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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Biggest ever Irish American fundraising dinner breaks all records-- American Ireland Fund New York event one for the record books

Posted on Friday, May 04, 2012 at 08:17 AM

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Kieran McLoughlin, President & CEO of The Worldwide Ireland Funds and Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Chairman of The American Ireland Fund, brief Michael D. Higgins President of Ireland on the milestone announcement that The Worldwide Ireland Funds Promising Ireland Campaign has overtaken its $100 million goal 19 months early.

The biggest fundraising dinner in the history of Irish America or indeed Ireland, took place last night at the Lincoln Center in New York.

The American Ireland Fund raised a staggering $4.3 million blowing away all previous records.

They also announced they had reached their $100 million fundraising goal 19 months early.

I was glad to be present at an Irish milestone that did not involve record debt, unemployment or some other bad news that has bedeviled the Irish in these trying times.

Looking around the packed Lincoln Center venue where over 1,300 had gathered, it seemed every prominent Irish American business man and woman from the New York area was in attendance—a resounding vote of confidence in the AIF and the work they do.

The AIF was rightfully, shouting from the rooftops that Irish America has delivered once again for Ireland’s most worthy charities and in the process confirmed what a giving hand Irish American have.

The Ireland Funds' Chairman Loretta Brennan Glucksman, announced that the Promising Ireland campaign to raise $100 million for charities had not only reached its goal 19 months ahead of schedule, but had also exceeded its target.

Chief Executive and President Kieran McLoughlin revealed that the campaign total now stands at over $120 million.

All this was achieved during the toughest economic times in recent history which makes it even more impressive.

I’m glad that the new Irish president Michael D. Higgins was present to see and hear the extraordinary news. He can certainly bear the glad tidings back to an Ireland awash in negativity where any good news is surely deeply appreciated.

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan was the guest of honor on the night and he spoke impressively of his own Irish journey, his people were famine-tossed arrivals in America in the 1850s and now he runs the largest bank in the world with over 238,000 employees.

Despite his incredible rise he has never forgotten those Irish who risked all in order to make it possible for him in America.

Both Loretta Brennan Glucksman and Kieran McLoughlin deserve enormous credit for reaching the milestone.

The AIF under them is simply an organization that outgrew its elitist image and has become far more responsive and attuned in both America and Ireland to community needs and wants.

They have $ 500 million in their sights now, after announcing that the overall total raised by the Ireland Funds since inception is now $430 million

Other VIPs attending included Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg; New York Police Commissioner, Ray Kelly; Speaker of New York City Council, Christine Quinn; Nobel Laureate, Elie Wiesel; and celebrated author Colum McCann. Martha Stewart was also in attendance.

I spent a fascinating few minutes with former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt who had certainly made the headlines recently in a spectacular divorce case.

He and brother David, now a major investor in Ireland, were clearly enjoying the night.

It was that kind of evening, there’s nothing quite like a rip roaring Irish party, especially when there is something to celebrate.

The AIF has done Ireland and Irish America proud.

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19 comments

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Bythebay | May 20, 2012, 03:13 PM EDT

Still waiting for an answer as to what charities in Ireland will be receiving this $100 million raised by the American Ireland Fund, now called the Ireland Funds. Where has it been "delivered"??

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Claire2 | May 14, 2012, 08:34 AM EDT

Will we hear what charities benefit from all these millions? Hope no one "detours" to the Bahamas on the way back to Ireland, as a certain former taoiseach is alleged to have done!!

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billie061 | May 06, 2012, 05:53 AM EDT

So Mr O'Dowd you were glad not to be present at a function that dealt with the boring topics of un-employment, debt etc, bully for you, especally been abel to mix with all those prominent people. A rip-roaring party to celebrate ???????????????? You have your life in the U.S. why not help your country people ? Oh wait your ego gets more from trading as a Irish yank. You make my blood boil.

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Curitiba | May 05, 2012, 03:07 PM EDT

As for oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, all of the easy-to-reach oil is nearly gone, so oil companies are now forced to drill in inhospitible areas such as the Gulf, the Arctic and other deep ocean locations, so the risk of such a disaster happening again is quite high, unless we can find an alternative to oil, which will not happen soon.

