Music Generation’s partnership with U2 and The Ireland Funds was celebrated in September last year at the 27th Allianz Business to Arts Awards, a major annual event dedicated to recognizing and commending imaginative, innovative and effective partnerships between businesses and the arts in Ireland. In one of the most prestigious and competitive categories at the event, Music Generation, U2, The Ireland Funds, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation were thrilled to win the Award for Best Long-Term Partnership. Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan T.D., made the presentation to Rosaleen Molloy (Music Generation National Director) and Siobhán Gallagher (Director of The Ireland Funds Young Leaders) before an audience of some 600 leading representatives from the cultural, corporate and philanthropic sectors at Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. ‘This was a big dream and it was always going to be a team effort. We can’t thank our partners enough for their passion and commitment to our shared goal – an accessible music education for every young person in Ireland. We are all so proud of everything Music Generation has achieved thus far and we look forward to working together long into the future.’ —The Edge ‘The journey and achievements of Music Generation are testament to the power of philanthropy, which has brought about unprecedented change for the music education landscape in Ireland.’ —Caitriona Fottrell, Vice President and Director, Ireland of The Ireland Funds Celebrating the Power of Philanthropy an International Award for Music Generation’s Partnerships connect 2019 • 15 Andrew Hetherington, Business to Arts CEO (left) with percussionist Alex Petcu, Aibhlínn Doheny (Music Generation Laois participant and young percussionist) and Sean McGrath, Allianz CEO (right), pictured together at the announcement of the 2018 Allianz Business to Arts Award for ‘Best Long Term Partnership’, presented to U2 and The Ireland Funds with support from Bank of America and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, for ‘Music Generation’. Photo: Robbie Reynolds