Emerald Isle Dinner Dance
Thursday February 15, 2007

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The American Ireland Fund’s Emerald Isle Dinner Dance took place on February 15, 2007 at The Breaker's Hotel and marked the organization’s 17th season in Palm Beach. Kay and Peter Lyons, and Jackie and Jim Higgins served as Dinner Dance Co-chairmen. This year, The American Ireland Fund honored Palm Beach resident and philanthropist, William I. Koch with the Leadership and Philanthropy Award; and world renowned suspense novel author, Mary Higgins Clark, with its Arts & Letters Achievement Award. Both were recognized at the Dinner Dance.
The evening kicked off with a cocktail reception that concluded with bagpipers and drummers signaling the start of dinner. Kingsley Aikins, the CEO of The American Ireland Fund, welcomed everyone, acknowledged the special guests and thanked the dinner chairmen. He then introduced Jim Higgins, who presented Clark with her award.

Clark, who served as past president and board member of the Mystery Writers of America, has written more than 25 suspense novels, has been awarded eighteen honorary doctorates and numerous literary achievements and awards, was recognized for her accomplishments as an author, humanitarian, philanthropist and a devoted supporter of Ireland. An active advocate and participant in several literacy programs, Clark attributed to her storytelling talents and abilities to her Irish heritage saying, “I have shamrocks on my DNA.”

Tim Rooney, a longtime member of The American Ireland Fund Board of Directors, who along with his brothers, owns the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Palm Beach Kennel Club and Yonker’s Raceway, presented his son-in-law, Bill Koch, with his award.

Koch, who is founder and president of The Oxbow Group, a diversified holding company listed by Forbes as one of the 500 largest privately held companies in America, is a recognized community leader and activist in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, where he launched a personal anti-crime initiative at the governor’s request that became a statewide initiative. In 1992, he won the America’s Cup and united more than 200 people that worked to bring “the Cup” back to America. He is founder and chairman of America3 Foundation, sits on the Board of Commissioners for the Smithsonian American Art Museum; is trustee emeritus of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts; and remains active in alumni affairs at MIT where he received his Bachelors of Science, Master’s Degree and Doctoral Degree in Chemical Engineering. Koch’s diverse art collection has been shown at the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery and many other museums around the world.

Throughout the evening, the dance band, Powerhouse provided live entertainment. During the dessert course, an auctioneer from Christie's led a live auction for a trip to Ireland, an original oil painting by the celebrated Irish-born artist Hugh O’Neill. The auction highlight was when the final bid was made for a pair of earrings donated by Harry Winston that were won by Mr. and Mrs. John Murphy of Manalapan, FL.

More than $500,000 was raised from the auction and dinner. Proceeds from the auction, which raised $50,000, will be used to advance the construction of the new Rowallane Integrated College, one of a growing number of independent schools in Northern Ireland that embrace the practice of educating Catholic and Protestant students together.  more >

During the dinner, Kingsley Aikins reported that in 2006, The American Ireland Fund has also raised $1 million to launch The Sesame Street Northern Ireland project. Television programs promoting tolerance and understanding were produced specifically for the children of Northern Ireland. Sesame Street Workshop and the BBC are in the final stages of production with broadcasts set to air beginning in the Fall of 2007.

Rowallane Integrated College (high school)

The Greater Saintfield area in mid Co Down, located between the historical town of Downpatrick and the city of Belfast, is the home to three integrated primary schools.

Realizing that there was no nearby integrated college with the capacity for their children to continue in integrated education, a group of parents formed the group POISED – Parents Organizing Integrated Secondary Education in mid Down. The result of this was one of the strongest development proposals ever presented to the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education.

Rowallane Integrated College, opened in September of 2006 with 39 students however, it is being housed in temporary premises located at Belvoir Park Hospital on the outskirts of Belfast. The school, despite having no government funding and existing in temporary accommodations, has proved to be successful, demonstrating a clear parental desire for integrated education. However, they are starting from scratch and Rowallane needs our support.

With less than 6% of Catholic and Protestant children being educated together, we have a rare opportunity to make a concrete contribution to the betterment of society in this troubled area of the world and to the future of Northern Ireland.

A quote from Ross White, a current student:
“My first day at Rowallane Integrated College I was both excited and nervous. In fact I was terrified. I always wanted to go to an Integrated College. They are the best and I am so glad I came here.”

Proceeds raised at the auction for Rowallane Integrated School will help to purchase the following needed supplies and equipment:
Sporting Equipment:
Rugby team uniforms
Field Hockey equipment
Soccer team uniforms and equipment
Basketball uniforms and equipment
Science lab:
Lab coats and lab equipment
Computer Systems:
System set-up
Internet set-up and security
Software licensing
Classrooms
Two Interactive Whiteboards
Library:
Everything needed!
Encyclopedia, science books,
Literature, Foreign language books