b'FALL / WINTERConnect2 0 1 4Dear Donors and Friends,The first half of 2014 has been very busy and successful for The Worldwide Ireland Funds. We staged arecord number of events across our twelve chapters with the Washington D.C. Gala generating $1 millionfor the first time. Another first was bringing our Worldwide Annual Conference to Northern Ireland. Our Promising Ireland Campaign advanced strongly and with over $172 million already secured we are ontrack to achieving our revised goal of $200 million by the end of 2015.That said, there is no room for complacency, we still have to raise $500,000 a week to achieve this goal.However,themostimportantoutcomeofthefirst6monthsof2014isthephilanthropic support delivered to Ireland and Irish communities across the world. In total we made grants worth $16 million to 128 groups and projects.You can read of just some of these stories in this edition of Connect including Women for Election, Galway Autism Partnership and the New York Irish Center to name a few.I hope you will agree these outstanding organizations are making great impact where the impact ismost needed. Individual lives and communities are being changed and transformed, opportunities arebeing created and futures are being built.All of this progress is being led by American Ireland Fund Chairman John Fitzpatrick who has had a wonderful first six months in office. It was his vision to bring our Conference to Belfast and we aregrateful to him for his leadership, passion, committment and generosity.Ireland is beginning to emerge from one of the worst crises in its history. You are playing your part in assisting that recovery. Everything we do is thanks to our donors across the world. Let me take this opportunity to thank you. It is humbling to see your money at work and we are immensely grateful.Kind regards,Kieran McLoughlinPresident and CEOThe Worldwide Ireland Fundsconnect2014 | 5'