We are extremely proud that due to your continued
support and generosity our June 2022 grant round was our largest ever $2,117,974 to 14 projects
in Ireland and Australia thanks to a very major donation from an extremely generous donor to support
- the Trinity St. James Cancer
Research Institute
- the Provosts PhD Scholarship
Programme at Trinity College
And
other Donor Advised Gifts to support
- Learning Hub Limerick teaching art,
science, music, health, stories, and digital learning for all children in
addition to school. In Limerick only 6% of young children progress to
university
- Inner City Enterprise helping
unemployed individuals, social enterprises and potential youth
entrepreneurs establish their own businesses
- Community Action Network a social
justice organization working with local communities in South Dublin to
innovatively tackle local issues such as poor housing, community safety
threats arising from drug abuse, unemployment, and racism.
In
Australia we are supporting Beyond Blue, Mental health and as a one off in response to this unique situation in the local Lidcombe
community supporting displaced Ukrainian people as they arrive (as well as
support for Ukrainian people locally in Ireland).
We are a network with a purpose. We bring people together
from all parts of the world to have fun, spend time with like-minded company
giving us all joy, whilst giving back to those in need. Striving to be the
largest network of friends of Ireland around the Globe, being a part of the
Ireland Funds family means that together we can make a huge difference.
A
snapshot of our 2022 Grant Round is below and full details of our grant round can be viewed in
our Trustee
Report and additional information regarding our
impact can be viewed here.
Together over the past 35 years our donors have enabled The Ireland Funds Australia to make over 242 grants
totaling over $15 million which supported Education, Community Development, Peace & Reconciliation and the Arts projects.
I
am extremely proud of the outstanding work that the Young Leaders continue to do,
this year they held yet another successful Global 5K where they raised over $12,000 profit supporting
Beyond Blue in Australia and My Mind in Ireland. Our Young Leaders are
without doubt some of the most active Young Leaders globally and the next
generation of philanthropists which is so vital to ensuring the longevity of the
work of the Fund.
I would like to take this opportunity to officially thank our
out-going Chair of the Young Leaders Committee Melissa Fisher, we appreciate
your leadership and commitment over the past two years, you have made a real
difference and achieved amazing results. Welcome to our new Chair Toni O’Neill
and Deputy Chair Mairtin O’Rabhartaigh – we are looking forward to working closely
with you in 2023 and beyond.
We would also like to congratulate two members of our Young
Leader Committee for outstanding achievements, Sarah Meenan who has been
shortlisted for the Public Relations Institute of Australia’s Emerging Leader
of the Year Award and to Meadhbh Cacciaguidi-Fahy who is a rising star in the Legal
500 GC Power list.
Final congratulations to friends of The Ireland Fund David
Eccles of Enterprise Ireland and Tadhg Kennelly who have been named as NSW
Community Champions by NSW Mental Health Commissioner Ms Catherine Lourey for
their work running the successful mental health group WNOW doing incredible work
aimed at reducing the incidence of men’s suicide.
A
huge thank you to all our partners, sponsors and friends we could not continue to do the work that we do without your support. We are really excited about 2023 and are creating opportunities for us to continue to come together, to raise funds and to support those that need us most across the island of Ireland and here in Australia.
On
behalf of our Chair Yvonne Le Bas, our Board of Directors, Young Leaders and
myself I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year. I am looking forward to a quiet and peaceful Christmas, to
farewell 2022 and look to 2023 with a renewed appreciation for family,
friendships, health and excited to continue our good work in the new year.
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