b'DAY THREE FRIDAYTHE PLENARY SESSIONTHE GALAFriday morning began with the plenary session led by President &An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, T.D. was the guest of honor at Gala CEO Kieran McLoughlin. He noted the upcoming anniversary ofDinner on Friday evening.Kieran McLoughlin and John Fitzpat-the organizations 40th anniversary and gave an overview of Therick both addressed those gathered and shared the remarkable Ireland Funds Promising Ireland Campaign. He announced that asnews that had been announced earlier in the day at the plenary of the Conference, the goal of the $200 million campaign had notsession: that The Ireland Funds had reached and exceeded the only been reached six months ahead of schedule, but had been ex- $200 million goal of the Promising Ireland Campaign six months ceeded by $4 million. Those gathered responded with enthusiasticahead of schedule. Over 800 outstanding organizations had been applause at the milestone accomplishment.assisted by the Campaign and thousands of lives affected by the Over the course of the plenary session, the vision of Theprofound generosity of Ireland Funds donors. A roar of cheers Ireland Funds was presented, the timeline of the next Campaignand applause rose from the audience at the announcement. John (2020-2026) and the working program that would bring the Fundsreminded the audience that, The Ireland Funds are all about to that next stage of growth, were discussed. The structure of thehope. Hope for peace, hope for education, hope wherever it is Young Leaders, the need to grow the endowment and global growthneeded. were each discussed in detail.An Taoiseach Enda Kenny came to the podium and congratu-Caitriona Fottrell, Director Ireland took the podium andlated supporters of the Funds on their achievements by saying, spoke about the forty-year track record of trust and the networkTonight is an opportunity to say thank you. Thank you for your that delivers unique benefit to Irish charities. She spoke about thegenerosity, for your skill, your care and for the magnificent work evolution of the organization from being a reactionary grant makerthat you do on behalf of our country and our people. It is not every-to a much more strategic granter. Caitriona spoke about the richone that can say their work changes lives, but The Ireland Funds resource of information that was available to The Ireland Fundscan say this. from the 1,000 organizations that were applying for funding and The evening continued with an extraordinary performance how support that was not simply financial could be extended toby Irelands treasured performance group, The Chieftains. The charities.She shared that an upcoming impact report was begin- energy they bring to the stage has been enjoyed for over 52 years ning which would review the impact that The Ireland Funds hadby audiences worldwide and was appreciated by the Conference made over the last 40 years and what the future could be in tellingguests.the story of philanthropy in Ireland.Kieran concluded their plenary presentation with the vision of fundraiser Scott Nichols,Movement.to organizationto institution. A panel of Ireland Funds leadership that included Dr. Mau-rice Hayes, former head of The Ireland Funds Advisory Board; Helen Lambert, Chairman of The Ireland Fund of France; Gene McQuade, American Ireland Fund Board Director; Ronan Foley Chair of The Ireland Funds in Ireland and Caitlin Duffy, Director of the Young Leaders in Ireland. They spoke about the relationship of Ireland to the international community, the state of Northern Ireland, the role of business in philanthropy, the business climate in Ireland, Irelands corporate philanthropic prospects and finally the bonds felt by the younger generation of leadership to Ireland and Irish culture.The Young Leaders of The Ireland Funds came together19for their own planning session. Ambassador Dan Rooney whoco-founded The Ireland Funds in 1976 with Sir Anthony OReilly addressed the Young Leaders and applauded their commitment and vision as those that would carry the torch. Directors of the Young Leaders Caitlin Duffy and Pat Tully then led supporters in a discussion around the past years activities and the ambitious plans for the next ten years. The session was particularly bitter-sweet as it was the last for Caitlin Duffy in her role as Director of the Young Leaders in Ireland as she would be moving back to the U.S. after six years in Ireland.20connect2015 | 54'