Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12O U R H I S T O R Y The American Ireland Fund is part of The Worldwide Ireland Funds, an international philanthropic network operating in 12 countries that has raised over $500 million for worthy causes in Ireland and Irish causes around the world. I T I S T H E L A R G E S T N E T W O R K OF FRIENDS OF IRELAND DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING PROGRAMS OF PEACE AND RECONCILIATION, ARTS AND CULTURE, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. Founded in 1976, The Worldwide Ireland Funds have benefited over 3,000 organizations. Funds raised are contributed by private sources— individuals, corporations and foundations. In 1976, Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team and the former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, along with fellow Pittsburgh-based businessman Sir Anthony O’Reilly, created what was then The Ireland Fund. The Ireland Fund and the American Irish Foundation, founded by Irish President Eamonn De Valera and U.S. President John F. Kennedy, merged at a White House ceremony on St. Patrick’s Day 1987, to form what is today, T HE AMERICAN IRELA ND FUND. On the cover – Killarney, Co. Kerry – location of the 2015 Annual Ireland Funds Conference