PRESS RELEASE
EMBARGOED: 9PM, Wednesday 13 December 2017
Issued by The Wheel
FROM BELCAMP TO BELARUS, NEW NATIONAL
AWARDS CELEBRATE THE IMPACT OF IRISH CHARITIES
13 September 2017: A national charity that has helped tens of thousands of Irish children, a community organisation that has improved the lives of over a thousand older people in North Dublin, and a Kerry couple who drive 3,000km every year to Belarus to provide free dental care to children in need were among the winners of the inaugural Charity Impact Awards in Dublin this evening.
The aim of the Charity Impact Awards is to shine a light on the positive impact and changes community, voluntary and charitable organisations are making in communities across Ireland, and to inspire others to do the same. An initiative of The Wheel, the national association for Irish charities, one hundred and eighteen charities and volunteers were nominated for the Awards and over thirty-two thousand people voted for their favourite nominees.
Divided into five categories, the three winners of the Community Impact Awards were Barnardos, Darndale Belcamp Village Centre – Golden Years Senior Centre, and 22q11 (for large, medium and small organisations respectively). All of the nominees, and most especially the winners, were congratulated by Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive of The Wheel, for their achievement.
Speaking at the Awards, Ms Garvey said, “These Awards remind us that there are tens of thousands of good people doing good work in their local communities every day. It can be very hard to keep the work going sometimes, but the impact of it is invaluable to Ireland. It’s time that we recognise and celebrate the value of this contribution to Irish society. And as part of that, we ask the public to do what they possibly can to rally to the cause they care for, whether that be through volunteering, donating or other kinds of support. ”
Co. Kerry Couple win Charity Hero Award
Volunteers were also celebrated at the Awards, with Tralee couple George and Mary Sugrue winning the 2017 Community Hero of the Year Award.
Husband and wife team, George and Mary, have been volunteering with Adi Roche's Chernobyl Children International (CCI) for over 20 years. Through their advocacy and hard work they founded and single-handedly run the Chernobyl Children International Dental Programme. Each year they drive over 3,000kms to provide high standard dental care to children who have been abandoned in institutions. This year, they have expanded their programme with a mobile dental unit which is used to treat terminally ill children on CCI’s Hospice and Palliative Care Programme reaching almost 200 children with life-limiting illnesses.
Charity Trustee of The Year Award
Derek McCabe was named Charity Trustee of the Year. This particular Award is a first of its kind in Ireland and it was created as part of these inaugural Charity Impact Awards to pay tribute to the nearly 50,000 volunteer charity trustees (board members) who lead Irish charities. Derek is chairman of Extern a leading social justice charity working across the Island of Ireland.
“The time has come to speak publicly together about the amazing things Irish charities are doing for the people and communities they serve. To be proud of who we are and what we stand for. Part of that pride must come from showing the changes and impact that these organisations make and telling our stories in the most compelling and transparent manner. That is why transparency is central to this inaugural Charity Impact Awards,” said Ms Garvey.
#CharityImpactAwards
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The winners and a spokesperson from The Wheel are available for interview. Contact Gert Ackermann on 086 176 9287.
About The Wheel
The Wheel is Ireland’s national association of community, voluntary and charitable organisations. We are a representative voice and a supportive resource that offers advice, training, influence and advocacy for the sector. With a membership of over 1,300 organisations we are the largest representative body for the nonprofit sector.
