Coca-Cola has announced this year’s Thank You Fund award recipients, the initiative where the company awards grants to 13 community groups across Ireland and Northern Ireland for innovative projects that will support and inspire young people.
The grants are split into two groups, one half receives €10,000 each, for those that are believed could achieve sustainable impacts on the community, while the second half will receive €5,000 each.
“I have been overwhelmed by the diversity, thoughtfulness and potential impact of the projects that have received funding today through the Thank You Fund,” Stefanie Preissner, Thank You Fund ambassador said.
“Coca-Cola invited non-profit groups to enter projects that would inspire and support young people and there is no doubt that the grant recipients and the proposed projects will certainly do that."
The successful non-profit organisations were presented with their certificates during a celebration event on the main stage at Zeminar, in the RDS Dublin.
The Recipients
The seven organisations to receive €10,000 grants are: Autism Support Louth and Meath, Blossom Ireland, Children’s Books Ireland, Include Youth, Mary Peters Trust, Patrician Youth Centre, and Willowfield Parish Community Association.
The judges selected these projects for larger grants as they felt that each of them were unique and compelling and that with the €10,000 investment they could achieve sustainable impacts in their communities.
The additional six organisations that will each receive €5,000 for programmes include the County Wexford Youth Film Project, Dublin North West Area Partnership, Global Action Plan, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, Love and Care for People, and Northern Ireland Youth Forum.
“The best way to reach young people and help them acquire skills that they will use throughout their lives is by getting them involved in programmes that support their passions,” said Sabina Cotter, Head of Grants and Programmes, Irish Youth Foundation.
“All the successful projects are designed to make a strategic and impactful intervention in their lives and address young people’s needs at a grassroots level,” she said.
Since the Thank You Fund was launched in 2011, it has invested a total of €955k in community groups and non-profit organisations throughout the island of Ireland.
© 2018 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
