Street Haven - your contributions at work

It's always affirming to know that our collective efforts in the ShareLife campaign are making an impact in the community - that's certainly the case at Street Haven at the Crossroads.

Yesterday, Gita Schwartz, the interim executive director at Street Haven, told us about the work being done by her women's shelters, residences and counselling centres. Serving homeless, abused and addicted women in the downtown core of Toronto, Street Haven  provides safety, comfort and, for some, an opportunity to turn their lives around.

Of note, Schwartz pointed out that:

• Street Haven is one of only three women's agencies in Ontario to offer addictions programs that are longer than three weeks (theirs are 6 months). ShareLife funding helps support that extended service by paying for a staff person in that program.
• ShareLife funding helps supplement the grocery budget at the agency's shelter, allowing them to buy more nutritious food for the women who turn to Street Haven for a meal.
• ShareLife funding also provides funding for recreation programs and for the flower garden that is maintained by women at The Hostel - that space offers peace and comfort for hundreds of women every year.

Street Haven does a lot more than just this, providing computer training and job readiness programs, offering supportive housing, residential care, counselling, and much more. That said, Schwartz made it clear that ShareLife's allocation makes a difference, providing the women at Street Haven with comfort, care and renewed dignity.

Thanks to all who have supported our campaign already this year...you're clearly working wonders!

Preparing for the Second Collection

Approaching the second collection weekend for the 2010 ShareLife Parish Campaign, we're less than halfway to our $12 million goal, but we're optimistic.

The ShareLife Community Challenge continues to draw interest from parishioners and from companies contributing to the campaign - many are returning after a lapse in giving and others are increasing their gifts, all directly linked to this gift matching program. I hope this generous program will help bring us to our goal in what is proving to be a challenging year. (We have a sense that Haitian and Chilean relief, as well as international abuse scandals, have affected some people's giving levels to ShareLife this year.)

There is another international disaster response under way - this time in China, following the earthquake that struck earlier this month. We are accepting contributions and can ensure they get to the workers on the ground as they assist the thousands and thousands of victims affected by this natural disaster.

With people at home and people abroad all in need of our help, it may sometimes be difficult to keep our hearts open to the needs presented to us. Please pray for the vulnerable and needy around us, for the Chinese people, and for the success of the ShareLife Campaign as we head into the second collection weekend, April 24-25.

Stewards of our neighbours and our world

I recently had a conversation with a parishioner from Scarborough who asked about any environmental policies or practices we incorporate into the ShareLife campaign. We talked about our collective responsibilty to be good stewards of this world. As a result, I thought I would share a couple of our intitiatives with you.

I'm conscious of the fact that we use a lot of paper to promote the ShareLife campaign: posters, brochures, letters, envelopes and more. We have a massive diocese, including more than 350,000 households registered with our 225 parishes. Getting the ShareLife message out to them all takes a lot of resources.

Last year, we implimented a program to better streamline our direct mail campaign. As a result, we eliminated more than 35,000 extraneous addresses (duplicates, wrong addresses, and undeliverable mail) from our mailings for the 2010 ShareLife Campaign -- a tangible financial and a resource (paper) savings.

As well, this year, all ShareLife Parish Campaign posters were printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)-certified paper and carry the FSC logo (meaning the paper used meets a rigorous environmental and social standard for responsible forest management). We were able to do so with only a minimal increase in costs. It's not the same as using 100% post-consumer paper, and it still involves a great deal of resources, but it's a good first step.

We also explored the cost of using FSC-certified paper for the ShareLife brochures, by far the largest portion of our paper use. The increased cost implication, however, was prohibitive this year. We are continuing to work with our printers to find cost-effective ways to be better environmental stewards. We have to balance the responsible use of donor contributions with our environmental responsibility. My hope is that we will one day use only FSC-certified papers for all ShareLife campaign materials.

In the meantime, we'll continue to reduce our environmental footprint while making a positive impact on the community through our network of ShareLife agencies.

ShareLife message goes underground

Last Wednesday, more than 75 students from Bishop Morocco Secondary School and Neil McNeil High School in Toronto and from St. Joseph Secondary School in Mississauga hit five Toronto Transit Commission stations for the morning rush hour, raising awareness and funds for ShareLife and its network of agencies.

While serving as a fundraising drive, the morning also served as an educational experience for the students. As part of the process, they were encouraged to do research on some of the important social services provided by ShareLife agencies, so they could answer questions they were asked by passers by. As well, they attended an orientation session to ensure they conducted themselves in a respectful manner and were familiar with TTC fundraising guidelines. They were asked to exercise the same level of care and respect afforded everyone who turns to a ShareLife agency.


All told, the students raised $4022 an increase of $281 over last year's effort!

Thanks to all the students who participated in the day - you represented yourselves, your schools and ShareLife well. Thanks as well to the Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto Catholic District School Board and Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board for their partnership in this important student activity.

ShareLife speakers bear witness to wonders

It's been a busy few weeks around here, preparing for and following up on the first ShareLife collection in parishes throughout the archdiocese.

At this time of year, ShareLife staff members and employees of ShareLife agencies are busy speaking to parishioners at weekend Masses, providing information and testimonials about the important work being done in the community with the help of ShareLife funding. We're truly thankful for the additional effort and the time away from family these people provide - theirs are the stories from the trenches; the evidence that our collective response really is helping people weather the troubled waters of their lives.

