New York Dinner Gala – 5.8.2008

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On a beautiful spring evening – May 8th 2008 – 1300 supporters and guests gathered at The Tent at Lincoln Center for the 33rd annual Dinner Gala.  The event, which is the biggest of the 100 the Fund organizes each year around the world, was a wonderfully stylish elegant Irish party backing a noble cause. 

The honorees on the night were:

1. Performing Arts Award - Liam Neeson
2. Humanitarian Award - Lew Glucksman

Liam was honored for the great distinction he has brought to Ireland and the integrity of his artistic work.  He has been a great friend of The American Ireland Fund and never fails to promote its objectives.  Accompanied by his wife, Natasha Richardson, Liam spoke of how he rarely accepted awards.  However, he made an exception for The American Ireland Fund because of the impact of its work across Ireland and because of his huge regard for Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Chairman of The American Ireland Fund.

The late Lew Glucksman was honored for his extraordinary generosity to Ireland.  Lew was one of the most generous philanthropists the country has ever known and supported many of the Fund’s projects ranging from protecting Ireland’s culture to investing in its educational infrastructure.  In accepting the award on her husband’s behalf, Loretta Brennan Glucksman spoke of Lew’s deep love for Ireland and his pride at how the country had developed and grown.  His focus was on education and giving young people a head start in life.

The dinner raised $3.565 million which was astonishing in the challenging economic environment and well ahead of its original goal.  Most notably, over $650,000 was donated by donors in Ireland which was a real example of how philanthropy has taken root there.

A key priority of the Fund is to engender reconciliation between the two communities in Northern Ireland and, in particular, to ensure that the prejudice of the past does not beset the next generation.  Over the last number of New York Dinners, the Fund has provided support to Integrated Education and has helped sponsor Sesame Street Northern Ireland.

This year, the key beneficiary of the Dinner was the wonderful American not for profit – PeacePlayers International – which brings children in divided societies together through the neutral sport of basketball.  A gift of $1 million was made to PeacePlayers to treble the number of children in its program in Northern Ireland and, in particular, establish a basketball camp during Northern Ireland’s marching season when sectarianism is heightened.

Our guests were entertained by Different Drums, a unique troupe which melds the music of the two traditions in Northern Ireland based on the Bodhran and Lambeg drums.

The evening wrapped up with dancing to the sound of Celtic Cross and drinks under the stars at the Irish Coffee Bar.

The event was driven by the 73 members of the Dinner Committee, 13 of whom are based in Ireland, under the co-chairmanship of Bob McCann and Kip Condron.

Info
T - 212.689.3100

Photos  © 85photo.com
1. Kip Condron, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Bob McCann, Natasha Richardson and Liam Neeson
2. Hugo MacNeill and Trevor Ringland
3. Bob McCann, Loretta Brennan Glucksman and Kip Condron
4. Liam Neeson, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Bob McCann and Kip Condron
5. The 2008 New York Dinner Committee
6. Al Smith, Nan Smith and Kieran McLoughlin
7. Guests at The Tent at Lincoln Center
8. Kevin Mulleady and Kathleen Fee of Celtic Cross
9. Liam Neeson and Guests
10. Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Julia and Declan Kelly
11. Tom O’Neill, John Murphy and Kathleen Murphy
12. Peggy Condron and Cindy McCann
13. Diarmuid Hogan, guest and Kieran McLoughlin
14. Rebecca Cole
15. Kieran McLoughlin
16. Ed and Cathy Brehany
17. Loretta Brennan Glucksman
18. Natasha Richardson
19. Kingsley Aikins, President and CEO The Worldwide Ireland Funds
20. Liam Neeson and Guest
21. Bill Booker, Kevin Kelly and Frank O’Connor
22. Rob Fox, Joe Fuchs and Bart Grenier
23. Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson, Loretta Brennan Glucksman and Kip Condron
24. Bob McCann, Dan Rooney and Kip Condron
25. Caitriona Fottrell and Niall O’Muilleoir
26. Lesley King Grenier, Irish Consul General Niall Burgess and Natasha Richardson
27. The Humanitarian and Performing Arts Awards
28. Liam Neeson, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, guests
29. Dan Rooney, Kieran McLoughlin and Liam Neeson
30. Guests dancing
31. Different Drums
32. Dinner Journal