The American Ireland Fund, the largest private fundraising organization for Ireland, held it’s 22nd Annual New England Boston Gala Dinner on 19 November.

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Hosted at the Marriott Hotel, Copley Place, the evening, themed “What Difference Does it Make?” raised in excess of $2.3 million benefiting worthy projects in Ireland.

Cocktails for more than 1,400 people in the magnificent foyer were followed by a lavish private supper in the grand ballroom for American Ireland Fund donors. The Tom LaMark Orchestra and the Right-On band provided entertainment while the most prominent members of Boston’s business community networked at the black-tie event. Chairman of the event, Bob Reynolds of Fidelity, gave an inspiring speech to this unique audience, which included New England's corporate, cultural and political leaders.

Mr. Kingsley Aikins, President & CEO of The American Ireland Fund was on hand at the event, saying, “We are now active in 39 cities in 11 countries but there is nothing quite like the Boston Dinner. It was, is and will always be our greatest annual event. We owe this city an enormous amount.”

Also in attendance were Irish Minister for Education Noel Dempsey, Irish Ambassador to the US, Noel Fahey, British Consul General John Rankin, Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, New England Patriots Owner Bob Kraft and his wife Myra, Boston Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino, AIF Board Member and Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, architect of the recent Fleet merger, Chad Gifford and Fleet’s Anne Finucane with broadcaster Mike Barnicle, O’Neill & Associates’ Tom O’Neill and Chair of the Boston Democratic Convention 2004, Rod O’Connor.

This dinner featured another signature AIF dinner journal also called “What Difference Does it Make?” The beautiful book was created under the guidance of Mike Sheehan and Dennis Farrington of Hill Holliday and thanks to the generosity of our National Board Director Jack Connors. 125 AIF Irish projects were photographed. This was a massive undertaking by AIF Galway-based photographer Aengus McMahon. Each page tells the story of an organization funded by The American Ireland Fund.

Since our founding more than a quarter-century ago, we have raised more than $150 million in support of our four key goals, Peace and Reconciliation, Arts and Culture, Education and Community Development.

The American Ireland Fund today is part of an international network. Ireland Funds in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, New Zealand, Japan, China, and Monaco are uniting the aspirations of the Irish diaspora, a global community of more than 70 million people. With 60 events in 39 cities around the world attended by more than 40,000 people The Ireland Funds are poised for further growth in the United States and elsewhere. The Fund also has begun to build a permanent endowment through a series of Donor Advised Funds established by prominent American business people as well as by bequests and other large gifts.

The American Ireland Fund will reach a successful conclusion of its 5-year $100 million ‘Hope & History Campaign’ on December 31st of this year.

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