The American Ireland Fund will host its 22nd Annual National Gala on in Washington, DC. The Fund will recognize Joe Biden, for his distinguished public service as Vice President of the United States, with The American Ireland Fund Peace Award, a rarely-presented award whose past recipients include President Bill Clinton.
 
“We are delighted to recognize the enormous contributions Vice President Biden has made to the welfare of Ireland,” said Kieran McLoughlin, President & CEO of The Worldwide Ireland Funds.

“Vice President Biden has been committed to the cause of strong U.S.-Irish relations throughout his public service. As Senator, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and then as Vice President, Joe Biden has been an invaluable voice for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.”  
 
The American Ireland Fund will also recognize Robert J. McCann, Chief Executive Officer of UBS Group Americas, with The American Ireland Fund International Business Leadership Award for his role as an exemplary business leader and philanthropist.
 
“Bob McCann has had a great impact on communities throughout Ireland as a philanthropist and in his professional life by making investments there,” said Kieran McLoughlin. “He has a focus on reconciliation in Northern Ireland and has been very generous to the Integrated Schools movement in particular.”
 
“I am honored to receive this award in recognition of my and UBS’s commitment to serving our communities,” said McCann. “There is no more important service I can think of than to contribute meaningfully to the development of the communities in which we live and work – and I am proud to know that these contributions have made a lasting impact.”

The Gala will feature a keynote address by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. John Fitzpatrick, Chairman of The American Ireland Fund, will join Gala Chairs, Irish and Irish American leaders, leaders in business, the media and the arts at the event celebrating Irish culture and heritage and generating funds for The Worldwide Ireland Funds’ Promising Ireland Campaign, which has assisted over 650 Irish charities to-date.