June 2010: The Search is on for Ireland's Philanthropist of the Year 2010!

The Search is on for Ireland's Philanthropist of the Year 2010!

(28 June 2010) The Community Foundation for Ireland is calling on everyone around the country to make their nominations now for the 2010 Irish Philanthropist of the Year Awards. These awards publicly recognise people whose personal money has made an outstanding and lasting contribution in their communities and to society. The awards serve to highlight achievements and inspire others to give and to make a difference.

The awards now in their fourth year are run by The Community Foundation for Ireland, a leading organisation dedicated to the development of philanthropy in Ireland. The awards focus on three categories, Local, National and International Philanthropist of the Year. The Local Award recognises people who have made an impact in their immediate community or at a local level. The National Award recognises people who made an impact on a nationwide level or have effected social change on a large scale. And International recognises the good work being done by Irish people outside of Ireland.

Commenting at the launch of this year's Awards, Tina Roche, CEO of the Community Foundation for Ireland said “The awards recognise extraordinary individuals who have shown outstanding leadership in the area of personal philanthropy and who, through their giving, are bringing about sustainable social change. Philanthropists are people who treat giving like a business investment and they want to see a beneficial return for their money; they want to see real impacts. This is how people can effect true social change from the ground up and we want the awards to be an opportunity to recognise these people; their vision, their achievements and their generosity.”

Previous winners include:
JP, Mc Manus, National Philanthropist of the Year 2007,
Niall Mellon, International Philanthropist of the Year 2007,
Ralph Parkes (Limerick), the first Local Philanthropist of the year in 2008,
Declan Ryan, National Philanthropist of the Year 2008
Jane Corboy, International Philanthropist of the Year 2008
Cathal McCarthy (Monaghan), Local Philanthropist of the Year 2009
Chantal McCabe, National Philanthropist of the Year 2009
John Clarke, International Philanthropist of the Year 2009

Nominations are invited from the general public - including community and voluntary organisations, charities, welfare groups, arts and sports bodies, churches and foundations that work in partnership with philanthropists and have knowledge of the value and impact of the contribution and benefit that a donor has made. Closing date for nominations is Friday, 24th September and click here to download a nomination form.

For more information please visit www.foundation.ie