Twenty five years ago in early December three Brendan Wood International partners gathered for a quiet lunch to contemplate the usual, annual, empty ritual, namely the dreaded company Christmas party! Three of us, all Catholics, were depressed by the upcoming spectacle. That year had been a terrible year and we had no extra cash or enthusiasm for a hollow celebration. On the second glass of wine, we rebelled unanimously. The Christmas party was off! What would we do instead? Given our moods, it was decided that little, if anything, would make us feel better. Then the inevitable... “there are lots of people worse off than us”. Why not do something to help others? So who was worse off than us and what could we do to help them? While there were countless people who needed help and uplifting, we didn’t really know who they were and how to reach them. As we meditated on this, the conversation began to light up with all kinds of ideas. In fact, there were so many ideas to look into, and causes to investigate, that we completely forgot about our meagre funds. It was as if the desire to do something had multiplied our resources. It had.

With all the possibilities and little cash it was decided to do the research Brendan Wood International style. How could we get the most value to the end user? Which charitable organizations really delivered? Which were bureaucracies? Who had a handle on the best answers to social problems? What causes were the most important?

The next move was obvious. We would split up some cash amongst the employees of Brendan Wood International, our interviewers and some of our friends and ask them to seek out the best causes they could find and gather together for a dinner at which they would share the story behind what they did with the money. We agreed there would be no restraints on any basis – all religious and secular causes chosen by our friends were ‘in’.

It was possibly the best decision ever made at BWI. The education has been spectacular, the dinners have been inspirational, to say the least, and we couldn’t have imagined how much could be done with so little money when the right people chose to put it into the right hands. We now call these efforts the Lazarus project.

BWI PARTNERS
Brendan Wood	Stewart Borden
Jon Ruby	Nora Turkevics

The last two years have presented our Lazarus project with innumerable opportunities to participate in acts of charity. An obvious perception, especially now that Lazarus finds itself on many lists of known contributors, is that organizations seeking financial support are rapidly increasing in number. While assessing the needs and qualities of various charitable organizations and sending a cheque is certainly better than doing nothing, the road ahead calls us to a deeper commitment.

In the broader picture, Lazarus is now anxious to grow in wisdom and commitment and we feel that greater “hands on” use of our skills, energy and resources is the next level to be achieved in that growth.

Anne and I join our partners in a most sincere thank you to the many friends this year and last who added their personal gifts and inspirations to Lazarus. Many thousands of dollars passed through our hands from yours to good, solid organizations. A special thank you to the Salvation Army.

At Christmas we are especially aware of the world changing event of the birth of a child. Reflecting on it, the birth of every child is a world changing event. Hollywood produced a great piece of theatre demonstrating the enormous differance made to the world by the life of a single person and how easily that truth becomes lost like so many others in a world of political correctness. The name of the movie ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ starred Jimmy Stewart.

This year we are supporting any and all institutions who make a meaningful contribution to the commitment to life, especially amongst women struggling with unexpected or unwanted pregnancies. Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity and many other institutions on our list provide moral support, love and care to mothers and their children who might have been lost. In a world so greatly in need of change it seems apt to throw our arms around new life, for in each and every child the possibilities for our world are as amazing as birth itself.

Some say we must save the world. In China this means population control! Some say we cannot feed the people we have. Amongst African dictators that means starvation! I say life is beyond our ken. It is a miracle to be viewed in awe. Only love can touch it.
— Brendan Wood

Special Guests: Captain Geoff Ryan and Captain Sandra Ryan
from the Salvation Army with Brendan and Anne Wood