# Ireland Funds NYC dinner raises $2.7 million for Irish charities

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/05/08/1-million-gift-announced-ireland-funds-dinner/
- Published: 2016-05-08T21:13:13+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The American Ireland Fund 41st Annual New York Dinner Gala last week raised $2.7
million for the support of hundreds of Irish charities and causes. **

“I am absolutely delighted to see that the dinner has been such a huge success,”
said John Fitzpatrick, Chairman of The American Ireland Fund. “Our leadership, committed
members and supportive guests always seem to come together to champion great causes
in Ireland with incredible passion and generosity,” he said.

The Gala is the largest of the 150 events held globally by [The Ireland Funds](http://www.theirelandfunds.org).
Adam Clayton of U2 joined supporters of The Ireland Funds on the night to celebrate
the successful Music Generation program which was first launched in the US at The
American Ireland Fund New York Dinner Gala in 2010.

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## $1m gift

Announced during the event was an additional $1 million gift to Music Generation
from The Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Members of the Stavros Niarchos family were
in attendance and several young musicians who have benefited from Music Generation
attended the Gala and performed moving pieces using traditional Irish instruments.

In 2015, U2 and The Ireland Funds – who together gifted $10m in 2010 to launch the
initiative – donated a further $3.5 million to the program to develop its next phase.
Already, Music Generation is established in 12 areas of Ireland, providing access
to music education for some 35,000 children and young people annually and creating
350 employment opportunities.

_Image: [euro and dollar banknotes](http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-328147277/stock-photo-dollar-versus-euro-puzzle-concept.html)
by Octavus on Shutterstock.com_

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