Welcome to Update - May 2022
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Working towards a truly just,
healthy and peaceful world.
  • A legacy of love for PWRDF
  • Life in a refugee shelter in Hungary
  • PWRDF supports four new emergency responses where needs are dire
  • Meet our new Senior Advisor of Major Gifts and Planned Giving!
  • May online events
Voices of Hope can be shared in your parish as a bulletin insert, read as an announcement, or included in an e-blast. This month read about EHALE, PWRDF's partner in Mozambique, as it installs solar suitcases in 50 rural health clinics.
NEWS
A legacy of love
Roslyn Macgregor's history with PWRDF started in 1984 when she met Mary Baker, a soon-to-be best friend and mentor. "Mary was the first diocesan rep for PWRDF … and she was the first chair of PWRDF Montreal. She was an educator and encourager and a dynamic, committed supporter of PWRDF," she writes. Today Ros is a dedicated PWRDF volunteer and financial supporter, and has also remembered PWRDF in her will.
From a war zone to safety, for now
Irina, 31, lives with her two children and 90 other refugees in the Batiovo refugee shelter in Transcarpathia, near the border of Hungary and Ukraine. The shelter is heated and equipped with hot and cold running water, as well as mattresses and blankets. It is one of more than 120 refugee centres and shelters that Hungarian Interchurch Aid supplies with food, water, hygiene products and household appliances, with support from PWRDF and other fellow members of the ACT Alliance.
PWRDF matches Ukraine donations
with four other responses
PWRDF is allocating $360,000 to support humanitarian relief efforts in Myanmar, Iraq, Ethiopia and Syria, parts of the world where needs are high, where looming conflict threatens to further displace people and where crisisis preventing families from staying healthy.
Tigray support will build on past appeals
PWRDF has allocated $90,000 from its reserves to an ACT Alliance appeal supporting the people of Ethiopia, in particular the residents of Tigray.
Thanks to PWRDF for “love for God’s work”
In May 2021, a long-awaited healthcare facility was commissioned by the Bishop of Lusaka in Zambia. Since then, staff have helped women deliver more than 70 healthy babies. The centre also provides Mother to Child services, COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, and malaria testing and treatment. PWRDF's financial support was crucial for the centre to open.
PWRDF fundraising team expands
In April, PWRDF welcomed Manita Swati as the new Senior Advisor for Major Gifts and Planned Giving. Manita was previously the Senior Development Officer, Planned Giving at the Nature Conservatory of Canada where she ensured funding to environmental conversation projects in Canada. Prior to that she was with Plan International Canada, as an Associate in Planned Giving, working with local and international partners to fund development projects around the globe. 
 
“Long-term support is so important to supporting the growth of PWRDF’s local and global partnerships,” says Manita. “I’m looking forward to using my professional and educational expertise to develop funding streams from multiple sources.”

Learn more about Manita and her role at PWRDF at our webinar later this month (see below).
PWRDF First Annual Volunteer Crossword Puzzle Challenge
Congratulations to Our Winners! 

Thank you to everyone who filled in and submitted their crossword puzzles! It was a close contest and here are your winners: 
  • Cynthia Haines-Turner, PWRDF Board of Directors member, Diocese of Western Newfoundland 
  • Melissa Nixon, Office Coordinator in the Diocese of Rupert’s Land 
  • Cheryl Marek, PWRDF Mapping Exercise Facilitator, Diocese of Toronto 
PWRDF wants to hear from you!
Please share your fundraising success stories to inspire others and to spread the word about the good work you have done! Email Christine Hills and tell us about it. Many thanks to all of our donors.
PWRDF May online events
Praying with PWRDF in May
All are welcome to join our online parish. Hundreds have prayed with us from across Canada.
  • May 5: James Kornelsen, Public Engagement Coordinator, CFGB
  • May 19: Bishop Bruce Myers, Diocese of Quebec
May 19, 7-8:30 p.m. ET
Decolonizing Fundraising

The Diocese of Montreal PWRDF Committee is inviting you to join their Zoom webinar to learn about PWRDF’s new Indigenous Responsive Programs Grant. You will hear from Lisa Phillips, Executive Director of Kanien’kehá:kaOnkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center and Will Postma, Executive Director, PWRDF. For more information, please email Rev. Roslyn Macgregor.
May 25, 7- 8 p.m. ET
Legacy Giving with PWRDF

PWRDF is offering webinars to volunteers and supporters who wish to learn more about PWRDF’s fundraising initiatives and how you can get involved. In this webinar, Manita Swati, Planned Giving and Major Gifts Senior Advisor, will provide an introduction to Planned Giving and share some of PWRDF’s goals and strategies.
May 31, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET
PWRDF’s Ukraine Response

Since the war in Ukraine began, PWRDF supporters have been giving generously, which has allowed us to increase our commitment to the ACT Appeal and support new partners. In this webinar, Patricia Maruschak, PWRDF’s Director of Programs and Partnerships, herself a Ukrainian Canadian who has lived and worked in Ukraine, wil be joined by other staff and representatives from partner organizations (TBC). They will provide an overview of PWRDF’s response.
PWRDF coming to a church near you – virtually

PWRDF has joined scores of virtual worship services at parishes across the country. Staff can deliver a prerecorded sermon, or join live worship on Zoom or other platforms. To learn more or to book a virtual guest speaker, contact Public Engagement Officer Christine Hills.
RESOURCES
Final learning module of Education Focus Year One now available
Naba Gurung, centre, PWRDF's Humanitarian Response Coordinator, reflects on the impact of climate related disasters on food security.
What does it mean to wait and to prepare for the coming growing season? What does it mean to wait and prepare as climate change wreaks havoc on seasons and life cycles? What does it mean to wait and prepare for the next climate change-induced disaster? And where do we find hope as we wait and prepare?  

Our final learning module for Year One of our Education Focus on climate action invites you to explore the theme of “waiting and preparing.” Throughout the series, we have looked at the connections between climate change and food security through reflection, learning, prayer, action and giving.
Check out our podcast
A just generation is a series of conversations with allies, educators and folks working to bring about equity and justice. Listen to the podcast
Book your online
Mapping Exercise

PWRDF's Mapping the Ground We Stand On is now available as an online workshop. Click here to learn more, or to book your workshop, email Christine Hills.
Climate Action resources available
for order
PWRDF’s 2021 resources focus on UN Sustainable Development Goal #13, Climate Action. Our series of bulletin inserts highlight how PWRDF partners are taking climate action to improve food security, empower women, health, Indigenous communities, emergency response, refugees and displaced people and engaging youth.
PWRDF | Website