The result from the 2007 campaign is a 1.9-per-cent overall increase from last year.

“It’s been a very successful year,” said Arthur Peters, executive director of ShareLife, the charitable fund-raising arm of the archdiocese.

Parishes raised $11,479,328 and the corporate campaign contribution totalled $1,519,271. Both campaigns brought a marginal increase in donations from last year.

Schools throughout the archdiocese raised $240,000 and employee fund deductions added a further $332,000.

{sidebar id=1}“Some (schools) will send funds to our office, some will send directly to the parish,” said Peters. “It can fluctuate depending on where they send. But it doesn’t change the result overall.”

Donations to ShareLife support more than 200,000 people through ShareLife’s 34 Catholic agencies and 10 grant recipients in the archdiocese of Toronto.

This year new programs will see some of this funding projects such as sign language instruction for parents and siblings of the deaf, increased resources for elderly in institutional care and home care and the Four Winds Boys Camp .

Peters recently visited the residential boys camp for underprivileged youth in the archdiocese. He said it makes a difference to see firsthand how the funding helps.

“Knowing for one week they were away from their worries to enjoy a summer camp experience made me feel good that we’ve made a difference in their life,” said Peters.