Ireland

Atlantic Philanthropies Chief Executive John Healy has given an insight into the Foundation's policy on fundraising and sustainability in a recent interview with Alliance magazine. In a survey earlier in the year Atlantic was listed as one of the biggest foundations by grant size in Europe.

The head of one of the country's leading charities says that corporate Ireland needs to become more aware and supportive of charities here. Jonathan Irwan is the founder and chief executive of the Jack and Jill Foundation.

The Foundation provides early intervention home respite to severely handicapped developmentally delayed babies.

Dublin based stockbroker and corporate financier Merrion Captial has donated all commissions earned from its clients during business for one day to Action Breast Cancer. The initiative is to mark Pink Ribbon Day which aims to raise awareness and money.

A multi-million pound fund to boost the well-being and personal development of young people across Northern Ireland was launched last week by the Big Lottery Fund. Change UR Future is the first strand of the Big Lottery Fund's ground-breaking Young People's Fund and will distribute £10.8 million to improve the lives of young people at greatest risk of exclusion or offending.

The Dormant Accounts Fund established in 2002 by the Irish government will reopen for applications before the end of the year. The Fund draws its money from bank accounts that have been inactive for a number of years and since 2002 ‚€60 million has been distributed in grants.

The Irish Youth Foundation and the Lawlor Foundation which provide grants for Irish causes in Ireland and Britain have merged. The Irish Youth Foundation (UK) was founded in 1989 and, since its inception, has raised more than £2.75 million for programmes which support socially, educationally or culturally disadvantaged young Irish people between the ages of 0-25.

A raffle of botanical art for the Sri Lanka Tsunami Children Fund, an Irish charity that so far has raised ‚€150,000 to look after the practical and educational needs of children who have lost one or both parents, has been launched. The charity was set up by Dr Mary Toomey.

FR Peter McVerry's charity for homeless young people in Dublin was the single biggest beneficiary of payments from the court poor box, figures from the Courts Service show. The charity, which provides hostel accommodation, services for drug users as well as drug-free accommodation, received almost ‚€103,000 from poor box receipts last year, according to the Courts Service.

David Harvey, Chairman of People in Need Trust, which raises money from an annual telethon, has given grants to a wide variety of charities in Waterford as part of its regional programme of grant distribution. Seven Telethons have been held to date and over ‚€28 million has been distributed in grants, ranging from ‚€150 to ‚€50,000,to thousands of organisations throughout Ireland.

An award fund that aims to help the community and voluntary sector in Ireland achieve long term sustainability is now open for nominations. The Ulster Bank Sir George Quigley Award Fund is presented annually.

Nominations for the award, which includes a cash payment, will be accepted until 17 October 2005.