The American Ireland Fund 31st Annual New York Dinner Gala

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 A Record Breaker

On Thursday, May 4th 2006, The American Ireland Fund hosted the 31st Annual New York Dinner Gala - a landmark occasion that raised a record breaking $4.1 million dollars and was attended by 1300 guests. The Dinner honored Bob McCann and Joan Ganz Cooney. The proceeds will be used to back two exciting projects promoting a new future for a new generation in Northern Ireland.

 Sesame Street

The American Ireland Fund has committed $1 million through this Dinner to Sesame Street to enable them to produce 26 programs in and for youth in Northern Ireland.

• Sesame Street Northern Ireland update 2008>
• Sesame Street Northern Ireland >
• The AIF - Sesame Street partnership >

For over 35 years, the workshop has helped children reach their highest potential by creating innovative and engaging programming in over 120 countries around the world, including such areas of conflict and need as Israel, Palestine, Kosovo and South Africa. Given that children as young as three years of age display prejudices in Northern Ireland, its work will be of crucial importance.

 Integrated Education

The second initiative will provide for the building and staffing of the very first American Ireland Fund integrated preschool in Northern Ireland. At a time where only 6% of Catholic and Protestant children are educated together, this development is essential.

 The Dinner

Dinner Gala 2006 invite details >

The Dinner boasted a stellar line-up of Honorees. Mr. Bob McCann, Vice Chairman and President, Global Private Client Group, Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc., was presented with the Leslie C. Quick Jr. Award in recognition of his excellence in business and major contributor to Ireland and Irish America. Ms. Joan Ganz Coooney, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Sesame Workshop, was presented with the American Ireland Fund Humanitarian Award. Mr. Christopher M. “Kip” Condron, President & CEO, AXA Financial, was the Dinner’s Honorary Chairman. Dinner Committee Co-Chairs included Mr. John Duffy, Chairman & CEO, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; Ms. Regina Feeney, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs & Co.; Mr. Brian P. Hull, Senior Vice President, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.; Ms. Catherine Kinney, Vice Chairperson & Co-COO, New York Stock Exchange, Inc.; Mr. Thomas P. O’Neill, President of the Financial Institution Division, Aegon USA; and Mr. Anthony Scaramucci, Managing Partner, Skybridge Capital Group, LLC. Additionally, celebrity guests from the Irish and Irish-American communities included Frank McCourt, Consul General Tim O’Connor and Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley Smith

 Leslie C. Quick Jr. Award

Robert J. McCann
Robert J. McCann is executive vice president of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. President of the firm’s Global Private Client Group. He is also a member of the firm’s Executive Management and Operating Committees.

Bob has held a series of positions with increasing responsibility since joining the company in 1982 as an associate in the M.B.A. Sales & Trading program. From August 2003 until June 2005, he served as vice chairman of the firm’s Wealth Management Group, overseeing Global Private Client, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers and Global Securities Research and Economics.

Bob McCann is a member of the board of trustees of Bethany College and chairman of the Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) Advisory Council and vice chairman of the Cardinal’s Committee for Charity.

As a great friend of Ireland and a very generous supporter of The American Ireland Fund, Bob McCann is responsible for raising millions of dollars for the Fund and ensuring that the New York dinner is the most profitable of all AIF events worldwide. He also sits on The American Ireland Fund’s National Board and Executive Committee, is a Co-Convener of the New York Regional Advisory Board and is Patron of the New York Young Leaders.

 The American Ireland Fund Humanitarian Award

Joan Ganz Cooney
Joan Ganz Cooney co-founder in 1968 of Children's Television Workshop today known as Sesame Workshop and originator of the preschool educational series, Sesame Street, served as President and Chief Executive Officer until 1990. She is currently Chairman of the Executive Committee of Sesame Workshop's Board.

Following the successful launch of Sesame Street, Mrs. Cooney and her colleagues created other award winning children’s series on network and public TV such as, The Electric Company, 3-2-1 Contact, Square One TV, Ghostwriter, CRO, Big Bag, Dragon Tales, and Sagwa, the Chinese Cat all bringing science, mathematics, reading and new experiences to life. New show projects are presently being developed and produced for public, commercial and cable broadcast.

Under Joan Ganz Cooney’s leadership, Sesame Workshop programs have been awarded over 100 Emmys and have received scores of other honors presented here and around the world. The Workshop’s activities also include publishing, online services, award-winning CD-ROMs, extensive product licensing, and community outreach programs.

In 1995, Mrs. Cooney was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, and in 1998, she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Mrs. Cooney is married to New York businessman Peter G. Peterson, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce. She has five stepchildren, and presently, eight grandchildren.

 Dinner Committee

Joseph S. Berry, Jr.
William Booker
Loretta Brennan Glucksman
Anthony P. Callaghan, Esq.
Jeremiah M. Callaghan
Robert L. Cunningham
John P. Curran, Ph.D.
Patrick E. Curtin
Michael Donovan
Kevin M. Fee
John Fitzpatrick
William P. Frank, Esq.
Lex N. Gamble
Michael R. George
Bart Grenier
Michael P. Higgins
James F. Higgins
Thomas M. Joyce
Declan Kelly
Robert P. Lyons
James P. MacGilvray
Joseph J. McAlinden
Brendan McDonagh
Kevin J. McKenna
Edward T. McMahon
Angus Miller
James F. Mullery, Jr.
John V. Murphy
Kevin E. Murray
Kevin M. Murray
Francis X. O’Connor
John J. O’Connor
John F.M. O’Donoghue
Ciaran T. O’Kelly
Sheila O’Malley
Thomas F. O’Neill
Philip J. Purcell
Christopher C. Quick
Thomas C. Quick
James E. Quinn
Brian A. Ruane
Thomas Ryan
Thomas F. Troy
Aidan St. P. Walsh, OBE