Philanthropist of the year Awards 2015 and the winners are…
On Friday January 23rd our sister organisation, The Community Foundation for Ireland, announced the winners of this year’s Philanthropist of the Year Award. The winners are: Brendan O’Carroll as National Philanthropist of the Year for his work with St Vincent de Paul. BNY Mellon as Corporate Philanthropist of the Year for their work with Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABI), Wexford. The special Brian Wilson Award is awarded to Jim and Adeline Callery for their contribution to cultural and educational projects in County Roscommon, including the foundation of The Irish National Famine Museum.
The awards were established to recognise the extraordinary generosity and leadership of philanthropists in the country. As well as celebrating public philanthropy, the awards also focus on the unsung heroes in our society whose excellent and often undisclosed works contribute to making communities across Ireland stronger places to live in.
Speaking at the awards, our CEO, Tina Roche commented:
“This year’s winners highlight the impact sustained long term giving can have on a specific cause or issue, as instanced by Brendan O’Carroll’s support for St Vincent de Paul, BNY Mellon’s support for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland Jim and Adeline Callery’s support for causes and projects in their home county of Roscommon. Philanthropy is from both the head and the heart; it is truly planned giving. It focuses on results, on the longer term and on the sustainable. We hope these recipients will inspire and challenge others to give in a planned and strategic way, such as by setting up a corporate, family or personal fund with The Community Foundation for Ireland.”
The Community Foundation for Ireland works with philanthropists to connect them to causes they care about and ensures that their charitable donations are impactful and administered to the highest standards of governance. By making grants on their behalf we empower people and organisations who want to make a difference in the community through a model of philanthropy that is based on trust, effectiveness and impact. The Foundation manages over 50 funds and since its foundation in 2000, will have awarded over €20m to community groups and charities throughout Ireland. Grants in excess of €3.7 million were issued on behalf of donors in 2014 to charities and community groups, the highest annual amount distributed to date.
Full details on this year’s Winners and their Philanthropic Projects:
BNY Mellon – Corporate Philanthropist of the Year
A global leader in investment management and investment services, BNY Mellon has a longstanding tradition of corporate philanthropy through its global Community Partnership Programme, one key strand of which is its philanthropic grant programme ‘Powering Potential’. BNY Mellon has had a presence in Ireland for over 20 years and currently employs over 1,700 people with offices in Cork, Dublin and Wexford. Since 2009, BNY Mellon Wexford’s team and ABI Ireland have worked collaboratively on a shared vision to ensure that “People with Neuro-Rehabilitation needs and their families receive to highest quality personalised services and supports as and when they need them.” In order to realise this vision, BNY Mellon has provided in excess of €60, 000 through direct donations, team-oriented volunteering, and employee/company matched fundraising to establish The ABI Ireland Clubhouse Day Resource Service in Wexford. The Clubhouse is a day resource and support service for individuals and families affected by ABI. It also offers information and training events to the wider community which is part of ABI Ireland’s on-going commitment to ABI awareness, prevention and education. Without BNY Mellon’s continued philanthropic support the ABI Ireland Clubhouse would not exist. The support, passion , time, talent and financial contribution from the BNY Mellon team makes a daily difference to the lives of people affected by an acquired brain injury as well as to ABI families and the communities in which they live.
Pictured above: The Community Foundation for Ireland announces BNY Mellon as winners of the Corporate Philanthropist of the Year Awards 2015 for their work with Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. David O’Brien and Kathleen Sunguroglu, BNY Mellon and Louise Power, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland.
