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New York, May 4, 2007 - 1,500 of Irish America’s most
influential business and community leaders gathered last
evening at the American Ireland Fund’s 32nd Annual New York
Gala to honor the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and
President and CEO of AIG, Martin Sullivan, and to award $1
million to Paul Newman for Barretstown, the Irish branch of
his Hole-in the-Wall Gang Camps. The gala raised a record $4.15
million for important causes in Ireland, including two key
projects that are part of the Fund’s “Hope through Youth”
program:
A $1 million donation from the AIF and AIG was awarded to
Barretstown, the Irish branch of the Hole in the Wall Gang
Camp, which provides care and hope for children with cancer
and other life threatening illnesses. The gift, which was
accepted by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman, will
establish the “Barretstown and Beyond” program. This will
extend Barretstowns services across Ireland and Europe and
double the number of children r eached by Barretstown by 2010.
A significant award was made also to Rowallane Integrated
College,in Northern Ireland, which will enable the
construction of a new integrated high school where Pr
otestants and Catholic children will be educated together. The
Fund is a long standing supporter of the movement for
integrated education as a means of ending inter-generational
sectarianism and intercommunity division in Northern Ireland.
Other education-oriented initiatives supported by the Fund
include the pending launch of Sesame Street programming
customized and produced for Northern Ireland children, which
will be aired by the BBC.
“The outpouring of support this year exceeded all of our
expectations and makes this event the largest and most
successful in the Funds’ three decade history,” said Kieran
McLoughlin, President of The American Ireland Fund. “We are
thankful for the community’s continued generosity and are
honored to recognize President McAleese, Martin Sullivan and,
of course, to welcome Paul Newman. Our aim is to support
Ireland’s youth and help create a new island for a new
generation. These two projects are excellent examples of how
we hope to achieve this.
At the event, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Chairman of the
American Ireland Fund, presented the Humanitarian Award to Her
Excellency, Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, for her
dedication to engendering reconciliation between Northern
Ireland’s two communities. Previous recipients of the award
include Daniel & Patricia Rooney, of the Pittsburgh Steelers,
Loretta Brennan Glucksman, and Joan Ganz Cooney of the Sesame
Street Workshop.
In addition, the Leslie C. Quick Jr. Leadership Award to
Martin Sullivan, President and CEO of American International
Group, Inc. (AIG), for his long association with and great
affection for Ireland. The award was presented by the Dinner
Co-Chairs. Previous recipients of Leadership Award include
Christopher M. “Kip” Condron, AXA Financial, Inc, John Duffy,
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., Thomas O’Neill, Sandler O’Neill
& Partners LP, Philip Purcell formerly of Morgan Stanley and
Bob McCann, Merrill Lynch, Inc.
Martin Sullivan, President and CEO of AIG stated, “It has been
an honor to be involved with an organization that truly has
the ability to make such an impact on the future of Ireland’s
youth. The American Ireland Fund’s patrons are the driving
force behind the success of this organization and we thank
them for making this year our most successful event to date. I
am
especially proud that we at AIG have been able to help the
Fund with its donation to Barretstown, as this well-deserving
organization provides children with hope and comfort when
needed most.”
The honorary chairman of the 2007 American Ireland Fund dinner
is Robert McCann, President, Global Private Client, Merrill
Lynch Inc. The 2007 dinner co-chairs are Joseph S. Berry, Jr.,
Principal of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; Michael P.
Higgins, Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Finance at
CIBC World Markets; Declan Kelly, Pr esident & CEO of FD
Business Communications; Bart A. Grenier, Managing Director
and Global Head of Specialty Fixed Income, Deutsche Asset
Management; Michael R. George, Director of Deutsche Bank; and
Ciarán T. O’Kelly, Managing Director and Head of Equity
Capital Markets at Banc of America Securities LLC.
About The Ireland Funds: The Ireland Funds is the leading
worldwide network of people of Irish ancestry and friends of
Ireland dedicated to raising funds to support programs of
peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and
community development for the island of Ireland. W ith
operations in 11 countries, the Ireland Funds have created a
unique global network of people with an interest in Ireland
and have to date raised over $30 million for more than 1,200
non-profit organizations in Ireland.
For further information: Theresa Kelleher, FD, +1 212 850 5663
or Niall Ó Muilleoir, FD, +1 646 322 2460. |