# Irish government to match private giving - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/03/07/irish-government-match-private-giving/ - Published: 2007-03-07T00:00:00+00:00 - Author: Howard Lake The US-Ireland Alliance, which seeks to foster relations between Ireland and the United States, has announced that the Irish Government will match whatever the Alliance raises, up to ‚€20 million over the next five years, to endow its George J. Mitchell Scholarship program. The US-Ireland Alliance, which seeks to foster relations between Ireland and the United States, has announced that the Irish Government will match whatever the Alliance raises, up to ‚€20 million over the next five years, to endow its George J. Mitchell Scholarship program. Alliance president Trina Vargo said that the Alliance seeks to raise ‚€40 million to ensure that the Mitchell Scholarship program is permanently funded, like the Rhodes Scholarship program, which sends future leaders to Oxford for study. The Mitchell Scholarship program was established in 1998 and has already sent more than 80 future American leaders to pursue graduate level study at universities throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland. ## Advertisement This is the largest commitment the Irish Government has ever made to a US organization, said Trina Vargo, president of the US-Ireland Alliance. Quinlan Private is a benefactor of the Alliance, and Derek Quinlan has committed to help Ms. Vargo raise ‚€20 million from the private sector. At a couple of recent fundraising dinners in Dublin, nearly ‚€5 million was raised on the private side. Million dollar commitments, to be paid over the next five years, have come from Pat and Teresa Mooney and Bernard and Moira McNamara. The next generation of philanthropists is also represented by a sizable donation from John and Cearuil Morrissey. Other donors wish to remain anonymous. Ms. Vargo hailed these commitments as evidence of growing philanthropy by the Irish. These bold actions demonstrate that private individuals, like the political leaders, understand the role they can play in shaping this new relationship. We hope that US multinationals benefiting from their presence in Ireland, Irish companies prospering in the US market, and Irish Americans who comprehend the current and future nature and needs of this relationship, will follow the lead of the Irish Government and these generous individuals. Mary Lou Hartman, director of the Mitchell Scholarship program, added, These generous commitments will provide the Mitchell Scholarship program with a firm foundation to continue and expand the connection between young American leaders and the island of Ireland. These unprecedented contributions will allow the vision of the Mitchell program to be fully realized. The Mitchell Scholarship program is funded annually by the US Department of State and the US Congress, the Northern Ireland Department for Employment and Learning, BD (Becton Dickinson & Company), Bombardier Aerospace (NI) Foundation, Cross Atlantic Capital Partners, the McDonnell Charitable Foundation, every university on the island of Ireland, and many others. Ms. Vargo noted that continued involvement and support are crucial and the endowment we seek will help all of us move forward together toward making the Mitchell Scholarship the preferred scholarship for future American leaders. * **[Ruling leads to change in Trocaire Lenten campaign](https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/03/12/ruling-leads-change-trocaire-lenten-campaign/)**( 12 March 2007) * **[PwC partners leading cancer charities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/03/14/pwc-partners-leading-cancer-charities/)**( 14 March 2007) * **[Credit union foundation supports African women](https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/03/19/credit-union-foundation-supports-african-women/)**( 19 March 2007)