The charitable fundraising arm of the Archdiocese of Toronto managed to raise $13.7 million. This fruitful sum fell the slightest of inches shy (99.3 per cent) of the $13.8-million goal, all while donors were faced with stretching every dollar as they were confronted with record inflation.
“Our contributors were very kind with their support despite the very tough economy right now, and we are very grateful,” said Arthur Peters, ShareLife’s executive director and the Archdiocese of Toronto’s director of development. “We once again had a very generous anonymous donor step forward to contribute a matching gift of $1 million.”
That gift was used to match donations from new donors.
Monies raised via ShareLife support over 40 agencies servicing the most vulnerable people in society, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. Some of the non-profits bolstered by this drive include Catholic Family Services of Toronto, Covenant House, St. Bernadette’s Family Resource Centre, Providence Healthcare, Rosalie Hall, Catholic Crosscultural Services and the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Pastoral Mission Fund.
ShareLife is three years away from celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. The program was founded in 1976 by Archbishop Philip Pocock, who envisioned a single initiative capable of funding Catholic Charities, St. Augustine’s Seminary and Third World Missions and Development. The target of that maiden fundraising drive was $1.9 million.
“The archbishop founded ShareLife on a stand for respect for life at all stages as a core principle,” said Peters. “Over 46 years later, ShareLife is upholding that stand, and our parishioners value that and our work in social services supporting the elderly, children and vulnerable in our society. They also value our social justice work around the world, including providing food for children in developing countries.”
Financial support for ShareLife has remained vibrant through three consecutive years marred by complications, beginning with the pandemic and then flowing into a period of record-high inflation over the past year. Peters said the ShareLife team is being mindful of the projected complex monetary landscape while charting the course ahead.
Supplementing the over $13.7 million raised by the parish campaign is a corporate campaign that yielded a haul of more than $1 million.Peters credits the usual donors, which includes the Canadian banks, for this solid tally.
Specific details and targets for the 2023 parish campaign are expected to be finalized and announced before the end of March.