September 2005

Twenty-five years ago, Archbishop Oscar Romero, Sister Dorothy Kazel, O.S.U., Sister Maura Clark, M.M., Ita Ford, M.M. and Jean Donovan, were killed because they chose to walk with the poor of El Salvador and to be a voice against injustice.

Today we celebrate their lives and those of the 75,000 Salvadoran martyrs by continuing their tradition of accompaniment. Since 1981, SHARE has supported the empowerment of impoverished and marginalized Salvadoran communities as they seek long-term, sustainable solutions to poverty, underdevelopment and social injustice.

To honor the memory of the martyrs and the spirit of their lives, we have launched the Legacy Fund, a campaign to raise an additional $500,000 to support SHARE’s ongoing work in El Salvador.

The Legacy Fund assists SHARE as we continue to advocate for peace and justice and foster relationships between communities in El Salvador and the U.S. It will provide the financial resources for our ongoing work in El Salvador, including the following projects:

The Women’s Building: SHARE is working with the Women’s Institute (IMU) to initiate a participatory planning process for a Women’s Building in our new target zone, Chalchuapa. A vision arising from IMU’s study circles with over 450 women in Sonsonate, Ahuachapán, and Santa Ana , the center would provide a public place to hold meetings, literacy and gender workshops and offices to house different women’s associations. In this western region where only 20% of women have formal employment, the small businesses planned for the building’s base would offer greatly needed jobs and the auditorium could be rented out for local events.

Providing financial and technical support to grassroots advocacy groups: SHARE is supporting groups such as ACAP, which is organizing to stop a beltway implemented by Plan Puebla Panama from displacing communities, disrupting water supplies, and threatening environmentally protected forests and watersheds.

Expanding the U.S.-El Salvador Sister Community Program: SHARE is expanding the people it serves in El Salvador by supporting entire regions of 20 to 40 communities with regional projects that promote youth leadership development and women’s empowerment. The program is also growing in the U.S. by inviting new churches, schools and communities to begin the journey of a sister relationship with regions in El Salvador.

We are thrilled by the energy surrounding this campaign! Our Board has taken a leadership role, pledging to raise over $40,000 over the next year. Numerous staff have volunteered above and beyond their current jobs to fundraise for the Legacy Fund and over 25 religious orders have already donated.

To date we have raised over $63,000 thanks to our many supporters. Here are just a few of the diverse and exciting ways people have chosen to contribute to the Legacy Fund:

Sister Kate O’Donnell and Sister Miriam Murray raised over $2,000 selling fair trade coffee and t-shirts at their Congregational Assembly.

Faye Butler raised $1,720 with a written reflection on her trip to El Salvador for Archbishop Romero’s 25 th Anniversary asking friends to contribute to the Legacy Fund.
Romero delegate Kathleen Kenney and her husband had friends sponsor a 326.5-mile bike ride through Wisconsin, raising $1,000 thanks to their pedaling feet.

We invite you to join with us in this legacy of hope—the legacy of the martyrs of El Salvador who inspire us to continually sow the seeds of justice—and commit to raise $1,000, $500, or $300 and/or give a gift to the Legacy Fund.

If you would like to fundraise for the Legacy Fund and need tools, materials or ideas, please call our Development Director, Stephanie Pile, at (415) 239-2595. For more information on the Legacy Fund, you can also visit our website at www.share-elsalvador.org.

We thank you for walking with SHARE and the people of El Salvador for the last 25 years. We thank you for being part of this legacy of hope.

Un abrazo solidario,

Jose Artiga, Executive Director

Tara Carr -Lemke, DC Director

Marina Peña, El Salvador Director

P.S. With the Legacy Fund / Fondo de Esperanza, we celebrate 25 years of Solidarity with the people of El Salvador . We count on your support to keep walking in solidarity.