FUNDRAISING ROUND-UP

St. Patrick's Day badges campaign a huge success.
In the past 15 years transition year students at Blackrock College in Co. Dublin have raised more than EUR 2 million for GOAL and Aidlink from the sale of St. Patrick's Day badges. This year the boys came up with a novel publicity gimmick - 700 of them formed the largest ever human shamrock for the benefit of press photographers who photographed them from the air. Irish soccer team manager and GOAL patron, Brian Kerr, was there to spread the word and raise the GOAL and Aidlink flag.

The badges are sold for EUR2 in newsagents, schools, parishes, on the internet and through a variety of business outlets.

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Bono donates 50k award money to GOAL
U2 front man and humanitarian campaigner Bono has given EUR50,000 to GOAL.
As winner of the Humanitarian Award at the Meteor Ireland Music Awards, Bono received EUR100,000 and asked that it be divided equally between GOAL and Concern.

Paying tribute to GOAL and Concern Bono said: "These are two great, great organisations ... I've seen the way they work in Africa, and these people are real heroes. Much more than actors, much more than rock n' roll singers..."

Bono visited several GOAL programmes in Africa and proposed GOAL for the Conrad Hilton Humanitarian award last year.

Schools support GOAL
Schools throughout Ireland are continually coming up with novel ways to raise funds for GOAL. Fasts, collections, sales and non uniform days are common while other ideas included: a sponsored silence in Hartstown Community School, a soccer tournament in CBS, Mullingar, and a sponsored hill walk by Firhouse Community College.

The sixth classes in John Paul N.S., Malahide donated some of their confirmation money. Rita Keyes, GOAL's school liaison officer, is amazed by Irish children's' awareness of the problems facing the Third World and how keen they are to help. "Ireland's reputation as a caring nation is in safe hands" she says. If you would like Rita to visit your school or club, contact her on 087 1263479.

Mayo Golf Outing
The recent Golf outing in Mayo Golf Club was a major success attracting 53 teams, who raised EUR15,000.

Super support from SuperValu/Centra
The SuperValu/Centra initiative goes from strength to strength. They now have GOAL collection boxes in around 300 shops throughout the country. Any other businesses willing to place GOAL boxes in their premises should ring 01-2809779.

Balls net funds for GOAL
GOAL Balls are now held in 13 venues throughout Ireland and further afield. The GOAL USA Ball took place in March and raised over $80,000 .The first ever GOAL Ball in Wexford was a very enjoyable event which raised a magnificent EUR30,000. The original of the species, The Dublin GOAL Ball, which has been held for the past 17 years, raised over EUR80,000 in April. Dates set for forthcoming balls include Paris (May 25th), London (June 14th), Kildare (October 10th) and Galway (November 14th). Anyone interested in organising a GOAL Ball in their area should contact Lisa O'Shea on 01- 2809779 for advice.

Calcutta Run
The Calcutta Run takes place on May 17th over a 10K course through the Phoenix Park. This event has grown from 500 participants in 1999 to 1,300 last year and has raised over EUR600,000 for homeless children in Calcutta and Dublin (proceeds are split between GOAL and the Arrupe Society which helps homeless children in Dublin). Sports stars and others who have supported the event include Eamon Coghlan, Brian O'Driscoll, Keith Wood, Dennis Hickie, DJ Carey, Ken Doherty, Andrea and Caroline Corr, Ryan Tubridy, Mick McCarthy and Packie Bonner.

Gaelgoirs for GOAL
Last year Colaiste Lurgan, a Gaeltacht summer school in Connemara, produced an Irish language CD with tracks from some of Ireland's major stars and sold it in their tuck shop to raise funds for GOAL. The initiative, which is to be repeated this year and hopefully taken on board by other Gaeltacht schools, raised EUR30,000 and is to be the subject of a TG4 documentary.

Company reps wanted
Anyone working in a large or medium size company who would like to organise support for GOAL among your colleagues should contact the fundraising department of GOAL at 01 - 2809779. Schemes that can be organised in workplaces include salary deduction schemes, collections, sporting or social events. The only limits to what you can do to help are your imagination and your time.