ACTIVITY THE IRISH AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP REPORT Supporting Education in Ireland, North and South 2015Spring From the desk of the Executive Director Thanks to your generous support, this has been a monumental year for the Partnership. We sent $701,000 to Ireland, directly benefiting 97 schools and hundreds of students. Your contributions funded direct grants to primary schools, science teacher training programs, university access scholarships, and employment learning programs across the North and South, providing vital services for students in a period of severe budget cuts to education. Since June 2014, we have made substantial progress in our mission to empower the next generation through the support of Primary Fair Inspires Passion for Science educational initiatives. Some highlights For the students at Scoil Naomh example carrots might grow better include: Fionan in Nohaval village, Cork, an on a full moon or beetroot might • Travel grants for 31 schools to attend early wake-up was a small price to grow better on a half-moon on a the RDS Primary Science Fair pay for the chance to participate Saturday.” The entire class had a • $208,650 towards community programs, in the RDS Primary Science Fair time to remember at the Fair and which provide an education outside the in Dublin. Bleary eyed, the class was appreciative of the Partnership classroom met at the train station at 4:30am, grant for making it possible. • $40,000 towards University Access eager to present their project on Scholarships, easing the burden of a biodynamic gardening. Carrakennedy National college education for disadvantaged The students examined Principal Aideen students “We loved every School whether biodynamic Paul said “We left our school minute of our day.”- or random gardening at 5:15am and returned at I can tell you that there is no one more Holly, Muireann, produces “better, 9:45pm-exhausted after a fun appreciative of these grants than the rural Shane, Des, and Eoin bigger, and nicer” plants. school teachers and students, who regard of Carrakennedy meet with Mr. Kevin O’Malley- these checks not only as a means to upgrade National School Biodynamic gardening thefilled American day! We were Ambassador delighted to their literacy materials or science supplies, incorporates astrology to Ireland at the Primary but as an affirmation of their hard work and into sowing and planting. As the Science Fair. He told us about his dedication. As the Chairman of Nagle Rice students wrote, “Biodynamic ancestors who were originally National School in County Kerry wrote: “It Gardening is where you plan from our hometown of Westport!” is certainly empowering and encouraging to plants according to the moon. For Holly, Muireann, Shane, Des, and the young and not so young when we’re the beneficiaries of such support from people Donations Always Welcome who have left our shores.” While this is not a fundraising document, the Partnership welcomes support from any donor who wishes to participate. Donors may select a Thanks for all you do, specific school, village, town, or county as a recipient of their gift. Mary Sugrue McAleer Northern Ireland University Access Spotlight on Derryclough Human Rights Fund p.3 Scholarship p.6 National School P.7 About the Partnership RDS Science Fair THE IRISH AMERICAN Eoin of Carrakennedy said “we loved share best practices. Students are every minute of our day.” For them, the encouraged to design a project, PARTNERSHIP highlights of the fair included meeting investigate a question, and analyze The Irish American Partnership works Ambassador O’Malley and the chance to their results. The Fair is not a to empower the next generation of see Titan the Robot. competition; rather, it Irish leaders by supporting educational is a team presentation initiatives through direct grants to For the past to gain feedback from primary schools, science teacher two years, the peers and teachers training, university access scholarships, Irish American outside of their and employment learning programs. The Partnership provides forums for Partnership has own school. It is run visiting leaders from Ireland to speak supported the concurrently with the in the U.S., connecting Irish-Americans Royal Dublin BT Young Scientist with their heritage and promoting Society’s Primary Fair, sparking an economic development through Science Fair, held interest in science tourism, trade, and mutual exchange. in Dublin each year. and presenting a The RDS Primary clear path to future BOARD OF DIRECTORS Science Fair provides a forum for young John P. Murray, Chairman New Jersey the primary students will go on to Joseph F. Leary, Jr., President & CEO inquiry and present their conclusions participateopportunities in inBT the Young field. Scientist Many of Boston instudents an exciting, to investigate non-competitive a scientific due to their early exposure to the Michael T. Clune environment. The Fair instills a passion excitement surrounding the Fair. Chicago Liam Connellan for science at a young age and aims to Dublin