News & Blogs

When “The little Church with the Big Heart” was tasked with installing vinyl siding on its 170-year-old building, warden Jeff Rodgers anticipated that putting a stop to chilly drafts would lower heating costs and make the building feel better. “What I did not anticipate,” says Rodgers, “is how this project would help the congregation to feel better.”

The generative nature of paying-it-forward is, I think, what makes it such a powerful remedy for financial anxiety. In our church, nationally, the best evidence we have of this is the Anglican Foundation of Canada.

Anglicans are caring for the climate in the midst of a global pandemic. Pollinators, Permaculture, Xeriscaping & LED Lights — these are some of the recipients of RFP awards to address the crisis of climate change.

The spirit of generosity remains high among Canadian Anglicans as the Anglican Foundation of Canada thanks donors from coast to coast to coast for an overwhelming response to its annual fundraising effort, expected to total more than $165,000, representing a 9% increase over last year.

Anglican Foundation seeks children and youth for podcast on generosity. “Nurturing generous-hearted living may be one of the greatest things we can do for young people,” says Judy Rois, Executive Director, Anglican Foundation of Canada.

In 2000, “Pay it Forward” was the title of a film where a young boy comes up with an idea that changes many lives. He decides that instead of returning a favour, he will pay it forward by doing good deeds for three other people.

Normally at this time of year, our neighbourhoods, shopping centres, restaurants, and churches don their holiday decorations and festive trimmings, and we, their delightful recipients, savour the anticipatory joy of the Christmas season. Alas, this year will be different.

Almost 15 years after the author’s death, the Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust published a wonderful little book called The Spirituality of Fundraising, based on Nouwen’s writings about faith and possessions and love. It is a superb monograph, and so well worth reading.

Back in 2011, as AFC’s freshly-minted Executive Director, I began a series of town hall conversations with children between the ages of ten and twelve with one simple question: “If you could give away some of your allowance to something really worthwhile, what would you want to support?” Their answers resulted in the birth of AFC’s Kids Helping Kids Fund.