The American Ireland Fund in New York has raised a record $2 million this year and has contributed $1 million to support the Worldwide Special Olympics in Ireland next month.
This was announced by Mrs Loretta Brennan Glucksman, chairman of the American Ireland Fund, at the 28th annual New York dinner gala in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Thursday evening.
"We're absolutely delighted with it," Games spokesman Mr Julian Davis said last night.
"The American Ireland Fund have been hugely supportive over the last few years and without them the games would not be possible," he said.
The event was marked by the presentation of the Leslie C. Quick leadership award to Mr John Duffy and Mr Thomas F. O'Neill, whose firms suffered devastating losses in the World Trade Centre attacks on September 11th, 2001, but which have since been rebuilt. Mr Duffy is chairman and CEO of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods.
The investment bank was located on the 88th and 89th floors of the World Trade Centre.
It lost 67 of its 220 employees. Among the dead were Mr Duffy's son, Chris; chairman and CEO Mr Joe Berry; and executive vice-president Mr Joseph Lenihan.
Mr O'Neill is co-founder and principal of Sandler O'Neill & Partners investment banking firm, which was situated on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Centre.
A total of 66 of its 171 of staff members died in the attacks, including co-founder Mr Herb Sandler.
"These two outstanding Irish Americans have successfully weathered the tremendous personal and corporate challenges they faced in the wake of 9/11," Mrs Brennan Gluksman said when presenting the awards, named after the late Mr Les Quick, a benefactor of the fund.
The cost of Ireland hosting the Special Olympics Games is €36 million in cash and a further €20 million in in-kind products and services.
To date, €33 million has been raised, leaving the Fundraising Department with a target of just over €2m to raise within 43 days of the opening ceremony on June 21st.
"We're within the last two million of the 36 that we need, so on the financial front the finishing line is in sight," said Mr Davis.
The Support an Athlete Programme, sponsored by RTÉ, is their main fundraising initiative, with a target of €2.5 milliom.
The initiative has attracted thousands of sponsors, with Government departments, schools, and individuals involved.
"The response has been phenomenal. This is very much Ireland's Games, all strands of Irish society have contributed," Mr Davis said.