On Saturday, July 19, The American Ireland Fund hosted over 150 people at its annual Nantucket Celebration, held at the home of Bart & Lesley Grenier.

This year’s Nantucket Celebration was co-chaired by Chris and Ann Quick, Bob and Laura Reynolds and Jack and Suzy Welch and the Honoree was Anne Finucane of Bank of America.

Anne Finucane is global chief strategy and marketing officer at Bank of America, and a member of the company’s executive management team. She chairs the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, overseeing a 10-year, $2 billion charitable giving goal, and also serves as president of the Northeast region. In addition, Finucane leads Bank of America’s corporate social responsibility program, which leverages the unmatched capabilities of the company and power of its global platform to help partners, people, communities and a broad client and customer base more effectively address a wide range of social issues.

Under Finucane’s leadership, Bank of America has made significant contributions to Irish arts and culture over the past few years including awarding a $1 million grant in 2013 to a music education programme. 'Music Generation' hopes help build a national framework to deliver local, performance-based music education opportunities to complement the teaching and learning of music for children and young people in Ireland’s public schools, with a focus on those most in need.

Past honorees of the Nantucket Celebration include, among others, Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Nobel Peace Prize Winner John Hume, Special Olympics President and CEO Tim Shriver, the late author Frank McCourt, the late broadcast journalist Tim Russert and print and broadcast journalist Mike Barnicle, husband of this year’s Honoree Anne Finucane.

The American Ireland Fund is part of The Worldwide Ireland Funds, a philanthropic network across 12 countries that has raised over $480 million for worthy causes in Ireland and Irish causes around the world. It is the largest network of friends of Ireland dedicated to supporting programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development. Founded in 1976, The Worldwide Ireland Funds have benefited over 3,000 organizations. Funds raised are contributed by private philanthropists and organizations. The American Ireland Fund holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator in recognition of efficiency, sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. www.theirelandfunds.org