Hospice gala ball shortlisted for top award
THE gala fundraiser held earlier this year in aid of the Wicklow Hospice Foundation has been shortlisted for a national award.
The gala ball, which was organised by Wicklow County Councillors, has been shortlisted for a Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Award in the Local Authority Innovation category.
The event which was held in the Parkview Hotel, Newtownmountkennedy, raised over €84,000 for the foundation and was the brainchild of the elected members of Wicklow County Council, supported by the five Municipal Districts.
In its supporting submission to the awards organisers, Wicklow County Council highlighted how in January of this year the Wicklow Hospice Foundation needed to raise an additional €1m to enable the project proceed to tender.
The total building costs are estimated at €7.5m but €4.5m was required to secure a bank loan to commence the building work. At the fundraising levels at the time it was estimated it would take five years to reach this goal which the Hospice Foundation is working hard to achieve.
The event was a huge success with 320 people attending the gala dinner and succeeded in raising over €84,000 for the Wicklow Hospice Foundation, including a €10,000 contribution from each of the Municipal Districts.
Cllr Edward Timmins, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, has welcomed the shortlisting of the project for the awards.
‘It was a huge honour and a privilege for the elected members and TDs to be involved in this fundraising event. The hospice, when developed, will provide end of life care to people throughout County Wicklow and I congratulate the fundraising committee and everyone involved. The nomination for the award is reflective of Wicklow Hospice Foundation’s hard work and achievements to date and not least the generosity of the people of County Wicklow who have supported the project since the very beginning.’
The Excellence in Local Government Awards, sponsored by Vodafone in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, are held to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work being carried out by Local Authorities all over Ireland. Presentation of the awards will take place in November in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, Dublin.