The Ireland Funds has announced that grants totalling €500,000 will be distributed among 20 organisations that provide essential services to children experiencing poverty, marginalisation and difficult circumstances.
The grants are part of its Heart of the Community Fund and are strategically allocated as a quick response at a time of year when the challenges faced by those experiencing hardship are amplified, the philanthropic network said.
“This grant round reflects the Ireland Funds’ commitment to helping those facing extraordinary challenges. Through philanthropy, we bridge resource gaps, partnering with exceptional organisations to address critical needs of people living in difficult situations. We are deeply appreciative of our donors whose generosity makes this response possible,” said Caitriona Fottrell, president and chief executive of the Ireland Funds.
The organisations across the island will each receive €25,000 to support their work. They span a range of services, including homelessness and family supports, education, youth outreach, mental healthcare and food provision.
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Among them are Barnardos, Capuchin Centre, Citywise Education, COPE Galway, FoodCloud, Home-Start North Down, Kinship Care Northern Ireland and children’s hospice LauraLynn.
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“To see parents having to choose between buying a winter coat for their child or having enough money for food is beyond heartbreaking,” said Sharon Fitzpatrick, head of development at COPE Galway, which works to alleviate hardship and social isolation.
She said the provision of vital supports through the Heart of the Community Fund woule “ease distress and bring comfort to the 253 children in COPE Galway’s homeless families service” over the Christmas period and into the new year.
Daire Hennessy, chief executive of Citywise Education, said the grant would enable the Dublin-based organisation to help more young people from underserved communities reach their potential through academic classes and mentorship from local role models.
“Many young people from disadvantaged backgrounds need extra guidance to progress to third level education, and this grant will allow us to expand our proven model, which saw 95 per cent of participants advance to further education last year.”
The Ireland Funds is a global philanthropic network established in 1976. It is one of the largest independent grant makers for the not-for-profit sector in Ireland.
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