4th Annual Say Yes! to Kids Campaign Raises $130,000
The Anglican Foundation of Canada’s (AFC) 4th annual Say Yes! to Kids (STYK) campaign was a great success, with 33 fundraising teams across 22 dioceses having raised more than $130,000 toward local children and youth ministry projects. Nearly half of the SYTK teams reached or surpassed their goals, while the remaining half achieved between 50% and 80% of their targets.
“Say Yes! to Kids is a hopeful and ambitious program that aligns with AFC’s vision to increase community connectedness and fund transformational ministry across Canada,” says Dr. Scott Brubacher, Executive Director. “On an almost weekly basis, AFC receives another impact story of how SYTK initiatives have revitalized ministry and created new opportunities to engage children, youth, and young adults with mentors, their peers, and the broader church community.”
Brubacher says he was impressed this year by the level of engagement from dioceses that are actively involved in camping ministry, some with as many as three summer camps. “We had 10 dioceses rallied around 16 camps this year. Most were raising funds for bursaries to sponsor campers to have an ‘unplugged and unforgettable’ summer in God’s creation. It was wonderful to get a big-picture view of camping ministry across the Anglican Church of Canada.”
New to the 2024 campaign was a Say Yes! to Kids Sunday liturgical resource, which served as a spiritual focal point for fundraising teams as well as other churches across Canada who simply wanted to support the SYTK movement through prayer and offertory gifts.
Archbishop Anne Germond, acting Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, welcomed the liturgy. “I was so pleased to have such a comprehensive, user-friendly liturgical resource to recommend to parishes. I especially loved the Prayers of the People and the litany inviting us to hear God calling us to new forms of ministry with children and youth and the suggestions for involvement of children and youth in the liturgy.”
Since 2021, the SYTK movement has raised over $700,000 for youth-focused ministry and outreach across the Anglican Church of Canada. In addition to the local beneficiaries, these combined efforts have also provided $40,000 in funding for national Indigenous youth programs.
While the SYTK campaign is now closed, AFC supporters can donate any time during the calendar year to the Kids Helping Kids Fund. Donations to this fund are used to support youth-centred grants that fall outside of the SYTK partnership appeal program.
