May 22nd: Business Impact Map shows Irish Companies Contribute Over €21 million to Charities and Community Groups in 2012
- 46 of Ireland’s largest Irish companies contributed over €21.3 million euro to the community in 2012
- In-kind donations increased from €3million in 2011 to €6million in 2012
- Over 4,800 community partnerships have been established
- Statistics available on online interactive map entitled the ‘Business Impact Map’
- Map launches today as business, NGOs and government meet to discuss collaboration on key social issues
Dublin, 22nd May 2013: 46 socially minded Irish companies have formed over 4,800 community partnerships and donated over €21.3 million in cash donations, in-kind donations and employee fundraising to local charities and community groups. In-kind donations and volunteering hours have both significantly increased in 2012 compared to 2011. This information is being captured by Business in the Community Ireland on an online interactive map entitled the “Business Impact Map” which gives a county by county breakdown of how much companies and employees supported their local community groups and charities in 2012.
National statistics show that almost €12 million was given in cash donations, €6 million was contributed through in kind donations and €3 million was raised through employee fundraising. Employees also volunteered over 139,000 hours to local groups and projects during the year. The statistics are from 46 of Ireland’s largest companies that are members of Business in the Community Ireland, the network for responsible business. The map can be viewed at http://livemaps.bitc.ie
Social issues that received the most support were health at €6.9 million, employment programmes at €3.5 million, community projects at €2.3 million and education programmes at €1.5 million. At the consultation being held today between government, NGOs and business, the specific topics being discussed are education, employment and health as they reflect the areas that have received the most funding not only in 2012 but also over the past four years since the map was first produced.
“This is our fourth year to compile these national statistics on the Business Impact Map. A trend we have noticed over the years is that as times are getting tougher companies are contributing more in the way of in kind donations and employee volunteering hours. In kind donations increased almost 100% on last year’s figures rising from €3.3 million to €6 million this year. This shows that companies are still keen to have an impact on society and on their local areas but are providing support in different ways and using their own skillset to provide pro bono work or other products and services free of charge to local groups and charities.” said Tina Roche, CEO of Business in the Community Ireland.
In the county by county breakdown, counties which ranked the highest for overall funding outside of Dublin were Cork receiving €1.1 million, Mayo receiving €1.09 million, Kildare receiving €742,000 and Galway receiving €567,000. However for employee fundraising Kildare ranked the highest at €406,000 in total followed by Cork at €135,000 and Wexford at €121,000. For volunteering hours, after Dublin, Kildare was well ahead of the rest with over 18,000 hours volunteered. Next were Meath and Cork with 7,600 and 7,300 hours respectively.
The map was officially launched this morning at a symposium held in Ulster Bank where business. NGOs and government came together to discuss the potential for collaboration on key social issues. The map was also previewed yesterday to all the TDs and Senators at a special briefing held at Leinster House.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Una O’ Murchu
Business in the Community Ireland
Tel: 01 874 3812
Mob: 086 780 87 62
Email: uomurchu@bitc.ie
Editors’ notes:
Our member companies involved in the map are: Our member companies profiled on the map are: A& L Goodbody, Abbott Ireland, Accenture, AOL Ireland, AIB Group, Bank of Ireland Group, Boots Retail (Irl) Ltd, Bord Gáis Networks, BT Ireland, Coca-Cola Ireland, Coillte, DAA, Danske Bank, Deloitte, Diageo Ireland, eBay Inc, Ecocem, EirGrid plc, elan Corporation plc, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, ESB, Glanbia plc, IBM Ireland Ltd., Intel Ireland, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, Janssen Biologics (Ireland), Janssen Pharmaceutical, KBC Bank Ireland, KPMG, Marks & Spencer (Ireland) Ltd, Microsoft Ireland, MSD, Musgrave Group, O2 Ireland ,Oracle EMEA, PepsiCo, Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, PM Group, PwC, Rabobank, Shell E&P Ireland Ltd, State Street International Ireland, Topaz, Ulster Bank Group, Veolia Environnement. Vodafone Foundation Ireland.
About Business in the Community Ireland
Business in the Community Ireland is the network for responsible business. Ireland’s largest companies are members of the network and its team of experts assists business to integrate responsible and sustainable business practices throughout its operations. BITCI’s range of practical support aims to develop, benchmark and scale-up responsible activities to have the greatest impact on society.
