TORONTO - The 2012 ShareLife campaign is over the top.

The annual campaign by the archdiocese of Toronto's fundraising arm surpassed its goal of $14.3 million by more than $600,000 this year. And for the first time since 1999, the campaign exceeded its parish goal, coming in at more than $37,000 over the $12.3 million goal.

Arthur Peters, ShareLife's executive director, said much thanks for pushing the campaign over the top must go to a matching gift donor, who wishes to remain anonymous. The donor matched new gifts as well as increased contributions from returning donors. All told, he gave $650,000 in matching funds.

"This year our parishioners were challenged by a generous donor to increase their gifts or to make new gifts to support the work of our agencies and they've responded very generously," said Peters.

Peters said the matching gift motivated parishioners to donate to the parish campaign, but did not directly contribute to the $12,337,548 raised — a seven-per-cent increase over last year. The $650,000 is reflected in a miscellaneous fund.

An additional $1.37 million came in from the corporate and school employee's campaigns pushing the collective total to $14,934,666.

"We're very grateful to the parishioners of the archdiocese of Toronto who in a difficult economy have responded generously to the needs of ShareLife's agencies and contributed a record amount to help those who are served by our agencies," said Peters.

Despite the present economic hardships, 157 parishes, about 70 per cent of those in the archdiocese of Toronto, increased donations from 2011. This marks the largest number of parishes to increase their gifts from the previous year seen by Peters since joining ShareLife eight years ago.

"At the end of the day our parishioners have always demonstrated a commitment to helping the marginalized in our society and around the world," he said. "These funds will be used to help the people who need our help the most."

Over the next few months ShareLife's allocation community and advisory board will determine the 2013 allocations, distributing this year's donations to more than 30 social service support agencies.

"The fact that we've raised a significant amount of money more in this years campaign means we'll be able to help our agencies in a greater way."

TORONTO - With barely two weeks left in the 2012 ShareLife campaign, parishioners are being called upon to pull together and raise the remaining $1 million needed to reach this year’s $12.3 million goal.

“(We) thank those Catholics who have made a contribution this year and appeal to all Catholics to support the ShareLife campaign before July 31,” said Arthur Peters, ShareLife’s executive director. “Parishioners have been very generous. Over the next few weeks I just hope people will continue to be generous and help us reach our goal.”

To help raise money and awareness for poverty and homelessness, about 265 Catholic high school students pitched tents outside Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland, Ont., May 3 to show their solidarity with the less fortunate.

Hosted by ShareLife in co-operation with the archdiocese of Toronto’s Office of Catholic Youth, the inaugural Tent City event in Midland didn’t go as planned. A thunderstorm that blew through broke tents and sent students from the Toronto, Durham, Dufferin-Peel, Simcoe-Muskoka and La Conseil Scholaire de Centre-Sud Catholic school boards to an overnight sleep inside the Shrine.

TORONTO - Things are looking optimistic for the 2012 ShareLife parish campaign as contributions are up compared to last year after the first ShareLife Sunday on March 29.

“The initial results are in and they’re slightly ahead of last year which is optimistic,” said Arthur Peters, ShareLife’s executive director.

Before noon on April 5 the campaign total sat at $4,316,550, about a $160,000 increase from the previous year. Money collected supports more than 40 social agencies which benefit 250,000- plus people in need.

TORONTO - A Toronto parishioner who wishes to remain anonymous has committed to matching up to $650,000 of donations collected during ShareLife’s 2012 campaign.

“We have a parishioner in the archdiocese  of Toronto who has come forward to offer to match all new and increased gifts to the ShareLife campaign this year,” said ShareLife’s executive director Arthur Peters. “This person’s only goal is to see the campaign succeed.”