Irish American Fund hopes to raise $1 million a month

Fund to support more than 300 initiatives across Ireland during the economic crisis

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, June 25, 2012, 8:41 AM

Updated Monday, June 25, 2012, 8:41 AM

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Kieran McLoughlin and Loretta Gluckman, from the Irish American Fund with President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins

Photo by Sasha Gitin

The Irish American fund is increasing its efforts to support more than 300 initiatives across Ireland during the economic crisis, with the aim to raise $1m a month.

The Promising Ireland fund was launched with the initial goal of raising $100m at the beginning of the year. However, according to Kieran McLoughlin, president and chief executive of American Ireland, the response was so great that the fund has increased the target to $140m.

"As of this [Friday] morning we’ve agreed a new goal for Dec 2013," he said, according to the Irish Examiner.

"The new goal of $140m requires us to raise $1m a month, every month for the next 18 months. Our money is privately sourced so that is philanthropic giving from donors across the world. Not a penny of public money is in there."

The new Promising Ireland fund would account for nearly 30% of the $432m the fund has raised for Irish projects since it was founded in 1976, according to McLoughlin.

"In other words, over a quarter of our entire income has been raised in a 10th of our history. Already the Promising Ireland campaign has provided support to more than 350 charities in Ireland," he said.

According to The Irish American Fund's Catriona Fottrell, the need from charities has increased as the recession hits public funds with the number of applicants increasing from 600 in 2011 to 1,000 this year so far.

Nster.com

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Seanmor | Jun 28, 2012, 03:34 AM EDT

Regardless of which part of Ireland benefits from this fund, neither part of Ireland in and of itself could actually be called a country. The Southern Irish state (5/6 of Ireland) is increasingly controlled by Brussels, and the North (the other 1/6 of the country) is firmly within the grasp of G.B. The real Ireland largerly exixts in the various denominations of Christianity, all of whom regard Ireland as a single entity. The same is true of many of the major sports, rugby, hockey, cricket, also golf - this year's Irish open being held at Portrush, which of curse in in the North of Ireland.

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Bythebay | Jun 27, 2012, 12:23 PM EDT

All Ireland is the 26 counties of Ireland, Northern Ireland UK 6 counties under the jurisdiction of Britain. Two separate and distinct countries.

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Bythebay | Jun 27, 2012, 12:21 PM EDT

This money is described differently every time it's talked about. First unnamed charities in Ireland no one in Ireland is aware of, secondly for small businesses but no information is available for any small businesses in Ireland. No doubt the next story version will be something else. It's most likely used in Northern Ireland UK, not Ireland at all.

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Seanmor | Jun 26, 2012, 06:29 PM EDT

Every square inch of my Irish homeland is of great importance to me, as are all its native people. However, I have no intention of making donations to any programs operated by a state whose president thumbed her nose at the New York Irish community in March of last year by refusing to be Grand Marshal of the great parade in which all 32 counties participate. But I'd glady contribute to a fund that would help improve cross-border cooperation without any interference from the Dáil.

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sirpeter | Jun 25, 2012, 08:00 PM EDT

Do we have to support 300 initi-natives? Can't we just deport them and keep the money? ;))

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NYCsheridan | Jun 25, 2012, 11:51 AM EDT

It is for Charities, Sean. Charities usually know no borders.

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Seanmor | Jun 25, 2012, 09:48 AM EDT

Will all of Ireland benefit from this fund or only the part of the country under the Dáil's jurisdiction? Will it help step the high rate of emigration amont the well educated, highly skilled young people, or will recent arrival in the Irish state, legal and illegal cash in on these millions of U.S. dollara?

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