ShareLife, which raises funds for more than 30 agencies in the archdiocese, kicked off its annual fundraising campaign on Feb. 20 with special collections at Masses throughout the weekend plus a new incentive. An anonymous parishioner has pledged to match up to $500,000 in new and increased gifts to the 2010 ShareLife campaign. So, if you gave $50 last year, but increase that to $75 for 2010, your extra $25 will be matched. If you didn’t donate to ShareLife in 2009, your full donation in 2010 will be matched.
Peters said he is excited about the new incentive because of ShareLife’s growing needs.
“This year the social service agencies indicated over $800,000 in unmet needs. That could be addressed with more funding.”
Peters hopes the generosity of the anonymous donor will inspire others to help ShareLife in meeting these needs, whether it be added beds to health facilities, extended operation hours at many of the agencies or new programs.
But Peters has seen abundant generosity from Toronto’s Catholics, starting with the fundraising for victims of the Indonesian tsunami six years ago, where more than $4.6 million in relief aid was raised, and then an increase of $300,000 to the ShareLife’s annual campaign that same year.
“This year, our Catholic community has been very generous to our brothers and sisters in Christ in Haiti, responding to the tremendous tragedy of the earthquake and the aftermath of the earthquake and helping survivors and people. Our final numbers show that parishioners raised more than $3 million for Haiti.”
The parish goal for the annual campaign is $12 million again this year, whereas the overall goal, which includes donations from schools, the corporate campaign and employees, has increased to $14.15 million.
Those who want their new or increased donations to be matched should make sure their parish documents it as such before sending it to ShareLife.
To donate online, visit www.sharelife.org .
ShareLife 2010 campaign goal is $14.15 million
By Carolyn Girard, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - After a tremendous campaign to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti, ShareLife has switched gears to now help those in its own backyard.
“Our Catholic community has always responded to the needs and been very generous and now, as we do each year, we are going to turn our attention to the needs of our greater community in the archdiocese of Toronto and the many people who rely on ShareLife social service agencies and ShareLife agencies for help each year,” said Arthur Peters, executive director of ShareLife.
“Our Catholic community has always responded to the needs and been very generous and now, as we do each year, we are going to turn our attention to the needs of our greater community in the archdiocese of Toronto and the many people who rely on ShareLife social service agencies and ShareLife agencies for help each year,” said Arthur Peters, executive director of ShareLife.
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