Philadelphia Golf Classic 22 Sept. 2003

Message from the AIF Director, Mid-Atlantic Region

Photos from the event >

Thank you for making 2003 a banner year for AIF-Philadelphia.

Thanks to the leadership of Fran Van Kirk and his gallant band of Golf Committee members - and to your generosity -our 2nd Annual AIF Philadelphia Classic has raised more than $200,000 in support of The American Ireland Fund's mission to support projects of Peace and Reconciliation, Arts and Culture, Education, and Community Development throughout Ireland, North and South. Congratulations to all!

Two of the more than 250 projects the AIF supports annually are featured here this evening:
NICIE, the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education, whose purpose is to provide financial support for the development and expansion of integrated education in Northern Ireland. In an area where generations of children are segregated by religion, NICIE-supported integrated schools provide a neutral area where children of different faiths and backgrounds can learn together.

The Ballinglen Arts Foundation is dually located in Ballycastle, Co. Mayo and right here in Philadelphia. Ballinglen brings artists from around the world - including several Philadelphia and Delaware Valley-based painters - to contemplate the dramatic coastal landscape of North Mayo and create original work from their inspirations. Ballinglen is not merely an aethestic endeavor, however. The constant influx of artists and visitors to this remote area has also served to inject the local economy.

While we deservedly celebrate the success of this year's Golf Classic, let me also harken back to last year's outing which raised $100,000 for the 2003 World Special Olympic Summer Games. Thanks in large measure to your support, the AIF raised over $1.3 million in support of the Games, and helped Ireland stage the largest sporting event in the world this year. Several of you here tonight were with us just a few months ago for the opening ceremonies in Dublin's Croke Park and witnessed U2 frontman Bono introduce Nelson Mandela in a quite unforgettable stadium-shaking moment. But that hardly was the highlight of the evening. No, that was left to the 7,000 athletes who took over not only the stadium but every heart in Ireland for two weeks of inspiring athletic competition.

It is moments and projects like these which your efforts and financial generosity support. For your continued support, on behalf of The American Ireland Fund, I offer you my profound gratitude.

Michael O’Neill
Senior Director, Mid-Atlantic Region
The American Ireland Fund

Since attending last September's inaugural AIF Golf Classic, my interest in the work and mission of The American Ireland Fund has grown exponentially and it is my distinct honor to serve as this year’s golf Chairman.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of an extremely dedicated Committee and your substantial and generous support, the growth of the AIF's Philadelphia Golf Classic has also been exponential. I hope you share my pride in helping to raise more than $200,000 for projects of Peace and Reconciliation, Arts and Culture, Education and Community Development throughout Ireland, North and South.

If today's event is your first introduction to The American Ireland Fund, I urge you to become further engaged with the AIF, the largest worldwide network of people of Irish ancestry and friends of Ireland. For those of you who have been with us at the outset of our efforts in Philadelphia, I offer a hearty and sincere Thank You, while exhorting you to grow even closer to this dynamic global institution.

With your continued support The American Ireland Fund will remain the preeminent vehicle to effecting permanent and positive change throughout Ireland.

On behalf of the 2003 Golf Committee, Go Raibh Míle Maith Agat - thank you very much.

Francis J. Van Kirk
Chairman
The American Ireland Fund Philadelphia Golf Classic 2003

Committee
Tom Bond
Geis Realty Group, Inc.

William J. Cunningham
Gladwyn, PA

Frank Deasey
Deasey, Mahoney & Bender, Ltd.

Dennis M. Durkin
CB Richard Ellis

James J. Fitzgerald IV
Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Edward J. Friel
McGowan Investors

Bernard Halfpenny
Halfpenny Management Co.

J. Anthony Hayden
Beacon Commercial Real Estate

John Kent, Esq.
Kent & McBride, P.C.

James J. Lynch
Sovereign Bank

Michael K. McCabe
Kohlhepp Investment Advisors

Frank McGarvey
Lower Gwynedd, PA

William T. McKernan
Norman Spencer McKernan

Joseph J. McLaughlin, Jr.
The Haverford Trust Company

Kevin McNamara
McNamara Trading Company

Peter S. Miller
CMS Companies

Francis P. Newell
Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP

George Nise
Beneficial Savings Bank

Patrick J. O'Connor
Cozen O'Connor

Michael O'Neill
The American Ireland Fund

Gerald Strid
Strid Wealth Management Group

Mark B. Sweeney
Diageo