The 120 schools Charles L. Donahue, Jr. science curriculum. However, many participating Boston ofdevelop the small teachers’ schools confidence do not have in the in the Fair The Hon. Frank J. Kelley Michigan funds to send their entire class the represent 25 Thomas A. Leonard, Esq. long way to Dublin. The Partnership counties in Philadelphia provided travel grants of $450 to 31 Ireland, North John V. McManmon, Jr. schools, subsidizing or completely and South, Boston covering their travel expenses. coming as far Thomas F. Nicholson Virginia as Tyrone, Francis D. O’Brien The RDS Primary Science Fair aims to Cork, Mayo and New Jersey Wexford. This Kathleen M. O’Toole Boston and Seattle curiosity. It is a venue for students to year, the fair was William J. Reilly, Jr. develop students’numeracy scientific and literacy skills skills, and oversubscribed by 130%, with half of Boston exchange ideas, and for teachers to gain Sir Bruce Robinson Belfast a professional network of contacts to Niall Power Smith the schools being first-time entrants. Dublin General P.X. Kelley, USMC (Ret.) Chairman Emeritus Carrakennedy National School, Co. Mayo with U.S. Students from Ballyvaughan National School, Co. Clare Ambassador to Ireland Kevin O’Malley at the RDS Primary display their trophy at the RDS Primary Science Fair 2 Science Fair N.I. Human Rights Fund Kylemore Abbey PARTNERSHIP DONATES $30,000 TO THE NI HUMAN RIGHTS FUND This year, the Partnership was proud to donate the proceeds of the Nollaig na mBan and St. Patrick’s Day breakfast celebrations to the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland’s new initiative, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Fund. The $30,000 grant will be matched by Atlantic Philanthropies, doubling its impact. Unlike other campaigns, this fundraising drive will completely be spent down in ten years, giving civil society the resources needed to enact substantive change. The Community Foundation has been driving social change in local communities for 30 years through successful grant-making and fund development, encouraging peace and equality, and promoting community development to alleviate poverty among the most disadvantaged. SUPPORTING THE RESTORATION OF KYLEMORE ABBEY Their new initiative, the Northern Ireland When the Benedictine nuns of Kylemore Abbey closed the doors to their world- Human Rights Fund, is an effort to: renowned boarding school in 2010, they were left to decide the very future of 1. Embed a culture of rights throughout the Abbey. While the prospect of reinventing the nature of the institution may Northern Ireland sound intimidating to most, the sisters embraced it as an opportunity to share 2. Build a fair and just society based on their monastic hospitality with the community. These shrewd businesswomen the principles of equality and respect created a long-term plan for maintenance and renovation of the property, ensuring 3. Consolidate the peace process by it will be a space for tourism, education, and rejuvenation for decades to come. delivering the commitments on human rights and civic participation made in They opened the Abbey to tourists, allowing visitors to hike the 1,000 acre estate, wander the beautiful Victorian walled gardens, and revel in the the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement architecture of the Gothic Church for a small admission fee. While the sisters raise some revenue from their enterprises on the property, they also rely on an The Community Foundation and The Atlantic international fundraising campaign to make their restoration project possible. Philanthropies have committed a combined £4 million to the Fund already, and Atlantic has Over the past year, the Partnership has given $45,000 to Kylemore Abbey vowed to match additional contributions to and facilitated another $127,000 in contributions. The Partnership is proud the Community Foundation up to £3 million. to partner with the inspirational Benedictine nuns of Kylemore Abbey and looks forward to seeing the property restored to its former glory. 2014 by the Numbers 86.8% of Revenue $701,000 was spent on went to Ireland 31 schools 35% program costs received travel grants Increase in to attend the RDS Revenue Primary Science Fair Over from 2013 $33,000 97 were spent on Irish schools science teacher benefited from a training programs Partnership grant 3 COUNTY ROSCOMMON COUNTY LEITRIM Partnership Grants $1,000 Castlerea $1,000 Carrick-on-Shannon Scoil Naisiunta Mhuire Lourdes Fatima National School June 2014-April 2015 $1,000 Castlerea $1,000 Carrigallen Tibohine National School Drumeela National School COUNTY LONGFORD $1,000 Castlerea $1,000 Carrigallen $3,500 Longford Fairymount National School Carrigallen National School St. Mel’s College $1,000 Castlerea $1,000 Carrick-on-Shannon Scoil Naisiunta Lios a Cuill M Scoil Naisiunta Naomh Padriag $1,000 Castlerea Ballangare National School COUNTY SLIGO $1,000 Ballymote Scoil Croi Naofa $1,000 Ballymote Scoil Naisiunta Cul Fada $1,000 Ballymote Killaville National School $1,000 Culleens St.