b'developed by The Ireland Funds such as No Mind Left Behind, The US Northern Ireland Mentorship Program,Music Generation and The Ireland Funds Business PlanCompetition are delivering positive outcomes to Ireland. Pat Tully and Caitlin Duffy presented to the YoungLeaders gathered at the Conference on the accomplish-ments of the Young Leaders Society over the past year andgave a city-by-city summary of what each chapter wasdoing. They covered events, recruiting, and the annual NYCSummit and its objectives. Pat shared suggestions that hadbeen submitted by Young Leaders for new initiatives andmade the announcement that the Young Leaders had nowraised over $1 million in unrestricted income for the workof The Ireland Funds. That evening, the Gala was held on the grounds of the12 K Club. The evenings guest of honor was An TaoiseachEnda Kenny who came to celebrate the Promising Ireland DAY TWOFollowing a meeting of The American Ireland Fund Board Campaignsmilestoneaccomplishment.AnTaoiseach of Directors, Kieran McLoughlin, President & CEO of The expressed his pride in the work of The Ireland Funds andWorldwide Ireland Funds welcomed the delegates to the the difference those in the room had made for Ireland at aplenary session of the Conference where they discussed the most difficult time. The night also marked the 41st Annualstate of The Ireland Funds and their future. He presented AmericanIrelandFundAWBVincentLiteraryAward.relationship as the theme of the plenary session, inKieran McLoughlin used the occasion to recall the uniqueparticular the powerful relationship between the donors spirit of the late Billy Vincent for whom the award wasand Ireland. named. Maryon Davies Lewis, longtime supporter of theCilian Fennell, TV producer and story-teller, began Literary Award was present and Kieran thanked her for hertheplenarywithareflectiononthedevelopmentofgenerosity. Author Roddy Doyleco-founder of FightingIrishness and the ties that bring the diaspora together. Words,acreativewritingcentreforyoungpeople He applauded the care that The Ireland Funds and their supported by The Ireland Fundswon the 2013 award. Hedonors demonstrated towards the island. He concluded by spoke about the transformative power of writing for thecomparing them to the poets and artists of Ireland, point- thousands of children that had been reached by Fightinging that philanthropy was the donors paintbrush and Words. He concluded by announcing to a standing ovation,poem for changing and strengthening Ireland. that he would be giving his prize of 25,000 euro to FightingKieran McLoughlin continued the plenary sessionWords to continue their work. by sharing a report on the state of the Funds over the past Co-founder of The Ireland Funds Dan Rooney took year, and urged donors to think of The Ireland Funds asthepodiumtospeakofChairmanLorettaBrennan an embodiment of private giving for the public good.Glucksmans extraordinary role with The American IrelandHe pointed to The Ireland Funds not as a charity, but asFund. He recounted stories of her grace and humor overa community and a fellowship focused on philanthropy. the years and she was welcomed to the stage with a stand-He recapped the success of ThePromising Ireland Campaign ing ovation from those gathered. Loretta gave a heartfeltbecause of the generosity of this community and reminded and emotional thank you to Ireland Fund supporters for allthosegatheredthat100%offundsraisedwerefromthey had accomplished during her period as Chairman.private philanthropic sources at no cost to the taxpayer. Kieran McLoughlin produced the surprise of the eveningOver 350 organizations across Ireland and around the a portrait of Loretta by the great Irish artist James Hanley.world had benefited from the Promising Ireland Campaign Hanley came to the stage to present Loretta this very so far and donors should feel proud that one third of the special memento of her faithfulness to Ireland and to theorganizations total earnings had been achieved in the last work of The Ireland Funds. Loretta left the stage to a secondfive years.standing ovation as supporters recognized her final IrelandDirector Ireland Caitriona Fottrell presented on the Funds Conference in the role of Chairman.deep needs of the nonprofit sector across Ireland. She The evening continued back at the K-Club. It was filledhighlighted the excellence of so many organizations inwith song, camaraderie and the craic that is a hallmark atIreland and how key the support of The Ireland Funds was The Ireland Funds Annual Conference.totheirsuccess.SheoutlinedthewaysinwhichThe IrelandFundswerehelpingfromgrantmakingto mentorship of organizations to identifying key areas ofneed and emerging leaders in the sector. The programs connect2013 | 57'