SHARE's Programs

Did you know that this is a very special year for the SHARE Foundation? Twenty-five years ago, a few visionary, committed people planted the seeds of what has grown into TheSHARE Foundation: Building a New El Salvador Today! We thank you for making these twenty-five years possible and invite you to help us celebrate SHARE’s 25 th anniversary!

In the 1980s SHARE brought together thousands of courageous people from North America to accompany Salvadorans under threat, internally displaced or exiled to refugee camps. The relationships created through this early accompaniment evolved and grew so that, today, SHARE facilitates ongoing relationships with a number of North American groups and grassroots partners in El Salvador. Accompanying Salvadoran Communities today is through physical presence that strengthens relationships, fundraising for projects that promote economic justice, and advocacy for systemic change to improve the lives of El Salvador’s majority poor.

SHARE’s 25 th Anniversary Celebration is a unique opportunity to remember and renew commitment to the people of El Salvador through our support of the SHARE Foundation. Four regional events are being planned, and we hope you will participate in at least one of them:

Washington, DC ◊ September 30 to October 2, 2006
Milwaukee, WI ◊ Fall 2007
San Salvador, El Salvador ◊ Winter 2007
San Francisco, CA ◊ Winter 2007

If you are able, please join us on the East Coast for the Washington, DC celebration this Fall. The activities open with a Saturday night grand fiesta of food, music, dancing and an auction, remembering the past and honoring strong supporters. Sunday includes a morning ecumenical service, a human rights Symposium, training for Monday’s legislative visits and a relaxing social. After Monday morning’s lobbying, there will be an awards ceremony on Capitol Hill, and the celebration ends with a closing lunch, debriefing and blessing for the future.

The Symposium will feature internationally known Dr. Beatrice de Carrillo – lawyer, author, university professor and currently the Human Rights Ombudswoman of El Salvador. Despite being the target of death threats and public slander, Dr. Carrillo has transformed the Human Rights Office, making it one of Central America’s strongest. A panel of experts will expand upon her analysis of the critical issues facing Salvadorans today and discuss ways we can most effectively accompany them. Dr. Carrillo will be honored at Monday’s awards ceremony, along with U.S. legislators who have promoted human rights in El Salvador.

Another way to participate in our anniversary celebrations is by contributing to our auction. Perhaps you have sporting event tickets, frequent flyer miles or beautiful artwork to share or would like to offer a gourmet meal in your home. Whether you are able to join us for one of our regional celebrations or not, there is a way for you to be involved! There will be an auction at both the Washington, DC fiesta and our San Francisco event, with the latter being preceded by an online auction. So we will be searching for treasures and bidders from all over the country. Though accepting submissions over a number of months, we need items for the DC event soon. Please see the enclosed flyer for more information.

Finally, we hope you will consider making a special anniversary contributionto SHARE, above and beyond your regular gifts. We have only been able to walk with marginalized Salvadoran communities for twenty-five years because of the generous support of our loyal friends. Help us thrive for another twenty-five years! The names of those making anniversary gifts will be listed in the program book at all three of our U.S. events. There is also the opportunity to advertise in our program book. Do you have a business that would benefit from promotion in Washington, DC, San Francisco and Milwaukee? Or would you like to offer a message of solidarity and support? An enclosed flyer has further details.

Please put September 30 to October 2, 2006 on your calendar. This anniversary celebration provides a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends and celebrate our accomplishments, even as we look to ways to continue to accompany the people of El Salvador into the future. We hope to see you there – or in Milwaukee, San Salvador or San Francisco!

Sincerely,

Kathleen Kenney Diane Clyne, RSM

Kathleen has been involved with SHARE for many years Chair of Board of Directors

and was a key person in the founding of our sister parishes.

She was also a staff member during the repatriation.

.S. A registration form for the Washington, DC event is enclosed. Please check www.SHARE-elsalvador.org for fliers and registration materials for each regional event as they become available, as well as upcoming details about our auctions and special anniversary sale items.