Young Leaders' St. Patrick's Day Celebration : 3.15.07

Send any photo as an ecard to your friends!

On Thursday, March 15th, the New York Young Leaders hosted their annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at the New York Athletic Club, boasting a sell-out crowd of over 550.  The fundraiser raised $200,000 for two philanthropic projects in Ireland supported by the Young Leaders: PeacePlayers International & Barretstown

PeacePlayers International is an organization that uses the game of basketball as a tool to promote mutual understanding and respect between Catholic and Protestant communities in Northern Ireland.  Basketball, unlike traditional sports in Northern Ireland, is not affiliated with either community.  By competing together on mixed teams on a regular basis, prejudices are overcome by the desire to play and have fun

Barretstown is the Irish branch of Paul Newman’s ‘Hole-In the Wall Gang Camp’, providing care for thousands of children with cancer and other serious illnesses.  The camp offers a unique program of adventure, activities and fun enabling children with serious illnesses to regain their confidence and self-esteem.

• invite and project info >

Spear-headed by St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Co-Chairs Sean Gaffey and Damian DeSola, the Young Leaders honored Irish-American actor/comedian Denis Leary. Chosen for his work with The Leary Firefighters Foundation and his Irish heritage, Denis is an inspiration to the Young Leaders.     Denis delighted the crowd with his own special brand of humor and reflected upon the importance of his heritage and the power of Irish America. Denis spoke about his pride in his ancestors from counties Kerry and Cork and how he feels privileged to have inherited some of the ‘Irish gab’. He then spoke of the importance of his work with the Firefighters and the satisfaction it gave him to help these true heroes many of whom were Irish American.
 
Event Co-Chair Damian DeSola commented,” The AIF Young Leaders is a one of a kind philanthropic organization. It provides a platform for a new generation to directly contribute, as a collective group, to programs aimed at improving the welfare of children in Ireland. The success of our St. Patrick’s Day Event is symbolic of that collective effort and a point of pride for our Young Leaders.”

AIF President Kieran McLoughlin also spoke, highlighting the power of the Young Leaders saying, “The Young Leaders represent our future.  Their ability to emphasize with their peers, i.e. Ireland’s youth, ensures that help is directed to where it is needed most. Their business is to help create a new future for a new generation in Ireland”

A true celebration of all things Irish, the Young Leaders St. Patrick’s Day Celebration featured musical entertainment by the Washington DC based Celtic rock band “Scythian” and spirited live auctions for a Luxury Holiday to Ireland & a Deluxe Trip to the Irish Derby.  Young Leader Colin Tobias also won the raffle for a luxury trip to Ireland, including a three-night stay at the Morgan Hotel in the Temple Bar area.

Paving the way for the future of The American Ireland Fund, the New York Young Leaders is a key program attracting young, energetic individuals wishing to cultivate an authentic connection with their heritage, while channeling their philanthropic efforts to Ireland’s advantage.

Photos
1. Award presentation to Denis Leary
2. Denis Leary
3. Sean Gaffey, Denis Leary, Rob Fox, Damian DeSola
4. Robert Shine, Maureen Gillespie, Kaitlyn Cafferky, Brendan Cawley
5. Kevin and Monica Murray and Paul Keary
6. Suzanne O'Sullivan, Kathleen Tuohy, Shelagh Montgomery
7. The Duffy Family
8. Musical Entertainment, Scythian
9. Guests Dancing
10. Sarah McGunniess, Tim O'Connor, Caitlin McCormick
11. Denis Leary, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Kieran
12. Guests Enjoying the Festivities
13. Maureen Gillespie
14. Mike McGrath, Mary Coughlan TD (Minister for Agriculture) and Peggy McGrath