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Curitiba | May 05, 2012, 12:53 PM EDT

bunkerhill, you raise a very good point there. First of all, if there was no Royal Family, the UK simply would not exist. Scotland and Wales hate England, and England sees these countries as a pair of ungrateful hangers-on, always with their hands out for London's cash. But they all unite under their collective admiration of the Queen, which keeps these countries together. Also, the royal family cost each household something like 65 pence a year, so they represent good value. The younger royals are glamourous and appeal to a lot of people abroad, especially a lot of Americans. Finally, there were no royal family, the whole Northern ireland situation would be completely different.

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Peggy P | May 05, 2012, 10:54 AM EDT

Benevolent "Irish Americans" raise millions for charities in Ireland? Why not raise money for the millions of Irish "Americans" who are out of work in the U.S.. I remember my parents who continued sending money and clothes back to their relatives in Ireland while raising their own family in N.Y.. When will it stop?

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bunkerhill | May 05, 2012, 08:49 AM EDT

I hope the Irish get millions more. To Curtiba, do the English royals with their many castles and 40,000 acres estates not contribute anything to the welfare of the UK. I see where another one of our Hollywood elite is praising Prince Charles for his tremendous efforts in going green. While Hollywooders are extemely overpaid they are apparently not well informed. prince charles has a hugh trust in BP which destroyed our gulf. Incidentally whatever losses are incurred by BP the prince's trust cannot be touched. Another brainless hollywood star wants to honor prince harry for his great charities. God bless the American veterans and let Harry get a job. As for Spain and Argentine, is it possibly you don't know that the king of spain took over the Argentinians oil reserves? Argentina just took it back and I hope it goes well for them. The best is yet to come for Ireland.

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seanomelb | May 04, 2012, 11:09 PM EDT

Ask the AIF committee Dumbo.

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Bythebay | May 04, 2012, 04:49 PM EDT

Curitiba, my query is to Niall O'Dowd asking what charities in Ireland are receiving the US American-Ireland Fund/Ireland Funds $100 million money raised by them for charities in Ireland?

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Searlit | May 04, 2012, 04:05 PM EDT

Great news! I hope we do hear about the charities that are benefitting from the money.

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Curitiba | May 04, 2012, 04:03 PM EDT

Well, you don't know either, since you have to ask. Did you know that many UK charities operate in Ireland? So I do know a little about charities in Ireland thanking you for your kind concern, Byethebay.

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Bythebay | May 04, 2012, 03:45 PM EDT

Curitiba, my query was for Niall O'Dowd, thank you. You'd know no more about the charities in Ireland it supposedly goes to since you live in England.

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Curitiba | May 04, 2012, 03:37 PM EDT

I don't know Bythebay, but I'm wondering if some of the funds are earmarked for the Failed Bankers and Insolvent Property and Ghost Estate Developers Benevolent Fund of Ireland. A worthy cause indeed, one of which Wolfe Tone himself would approve. Irish Americans, dig deep in your pockets for this worthy and deserving cause!

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Bythebay | May 04, 2012, 02:50 PM EDT

Exactly what are the names of the charities in Ireland where this money is being sent?

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Curitiba | May 04, 2012, 01:08 PM EDT

Why are the Irish Americans so gullible? The Irish in Ireland want your money, and your influence to get more visas but they laugh at you saying you're Irish behind your back. They don't think you're Irish. The Irish community in the UK have had a gutfull of their Plastic paddy bashing. We wouldn't give them tuppence. Why not keep the money in the USA and use it to develop the Irish American culture, stop basing it on everything that goes on in Ireland, and make Irish America as distinct as Argentina is from Spain. Or better still, use it to gain more influence in what goes on in Ireland, rather than just handing over money to freeloaders in the old country. Mind you, if you're throwing money about, there are plenty of good causes in the UK that the Irish community here could benefit from. Plus we would agree that you are Irish, because, like you, we are Irish born overseas.

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