The Irish American Partnership hosted more than 50 guests and supporters for our inaugural Business & Philanthropy Networking Reception, held at the Officers Club in Hartford.
Its first-ever Hartford networking event on Wednesday, February 21 raised awareness for a tenet of the Partnership’s core mission - to support young people facing educational disadvantage in Ireland. The evening raised support for the newly created Connecticut-Irish Schools Support Program. 100% of funds raised as part of this initiative will be directly disbursed in impactful grants to Irish schools in need of resources.
At the event, Director of Development Nicholas Michael announced the first grant to a school under the Program, with a $5,000 gift to the Lisnamrock National School in Co. Tipperary. Lisnamrock is a small elementary school supporting 65 students, in need of classroom learning supports and resources - typical of the rural schools supported by the Partnership across the island of Ireland.
The evening was hosted by Nicholas Michael, and featured remarks from special guests from the Connecticut General Assembly including:
Connecticut Senate President Pro Tempore, Senator Martin M. Looney
Connecticut Senate Majority Leader, Senator Bob Duff
Connecticut Senator Kevin Kelly
Connecticut House Representative and National Chair of the Council of State Governments, Kevin Ryan
Senator Martin Looney expounded upon the special relationship enjoyed between the US and Ireland saying,
“It’s important to maintain this connection and to raise money to support education, which is important in every forum. Especially for striving young people who need help and need resources beyond those that might be available locally in order to meet their dreams, ambitions, and hopes.
This is an entirely worthy cause and I look forward to continuing to support it and helping other people to learn about it here in Connecticut.”
Also in attendance representing the Government of Ireland was Deputy Consul General Gareth Hargadon, who thanked the Partnership and its supporters for their important work in maintaining and growing the special relationship between Connecticut and Ireland:
“The Partnership really is to be commended for their efforts in this effort. It really brings it home for me, the work of the Partnership – there’s a small school in East Galway, a village of 250 people, and I lived there, and as you can imagine that’s a fairly small place - 250 people with five pubs… this effect on schools everywhere is having a real impact.
Funds raised can seem kind of ethereal… Thanks to all of you for your support of the Partnership and the great work that they do. We couldn’t do the work that we do without the support of Irish America.”
Our thanks to the event Host Committee for their efforts and support:
PJ Cimini - Capitol Strategies Group, the Ireland-Connecticut Business Council
Christopher Conway - West Hartford Chamber of Commerce
Jean Cronin and Sean Hughes - Hughes and Cronin Public Affairs Strategies
Marty Dunleavy
Brian Flaherty - Sullivan and LeShane Public Relations
Mike McGarry - Hartford Publications
The evening was generously sponsored by Hughes and Cronin Public Affairs Strategies, the Mackin Group, the Ireland-Connecticut Business Council, Brian Flaherty, with support from official travel partner Aer Lingus and the Consulate General of Ireland, New York.