b"1 2 34 5 6Young Leaders Christmas Reception 1 The Young Leader SteeringDECEMBER, 2012 Young Leaders and friends gathered to kick off the Christmas season at theCommittee with Brian O'Driscoll U.S.AmbassadorsResidenceinPhoenixPark.TheAmbassadorsResidencewastheperfect 2 Brian O'Driscoll addressing the crowd backdrop with floor to ceiling Christmas decorations creating an amazing festive atmosphere. 1503 Kieran McLoughlin,guests filled the rooms with Young Leaders Director Caitlin Duffy announcing that the group hadErica Roseingrave, Caitlin Duffy,reached their fundraising target of $50,000 for 2012. The Young Leaders pledged that $2,000 of theBrian O'Driscoll, Susan Cleary,funds raised from the event would go to The American Ireland Fund efforts to support HurricaneHugo MacNeill4 Junior Choirs of the RoyalSandy Relief. The Young Leaders in Dublin found it only appropriate to give back during this very dif-Irish Academy of Music5 Lindsey Keefe,ficult time. The guests welcomed special guest, Brian ODriscoll. Brian spoke on leadership and theBrendan Meehan, Lauren Allen,power of the Irish brand; his speech touched on several points that were relevant to the Young LeadersThomas Heeney, Melissa Mardelli, andprogramme. The night wrapped up with a festive selection of carols from the Junior Choirs of theKelly Glander gather around the tree Royal Irish Academy of Music. Coaches picked up the guests at the end of the event and headed to6 The US Ambassador's Residence the Odeon Bar where many of the guests continued the celebration. It was a wonderful to see somany faces old and new and to kick off to the Christmas season together. A very special thank youto the U.S. Embassy, Ambassador Daniel M. Rooney and Mrs Rooney and all of the Ambassadors Residence staff for such a wonderful evening.connect 2013 | 87"