We are delighted to announce that the winner of our Grantee Impact story as part of our 2018 Grants Survey is Raheny All Stars from Raheeny GAA Club. We received an overwhelming number of pictures, videos and stories that demonstrated the impact grantees were successful in achieving through funding received from The Community Foundation for Ireland and our donors. We would like to extend our gratitude to all grantees that entered and for creating such impact that has benefited entire communities.
The Raheny All Stars programme was supported by our BT Ireland Corporate Donor Fund and has demonstrated how even with a grant as small as €2,000 they were still able to create a huge positive change in their community. Shay Walsh, managing director, BT Ireland said,
“We are delighted to support the Raheny All Stars through our payroll giving scheme, which is great way for BT and its employees to contribute to good causes throughout the community. As a company we know that organisations who cultivate a diverse and inclusive workplace are significantly more successful, and the All Stars programme is a fantastic example of how communities can also thrive by encouraging and supporting inclusivity in their local areas. It is a truly inspirational club and one that we are proud to support.”
The programme rolled out sports skills sessions on a weekly basis for boys and girls between 13-17 years old who have Autism, Down Syndrome and general learning delays. The grant also allowed them to send their young coaches to a specialised training programme “Disability and Inclusion Training for Coaches”. The great positive effect was not only seen through the players but also for the young coaches who were involved in the programmes. One of the All Stars young coaches, Ian McAweeney had this to say about the programme: “I got involved in All Stars in September 2017 as part of the Gaisce Programme. All Stars has been something that I really enjoy, and I look forward to it every Friday. Spending time getting to know and coach the kids has been both really enjoyable, although sometimes challenging, and an educational experience. The All Stars has presented me with many opportunities. The experience it has given me helped me to be selected for my schools Zambian Immersion programme, where we will be working with children with special needs. I hope to continue being involved with the All Stars and am excited to see what the future holds for the group!”
You can watch the Raheeny All Stars impact video here and keep an eye on our social media where we hope to share more of these stories in the coming weeks.