b"Loretta has made an outstanding contribution to Ireland None of us are indispensible, but in the case of The Irelandacross a number of areas: business, philanthropy, peace, Funds throughout the world, we will make an exception forartsandeducation.Ithankherforthisextraordinaryher.Sir Anthony O'Reilly, Co-Founder of The American Ireland Fundcommitment and I wish her every success in her final yearof leadership and on into the future.President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins at the 2013 Worldwide Ireland A life-spark.A friend. A philanthropist. An ambassador.Funds Conference A seer. The language doesnt hold enough words to describeher. She has shaken out the soul of two countries. She hasbridged the expanse beween emigrants and their home-I am enthralled by the commitment of Loretta Brennan land. She has ennobled and justified so many good causes.GlucksmantothiscountryandtothecausesshehasShe makes the forgotten valuable. The small miracle of it issupported for so many years. Words cannot describe this that she has done it all with grace, style and humility. Shecommitment to our people. Thank you to you and all those seems to open up the windows of whatever room she is in,who have given of their philanthropic endeavors. and put the oxygen back in our lives. If anybody is capable An TaoiseachEnda Kenny at the 2013 Worldwide Ireland Funds Conference of representing our timesand getting beyond the dark itis Loretta Brennan Glucksman.Colum McCann, author andwinner of the 2011 American Ireland Fund AWB Vincent Literary AwardLorettahasalwaysbeenanexamplethroughher generosityandinvolvement.SheandLewfoundedtheGlucksmanIrelandhouse,theleadingcenterforIrishThe common theme in the reaction to the news of mystudiesinAmerica.Nowafter18outstandingyearsofnomination as successor to Loretta as Chairman of TheaccomplishingourmissionandfurtheringAmericas American Ireland Fund was you have a very tough act to friendship with Ireland, she is stepping down. She is not follow.I most certainly do. leaving us but she is passing the torch to John Fitzpatrick. Under her 18-year tenure, The American IrelandThese are the facts, and the statistics, but Loretta is more Fund has become one of the largest private funding sourcesthan statistics. She is what she is because she cares. She for not-for-profits across the island of Ireland. The fact thatloves the Irish people and we are not here to celebrateour most recent initiative, the Promising Ireland Campaign,statistics. We are here to celebrate excellence and accom- will exceed its original goal by 50% in such a difficult plishment. Loretta, I salute you.Ambassador Dan Rooney at economic climate is testament to Lorettas leadership, drivethe 2013 New York Dinner Galaand determination. A passionate advocate of all things Irishand Irish American, Lorettas personal generosity in havingcontributed over $27 million to the Fund speaks for itself. It is not often in life that one comes across elegance and I know the hundreds of organisations and communitieseloquence in such a balanced and luminous way, but this is across the island of Ireland who have benefited from ThewhatTheIrelandFundsgotwhenLorettaBrennanAmerican Ireland Fund, will want to join me in thankingGlucksman became Chairman of The American Ireland Lorettaforherinspiration,hercommitmentandher Fund and led it so distinctively for almost two decades. As I support over the past 18 years. We can be happy in thesaid to her many years ago, The Ireland Funds are as unique knowledge that Loretta will continue to be involved with theandalmostasdifficulttoexplainasthetheologicalFundandaspassionateasupporterofIrelandasever arguments between transubstantiation and consubstanti- before.I look forward to availing of her wise counsel andation. They mean many things to different people and enjoying our continued friendship in the years ahead.Loretta, in a special way, is an emblem of all their feelings. John Fitzpatrick, Chairman-Elect of The American Ireland Fund1 Loretta Brennan Glucksman at the7 Loretta Brennan Glucksman 13 Kieran McLoughlin, Loretta Brennan18 Loretta Brennan Glucksman at Glucksman Gallery in UCC 8 Loretta Brennan Glucksman andGlucksman, Caitriona Fottrell Strokestown House2 Loretta Brennan Glucksman, President President Mary McAleese 14 Mayor Michael Bloomberg,19 Loretta Brennan Glucksman and Michael D. Higgins, Ambassador9 Loretta Brennan Glucksman and TheBono, Loretta Brennan Glucksman Sen. George MitchellDan Rooney Ireland Funds conference attendees15 Colum McCann, Loretta Brennan20 Loretta Brennan Glucksman 3 Dan Rooney, Sir Anthony O'Reilly,visit Habitat for HumanityGlucksman visits Belvedere Youth ClubLoretta Brennan Glucksman,Northern Ireland 16 Bono, Liam Neeson, Loretta Brennan21 Lew Glucksman and Loretta Brennan Dr. Maurice Hayes 10President Bill Clinton andGlucksman, Gabriel Byrne Glucksman4 Seamus Heaney, Loretta BrennanLoretta Brennan Glucksman 17 Back row: John V. Cooney, Jr.,22 Peter Lynch, Sir Anthony O'Reilly, Glucksman 11 Loretta Brennan Glucksman andCaitlin Cooney, Chris Cooney,Chryss O'Reilly, Bill Cosby, 5 Loretta Brennan Glucksman andAn Taoiseach Enda Kenny Jim Blumenfeld, Adam & Katie Cooney. Loretta Brennan Glucksman dancers from Celtic Dreams 12 Loretta Brennan Glucksman andFront row: Loretta Brennan Glucksman, and Lew Glucksman6 HSH Prince Albert of Monaco andJohn Fitzpatrick Kate Cooney Picco, Lori CooneyLoretta Brennan Glucksmanconnect2013 | 14"