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The American Ireland Fund Palm Beach Celebrates 15th Anniversary of the Emerald Isle Dinner Dance —
AIF/PB’s Most Successful Event To Date

PALM BEACH, FL -- The American Ireland Fund Palm Beach held its annual black-tie gala, the Emerald Isle Dinner Dance on February 17, 2005 at The Breakers. The 15th Anniversary of The American Ireland Fund’s Palm Beach Dinner Dance 2005, the organization’s most successful to date in Palm Beach, drew a crowd of more than 500 friends and supporters and raised more than $650,000.

Lee Bierly and Christopher Drake, both A.S.I.D. members and founders of the award-winning interior design firm, Bierly-Drake Associates, Inc., considered one of the top residential design firms in the United States, served as the Dinner Co-Chairmen. Honorary Co-Chairmen for the Dinner Dance Michele and Howard Kessler, Mila and Brian Mulroney, and Thomas C. Quick.

Kingsley Aikins, President and CEO of The Ireland Funds Worldwide, welcomed the guests. Following the first course of dinner, part-time Palm Beach resident The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, P.C., C.C., LL.D., and the former Prime Minister of Canada who was honored at the 2003 Dinner Dance, presented the award to this year’s honoree, Mrs. David “Hillie” Mahoney, who took the stage and made her acceptance remarks. Mrs. Mahoney, who has been a friend to The American Ireland Fund for many years, is known throughout the Palm Beach community for her dedication and commitment to numerous charitable organizations and is highly regarded in social and corporate circles as a philanthropist dedicated to preventive medicine, social welfare and educational organizations. She, along with her late husband, David Mahoney, co-founded The David Mahoney Institute of Brain Initiatives in Washington, D.C and The Harvard Mahoney Neuroscience Institute in Cambridge, MA. Mrs. Mahoney serves as a director of the Charles A. Dana Foundation, as a member of the Columbia- Presbyterian Health Sciences Advisory Council and is a life trustee of The Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

The evening included entertainment by Music Works- Fifth Avenue Band and a live auction conducted by Auctioneer Paul Provost, Senior Vice President of Christie’s. The auction, which included a Van Cleef & Arpels ring, a portrait sitting by artist Calyxte Campe, a Hugh O’Neil oil painting and a golf trip to Ireland, raised $43,000.

The American Ireland Fund is the world’s largest private organization funding constructive change throughout Ireland, North and South. It has chapters in cities across the United States, including Boston, the world wide headquarters and Chicago, Palm Beach, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Diego, Denver, Dallas and Washington DC.

Part of an international network of Ireland Funds, The American Ireland Fund is the largest network of people of Irish ancestry and friends of Ireland dedicated to raising funds to support programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development in Ireland. Since its founding in 1976, The Ireland Funds have raised, to date, more than $300 million to support over 1,000 charities throughout the island. organizations, and the Fund has begun to build a permanent endowment through “named” funds established by prominent Americans as well as bequests and other large gifts. The Ireland Funds are active in 10 countries around the world and on an annual basis, hold more than 70 events in 39 cities attended by over 40,000 people.

The American Ireland Fund Palm Beach also supports the Palm Beach community and makes an annual donation from the Dinner Dance proceeds to a local charity. This year Hospice of Palm Beach County was the recipient.

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