Cautiously choosing his words to protect the identity of the donor, Peters did admit that this “generous parishioner” is the same person who in 2010 agreed to match up to $500,000 of donations but ended up giving more.

“The matching gift program, with the donor coming forth to match new and increased gifts, provides an opportunity or motivation for parishioners who maybe haven’t supported the campaign in the past to do so,” said Peters, who is optimistic about reaching this year’s $14.3-million overall goal through its parish, corporate and school campaigns.

Despite falling short of this figure last year, ShareLife still honoured its financial commitment to its more than 30 agencies by using excess funds collected in previous campaigns.     

“Last year the markets made a difference. We had to use some of our reserve funds to meet the allocations,” said Peters, acknowledging economic concerns may affect donors this year as well.

Mark Creedon, executive director of Catholic Family Services Peel-Dufferin, knows the pressure of trying to do more with less. Over the past 10 years Creedon said demand for services increased by nearly 250 per cent while funding has risen at a significantly lower rate.

“We are in a very, very tough time,” said Creedon. “We are being asked to do more, a lot more, with less.”

Catholic Family Services Peel-Dufferin receives about $600,000 from various Catholic charities funded directly by ShareLife. Along with ensuring the continued access to existing services, this funding has allowed the creation of new programs over the last three years, including walk-in clinics, short-term counselling and the opening of The Honourable William G. Davis Centre for Families in Brampton. 

“If we lost ShareLife funding we, the board, would be asking can we continue,” said Creedon.

The campaign officially begins on March 25. For more information, see www.sharelife.org.