Firms urged to 'sponsor a star' for charity

Homelessness charity Focus Ireland aims to raise €400,000 for homeless services by asking firms to sponsor stars on its giant Christmas Tree in Dublin's Grafton Street.

The annual Focus Ireland Sponsor a Star appeal has attracted €2.5m over the past six years, with €365,000 raised in 2007.

The charity, which works in Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Cork, Sligo and Kilkenny, supported more than 6,000 people through its services last year. Focus Ireland said more people face the risk of becoming homeless due to the economic downturn, and therefore support from firms is more important than ever this Christmas.

Focus Ireland chief executive Joyce Loughnan urged firms to sponsor a star this year instead of spending money on Christmas cards or corporate presents for clients.

Sponsoring a star on the tree ranges in price from €1,000 to €20,000.

Focus raised €6 million from voluntary sources in 2007, up from €5.2 million in 2006. Corporate fundraising represented 19 percent of funds raised.

www.focusireland.ie