mom explained, while considering the innocence and inquiring mind of a child, that sometimes families lose their homes and live in homeless shelters until they can get back on their feet. In that moment, Stephen declared, “I need to help them!” He told his mom he needed some time to think about what he wanted to do to help. After a few weeks, with two missing front teeth, Stephen announced he wanted to make “packbacks” to help homeless children. His mom questioned what his plan was to fill these backpacks. Without hesitation, Stephen gathered up some of his favorite toys, followed by a discussion with his mom about things homeless children might need, like mitts, hats, socks, clothes, pyjamas, hygiene items, toys at Christmas, and of course candy. Stephen’s heart began Dreaming Outloud!
In December 2006, the McPhee family gathered on their kitchen floor to assemble 15 backpacks for children. Stephen was overcome with passion and excitement. On Christmas Eve, the family took the backpacks to Inn From the Cold in Calgary, where Stephen gave his first gift of hope to a young boy. On the drive home, the family was very quiet, feeling nothing needed to be said: This was a Christmas they would never forget. The following year, Stephen asked the same question about homeless children again. One day over lunch, Stephen’s mom explained to her friend Anne Beaty, Editor of Airdrie’s newspaper, that Stephen wanted to make backpacks for homeless children again. Anne interviewed Stephen, complimenting him on his 15 backpacks and desire to make more. Without reservation, Stephen exclaimed he now wanted to make 150 backpacks. Stephen’s mom was shocked and tried to lower his expectations, but Stephen was determined. Shortly after the article was printed, donations flooded in, and the McPhee’s home became a backpack workshop. In December 2007, in a yellow school bus, the McPhee family delivered 265 backpacks to Inn From the Cold again… and with that, Stephen’s Backpacks Society was born.
As of 2025, more than 100,000 children have received backpacks filled with love and necessities from Stephen’s society. He has provided 17,000 pairs of running shoes for children to start school, and his Four Seasons of Hope project has freshly furnished 40 homes for families who have essentially lost everything.