Early indications are that $2.5 million was received at parishes during last weekend's collections. We know several parishes didn't have the chance to report their results before the first tally took place, so we're hopefull the actual number is much higher.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the campaign already - your support gives the campaign the momentum it needs to get to the goal of $12 million. If you haven't had a chance to make a contribution yet, please do. Your gift can make a real and meaningful difference - next time you hear a ShareLife speaker, you'll hear how.

Chilean Earthquake Relief

Communication is being distributed to all parishes in the Archdiocese of Toronto today, letting them know we're accepting monetary contributions to the relief efforts in Chile, following the dramatic 8.8 earthquake that shook the region last Saturday. The quake left hundreds of people dead and an estimated 1.5 million more displaced from their homes.

Working through the Catholic Church's official international relief network, Caritas Internationalis, funds will be sent to our partners at Development and Peace (the Caritas representative in Canada). Development and Peace will forward the funds to Caritas Chile, which is distributing food through its network in the country. Caritas has also sent a search and rescue team to help find survivors trapped under rubble.

Those wishing to help through a financial contribution may do so in the following ways:
Online through ShareLife's website (www.sharelife.org)
By phone through the ShareLife office – 1-800-263-2595 or 416-934-3411
Through your parish, making cheques payable to: Parish Name - Earthquake - Chile

We offer our prayers for the thousands of families affected by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

Out on the wire

We support the promotion, operation and administration of the ShareLife campaigns in many ways here in our office. We connect with some people in Catholic schools, through Catholic networking events and, of course, in the 224 Catholic parishes of the Archdiocese of Toronto. Sometimes, we stretch beyond our Catholic boundaries, reaching out to the entire community.
Today, we did just that by distributing the press release below.

Confident that our materials have arrived at all the parishes and that efforts are earnestly underway, this provides us with an opportunity to raise awareness... awareness of the desparate need for help in our communities and awareness of how ShareLife, through the agencies we fund, addresses those needs. In this case, we also want to raise awareness around the ShareLife Community Challenge and the wonderful opportunity it provides for us to increase the impact your gifts can make.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GTA Catholics mobilize to assist 225,000 people in need
–Donor offers $500,000 to inspire generosity at home–

Toronto (February 26, 2010) – Catholics in the Greater Toronto Area are turning their attention from Haiti to home with the launch of the $12 million annual ShareLife parish fundraising campaign, helping ShareLife agencies assist more than 225,000 people in need in our area.

The Archdiocese of Toronto has launched its annual charitable appeal, ShareLife, in its 224 parishes. The annual fundraising campaign, conducted from February to July, supports more than 40 Catholic agencies in the area – primarily social service agencies – through annual allocations and one-time grants. This campaign follows on the heels of a successful disaster relief appeal that raised nearly $4 million for the people of Haiti.

“Parish and schools across the Archdiocese of Toronto were incredibly generous in their support of Haitian earthquake victims – we’re sincerely grateful for their efforts. Now, we’re asking people to turn their attention to our own communities,” said Michael McBride, volunteer chair of the ShareLife campaign. “Sadly, we see tragic circumstances and lives torn apart each day here at home. While they may not garner the same attention as natural disasters, we need to address the pain and suffering that is present in our neighbourhoods. The pressure on our agencies is greater than ever, with more than $800,000 in unmet needs identified this year.”

ShareLife social services agencies, such as Good Shepherd Centre, Covenant House, Street Haven at the Crossroads, and the Catholic Family Services network, offer counselling and support to more than 225,000 people throughout the Greater Toronto Area, regardless of their background or beliefs. Last year, the ShareLife parish campaign raised $11.4 million and the overall campaign (including corporate, school and parish contributions) reached $13.7 million. The overall goal for the 2010 campaign is $14.15 million.

“Our goal is ambitious but we are committed to helping address the practical needs of some of the most vulnerable, troubled and marginalized people in our midst,” said Arthur Peters, executive director of ShareLife. “This is a tangible opportunity for the Catholic community to make an impact that can change lives forever.”

Matching gift challenge offers additional incentive
Helping the 2010 ShareLife campaign toward its goal, an anonymous parishioner has stepped forward with a gift challenge. Through the ShareLife Community Challenge, all new and increased gifts to the campaign will be matched, up to a total of $500,000.

“Donors are more familiar with gift matching programs following the intense publicity around the federal government’s matching commitment for Haitian relief. We’re extremely grateful to build on that awareness for our own campaign this year,” said Peters. “We hope our supporters will recognize the opportunity the ShareLife Community Challenge provides to increase the impact of their contributions, maximizing support for the critical work of our agencies.”

Contributions from people who did not donate to the campaign in 2009 will be matched dollar-for-dollar. And, for donors who contributed last year, the amount of any increase over their 2009 gift will be matched. The ShareLife Community Challenge applies to all gifts made to ShareLife, through its parish, school and corporate campaigns, up to July 31, 2010.

ShareLife, the charitable annual appeal of the Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, raises and allocates funds to support care and outreach to those in need in our communities and around the world through a network of Catholic agencies. The Archdiocese of Toronto, Canada’s largest diocese, is home to 1.9 million Catholics and 224 parishes, stretching from Toronto to Georgian Bay and from Mississauga to Oshawa.