Once it was seen that the $500,000 target would be reached, the donor made an additional gift of $150,000, said Peters.

“This was in response to the generosity of Catholics in the archdiocese,” he said.

ShareLife is the charitable fundraising arm of the archdiocese of Toronto. For 34 years, ShareLife has been helping out at home and abroad, funding 33 agencies that aid seniors, youth, the clergy and vulnerable in society.

The record number comes after a 2009 campaign that saw donations fall $500,000 short of ShareLife’s goal, mostly due to a poor economy. But while the economy has yet to fully bounce back, it didn’t seem to hold back ShareLife donors in 2010.

“Right now, we’re in difficult economic times yet parishioners, corporations and schools came forward and wanted to contribute. And we’re very thankful not only to the parishioners for doing that but also to our donors for generously supporting this.”

Peters said the timing of the donations also speaks to the giving spirit of parishioners.

“This came right after the diocese raised over $4 million for Haiti (earthquake relief) and, this year, $4.5 million overall for humanitarian relief,” he said. “So it’s very significant and we’re very thankful that parishioners have responded to the needs of brothers and sisters of Christ around the world but at the same time met this challenge.”

The total money raised came from schools, corporate, workplace, parish and memoriam donations, said Peters.

Bill Steinberg, manager of communications at ShareLife, said this is the first time such a donor has launched a special challenge.

“The donor just stepped forward,” he said. “It’s really inspiring. It’s great to know that there are people like that out there.”

Steinberg said that the $14.33 million raised is “unprecedented.”

“Catholics in the archdiocese are generous and when the need is there they respond — and they always have.”