Gala dinner raises $3.5 million for Ireland Funds
Paul Artherton | 20 May 2008 | News
The recent charity gala dinner of the American Ireland Funds in New York raised over $3.5 million, some $650,000 of which came from Ireland.
The 1300 supporters and guests gathered at The Tent at Lincoln Center for the 33rd annual Dinner Gala. The event is the biggest of the 100 the Fund organises each year around the world.
The honorees on the night were Liam Neeson Performing Arts Award and Lew Glucksman (Humanitarian Award). The late Lew Glucksman was honoured for his generosity to Ireland. His focus was on education and giving young people a head start in life.
Despite the difficult economic environment, the dinner raised $3.565 million for the Ireland Funds, well ahead of its original goal. Most notably, over $650,000 was donated by donors in Ireland.
A key priority of the Fund is to engender reconciliation between the two communities in Northern Ireland and, in particular, to ensure that the prejudice of the past does not beset the next generation. Over the last number of New York Dinners, the Fund has provided support to Integrated Education and has helped sponsor Sesame Street Northern Ireland.
This year, the key beneficiary of the dinner was the American not-for-profit PeacePlayers International which brings children in divided societies together through the neutral sport of basketball. A gift of $1 million was made to PeacePlayers to treble the number of children in its program in Northern Ireland and, in particular, establish a basketball camp during Northern Ireland’s marching season when sectarianism is heightened.
About Paul Artherton
Paul Artherton has a BA (Hons) Degree from Queen’s University and a MA Degree in Journalism from Pennsylvania State University. He has worked in PR and fundraising for over 27 years. Previously assistant director for fundraising and public relations at the Simon Community Northern Ireland for seven years, for the last 17 years he has run his own fundraising consultancy business specialising in fundraising, sponsorship, public relations and recruitment. His clients have included charities, private sector and public bodies. Examples include the Ulster Cancer Foundation, Simon Communities of Ireland, NI Hospice, North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust, Aiken Promotions, the Industrial Development Board and the Ulster Museum. He has lectured on voluntary sector management at Queens University Belfast Institute for Continuing Education. Since 2010 Paul has been a lay member of the NI Charity Tribunal.