I have to tell you, I appreciate everyone's input about the life and ministry of St. Michael's even when it's negative. Someone made the comment about the 50th Anniversary Campaign, "Why are we spending all this money on ourselves?" My answer is "Goats, Grants and Giveaways." Let me start unpacking that for you.

Giveaways refers to the policy set by the steering committee of the 50th Anniversary Campaign when it first started working on this project. From the very beginning, a policy was set stating that 10 percent of the proceeds from money raised through 50th anniversary events would be a "giveaway" to a local charity connected to the event.  For instance, proceeds from our "Celebrating Marriage" event are being sent to Family Services of Racine as scholarship money to help folks cover the cost of marriage counseling.  By the end of the year, I hope we "Give Away" $1,000 to local charities as a way of sharing the celebration of 50 years of ministry.

Grants - Often times folks have great ideas about outreach initiatives for our community. They have the drive, the ambition and the heart to make it work, but not the money.  Deacon Bob Bagley and Deacon Kevin Stewart have both been assigned to Racine. Their mission is to identify the needs of our community and make those needs known to the church. It is the church's responsibility to respond to those needs as best we can. Part of our 50th Anniversary Campaign is a $50,000 outreach fund that would be used to secure matching grants. You see, many grants are contingent upon the organization coming up with a matching amount. In many circumstances that is very difficult. With an outreach fund we will be able to do things we could only imagine and affect some real change in this community.

Goats - As part of the 50th Anniversary Campaign we also wanted to reach beyond our community and our borders. So we have partnered with the Oxfam organization to send 50 goats to impoverished parts of the world, to be given to families as a step toward economic sustainability and independence. A goat can produce 16 cups of milk a day and produce 3 kids a year. The gift of a goat is a gift which can turn a family, a village and a world around.  So for every $5,000 we raise for our campaign, we will buy a goat for an impoverished family. We have raised nearly $120,000 so far and that is about 24  goats. Check out the bulletin board in the church lobby and you will see our progress.

So, if you hear some grumbling in the parish about the 50th Campaign and a comment like "Why are we spending all this money on ourselves" pops up, respond "Goats, Grants and Giveaways."  Then take the time to fill them in and spur them on to give generously.