Get in the Swing! - Golf, Agency Awareness and a Gold Medallist

Once a year, more than 150 corporate and community leaders gather together for the Annual ShareLife Corporate Golf Tournament, the signature event of the year for the corporate campaign.

Corporate executives, small and medium-sized business people, and a handful of clergy will hit the links at Lionhead Golf & Country Club on June 7 this year in support of ShareLife and the network of agencies we support. For the past few years, the event has raised more than $90,000 after expenses for the cause - nearly the entire allocation for a few of our agencies. The golf tournament also raises increased awareness of the social issues addressed by ShareLife funding. While the golfers attend for a round of golf and an enjoyable day, it's important that they understand the impact their support of ShareLife has in the community.

This year, we'll be joined by Becky Kellar, veteran member of the Canadian Women's Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team. Becky will be speaking about her Olympic experience during the evening reception. As well, four ShareLife agencies will be represented at the dinner, giving donors a chance to connect with some of the people on the front lines of our service provision.

On course, golfers will have a chance to match their drives against ShareLife Executive Director Arthur Peters or yours truly (depending which of the courses they're playing). Those who beat us receive tickets for a raffle at the end of the day - in my case, I'm sure I'll be surrendering tickets all day long!

Check out the details and join us if you can!

The $1,000 you spent last year but likely didn't know about

When we receive contributions for ShareLife, we're really receiving them on behalf of the network of Catholic agencies ShareLife supports. We do our best to constantly raise awareness around the issues ShareLife agencies face, and the critical services they provide to the community.

 

We recently completed the first of what will be many information pieces about those issues; this one focusses on addictions. The problem is serious and significant in Canadian society. Last year, every Canadian spent more than $1,000 dealing with a substance abuse problem!

 

Some other facts that we came across while researching the piece included that fact that:

• 13.6% of Canadians are high risk drinkers
• about 10% of Canadians are dependent on alcohol at some time in their lives
• 37% of people who abuse alcohol and 53% who abuse drugs also have a mental illness
• 30% of people diagnosed with a mental illness also have a substance abuse problem
• 75% of homeless people with mental illness also have a substance abuse problem
• in the year prior to being homeless, 20% of clients received addiction services
• The Canadian economy loses $18.6 billion/year due to substance abuse in the workplace

 

ShareLife agencies are part of the solution for many people struggling with addictions in the Greater Toronto Area. Should you, or someone you know need a hand with an addiction, these ShareLife agencies can help:

 

Catholic Community Services of York Region – partnership in York Region Addiction Services
(905) 770-7040/(800) 263-2075 ccsyr.org

 

Catholic Family Services of Peel-Dufferin – individual assistance
(905) 450-1608/(905) 897-1644  cfspd.com

 

Catholic Family Services of Simcoe County – Choices for Change
(705) 726-2503/(800) 725-2503 cfssc.ca

 

Catholic Family Services of Toronto – individual assistance
(416) 921-1163  cfsofto.org

 

Good Shepherd Centre – DARE (Drug and Alcohol Recovery Enrichment) program
(416) 869-3619  goodshepherd.ca

 

Mater Dei/Carmelina’s House – two-year in-residence counselling and care
(416) 242-4207  carmelinashome.com

 

Matt Talbot Houses – St. Michael’s Homes
(416) 926-8267

Students raise awareness around poverty, homelessness

Students from Cardinal Ambrozic Catholic Secondary School in Brampton took to the outdoors Thursday night (May 6) in an effort to raise awareness around the issues of poverty and homelessness.

Nearly 50 students spent the night sleeping in tents and cardboard boxes in the school field, gaining a slight sense of what it might be like to be homeless. The event included a spartan meal of soup, bread, and water, discussion around the issues of poverty and homelessness in the community and a candlelight prayer vigil. Prior to the event, students took charitable pledges for their efforts and contributed the proceeds to ShareLife.

ShareLife Executive Director Arthur Peters had a chance to be with the students and teachers that evening, sharing stories about our agencies and needs of the Brampton community.

Congratulations and thanks to Chaplaincy Leader Angelo Minardi, the staff and students who participated in the event. This was the first time the school has conducted an event like this. Who knows, it may catch on - this could be the start of a new Cardinal Ambrozic tradition!

Check out images from the event on the school website.