ShareLife

ShareLife is founded by Archbishop Philip Pocock in 1976. The fund is currently assisting 34 Catholic agencies and 10 grants in aid. There are over 200,000 people receiving such assistance every year.

ShareLife raised a total of $13,072,054 in 2006, plus a special rescue fund of $1,707,260.

According to its financial report in 2006, 26% of the funding goes to family assistance, 16% goes to grants in aid, 10% goes to new immigrant and refugee assistance, 10% goes to single-parent family and elderly assistance, 9% goes to pastoral training funding support, 7% goes to youth and child assistance, 5% goes to fund-raising support, and 3% of administration fee.

There are 4,000 volunteers in Toronto who are helping in various communities, and they have contributed over 250,000 working hours.

The fund-raising dates for ShareLife in all parishes in 2007 are on March 25, April 29, and June 3.

The Finance Department of the Canadian Federal Government has passed a new law recently stating that all stocks donated to fund-raising organizations can receive tax-exemption on all its revenues. Tax receipts will also be issued for all stocks donated to these organizations. As you may all know, our parish still owes the Archdiocese and the bank over CAN$1 million. However, according to the current progress of the Church Building Fund, we are on track to repay all the loans in a timely manner. Thus, I invite everyone to continually support our Church Building Fund, as well as donating to the ShareLife fund as well. After all, you will receive more blessing to give than to receive.