Embargo: Monday, 24 September, 3pm
PRESIDENT HIGGINS LAUNCHES NATIONAL CAMPAIGN
TO BOLSTER COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY ACTIVITY
BETTER TOGETHER CAMPAIGN IS DEVELOPED AND RUN BY THE WHEEL WITH THE SUPPORT OF EBS
Photos to be released by Jason Clarke by 3.30pm
DUBLIN, 24 September 2012: President Michael D Higgins today joined The Wheel and EBS, to launch the national campaign, Better Together, to encourage voluntary activity and to help build support for community and non-profit organisations across Ireland.
The Better Together campaign was developed by The Wheel, a national body representing over 900 charities, and is supported by EBS. The campaign provides Ireland’s 11,000* or more community and voluntary groups, clubs and associations with an opportunity to showcase their activities and attract new supporters through short online videos posted on a website, www.bettertogether.ie.
The public are encouraged to support their local charities, clubs and associations by visiting the website, locating groups on an interactive map, voting for their favourite videos or donating online. The 30 causes that attract the most votes will be shortlisted for three cash prizes of €3,000.
The Better Together campaign, run by The Wheel and supported by EBS, is also an opportunity to celebrate the unsung heroes in our communities - those who made an extraordinary contribution to good causes in a voluntary capacity - and nominations are now being sought for Ireland’s Charity Hero Award. The winner will win €1,000 to donate to their favourite cause. Nominations can be submitted at www.bettertogether.ie
Commenting on the launch of the Better Together Campaign Deirdre Garvey, CEO of The Wheel said: “Charities, community and voluntary groups are facing their toughest challenge yet: not only is the demand for their services increasing, but their income levels are dropping. The Better Together campaign aims to turn the tide on this and strengthen local groups by showing the public the amazing work happening in their communities and what they can do to help.”
Speaking at the launch of the Better Together Campaign Des Fitzgerald, CEO of EBS said: “EBS is delighted to be involved in this worthwhile and impactful project. This is the second time that EBS has partnered with The Wheel to deliver the Better Together campaign. We are delighted to be part of a campaign that celebrates and encourages the great work that is being done by volunteers in community and non-profit organisations across Ireland. I would encourage everyone to log on to the website and to submit an entry or choose a cause close to their home - or to their heart - and to support this great campaign.”
The campaign will culminate with the Better Together Awards on 6 December when the winners will be announced and Ireland's Charity Hero for 2012 will be named. See www.bettertogether.ie for details.
/Ends
For further information or to arrange an interview with Deirdre Garvey, CEO of The Wheel please contact: Gert Ackermann on M: 086 176 9287 or T: (01) 454 8727.
NOTES TO EDITOR
The President's Speech will be released by 3.30pm. Photos will be released by Jason Clarke Photography by 3.30pm.
Charities, clubs and associations are invited to submit a video (two minutes or shorter) to www.bettertogether.ie by 5 November. The videos that attract the most public votes will be shortlisted and three prizes of €3,000. Organisations that submit a video can also accept donations via the website.
The public are encouraged to visit the website www.bettertogether.ie to find and connect with good causes in their area, watch the videos entered in the competition and to start making a difference in their community by simply voting for their favourite videos, making a donation or volunteer their time.
The Better Together campaign is endorsed by many of the leading household name charities, including; the Irish Hospice Foundation, Irish Heart Foundation, Ireland, Macra na Feirme, ISPCA, Mental Health Ireland and many more.
The campaign was developed by The Wheel and is by EBS.
Other campaign sponsors include: BHP Insurances, Coca Cola Ireland, CRAOL, ESRI Ireland and Sponsor.ie
About The Wheel
The Wheel is a national organisation that represents and supports community, voluntary and charitable organisations in Ireland. Founded in 1999, we currently have over 900 members across Ireland, reflecting the enormous scope and scale of this vibrant and diverse sector. The Wheel exists to help change people’s lives for the better. We do this by helping community and voluntary organisations get things done, more efficiently and more effectively. As an independently governed, membership-based organisation, we represent our members' shared interests to Government and other decision-makers, and we promote better understanding of the vital work they do for people in Ireland.
* In 2009 there were at least 11,700 nonprofit organisations in Ireland, employing over 100,000 people, involving over 560,000 volunteers in their work and managing turnover of €5.75bn (INKEx, Irish Nonprofits: What do we know?’ A report by Irish Non-Profit Exchange, 2012).
