Coca-Cola announces €100,000 community fund

(L-R): Gavin Uzell, All Together in Dignity; Kathryn McCance, The Little Museum of Dublin; PJ Gallagher, Thank You Fund ambassador; and Martina Genockey, An Cosan.

Coca-Cola has announced the recipients of its annual Thank You Fund, a purse awarded to community groups, non-profits and other deserving causes throughout the island of Ireland.

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Coca-Cola has announced the recipients of its 2017 Thank You Fund, a €100,000 purse which recognises the work of community organisations, non-profits and other groups in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The presentations were made at Zeminar, a youth conference event taking place at the RDS in Dublin.

14 groups in total received funding, for their innovative projects in supporting and inspiring young people. Six of these recieved €10,000 awards; they were:

• The Little Museum of Dublin – for its fostering of diversity and encouraging women to pursue their passions
• An Cosán – enabling young men from disadvantaged areas to overcome barriers in education and employment
• An Foróige Sligo/Leitrim -for its innovative Big Brother/Big Sister programme
• CDYS Ltd. – a Cork-based service which bridges the divide between education and the workplace, including young people not in mainstream education
• Leave No Trace Ireland – Which promotes integration between communities in Ireland and empowers young people at risk of social exclusion
• Girls’ Brigade – Giving existing members of the NI women’s youth group the opportunity to train for leadership and develop a positive mental health programme.

In addition, eight organisations received €5,000 in funding from Coca-Cola. They were:

• The Ulster GAA Youth Leaders’ Programme
• Co-Operation Ireland
• Duke of Edinburgh Award NI
• NI Youth Forum
• Start 360
• Oasis Caring in Action Antrim
• Willowfield Parish Community Assoc
• ATD Fourth World Ireland

PJ Gallagher, who serves as ambassador for the fund and oversaw the presentations, said he was overwhelmed by the diversity, thoughtfulness and impact of the projects in the programme. “Coca-Cola’s objective was to find projects that would inspire and support young people, and there is no doubt the recipients will do exactly that,” he said.

“I am humbled by the people working in communities throughout the island of Ireland,” he added, “and believe that the impact of the work they do with young people has an immeasurable impact on our society.

“I look forward to staying in touch with the recipients as these projects come to fruition,” the comedian said.

Read More: Coca-Cola PJ Gallagher

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