Winners of National Fundraising Awards 2008 Announced

The winners of the inaugural National Fundraisng Awards were named in a ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Simmonscourt on Tuesday evening, 30th September 2008.

The National Fundraising Awards is the highest accolade for fundraisers working in Ireland’s, community, voluntary and charity sector. Developed by The Wheel, a non-profit support and representative network for Ireland’s community, voluntary and charity sector; Fundraising Ireland and sponsored by the Vodafone Ireland Foundation, the awards aim to improve the standard of fundraising practice in Ireland.

The winner in the category “Fundraising Campaign of the Year” was: Concern for their campaign “Help Concern without spending a cent”. A second award was made to Legacy Promotion Ireland in the sub-category for smaller organisations.

The “Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year Award” was shared by Caroline Downey (for Exploration Station and others) and Maureen Forrest (for the Hope Foundation)

The “Fundraiser of the Year Award” went to Peter Ireton of Bothar, a charity that specialises in providing livestock to families in developing countries. The judges were impressed by both the “innovative approach” and “sustainable nature” of Ireton’s campaigns. “The winner’s approach of non-duplication of efforts and promotion of efficiency within the NGO sector is to be commended,” the judges said in their comment.

Irish charities raise over €500m annually through fundraising campaigns and many hundreds are now employed as professional fundraisers.

“Fundraising is a very honourable profession and fundraisers enable organisations to provide support to the poor, vulnerable and excluded; culture and the arts; preservation of heritage; provision of social services and much more,” says Deirdre Garvey, CEO of The Wheel.

www.fundraisingawards.ie

FLTR: Caroline Downey (joint winner, Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year), Nicola Mullen receiving the award on behalf of Legacy Promotion Ireland (winner, Fundraising Campaign of the Year - Small & Medium Organisations), Maureen Forrest of the Hope Foundation (joint winner, Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year), Angela Whyte receiving the award on behalf of Concern (winner Fundraising Campaign of the Year - Larger Organisations) and Alison McNamara of Bothar, representing the Fundraiser of the Year, Peter Ireton.