Olympic hero Katie Taylor presents awards – SPAR give €50,000 to local community groups to celebrate 50 years in Ireland
A SEARCH and rescue group who have already saved 69 lives were crowned the overall winners at the SPAR Helping Hand Community Fund on Thursday.
Olympic legend Katie Taylor presented thrilled Waterford Marine Search and Rescue with their cheque in an emotional ceremony at the Gibson Hotel, Dublin.
The €50,000 SPAR ‘Helping Hand Community Fund’, is a nationwide campaign supporting community groups and clubs as part of the brand’s celebration of its 50th anniversary in Ireland. Winners were selected on their contribution to their local communities and their need for financial support.
Patron of the fund and Olympic gold medallist Katie Taylor was on hand at the gala event in the Gibson Hotel in Dublin to congratulate all the winning groups on their success.
The €50,000 SPAR ‘Helping Hand Community Fund’ was launched earlier this year as part of the brand’s celebration of its 50th anniversary in Ireland. Funding recipients have been selected on the basis of their contribution to their local communities in addition to their need for additional financial support.
Willie O’Byrne, Managing Director, BWG Foods, (owners and operators of the SPAR brand in Ireland) said: “As a local retailer, with a presence in nearly every town and city across Ireland, we place a big emphasis on giving something back to the communities whose citizens support our retailers. At an individual level our local retailers support and sponsor community initiatives on an ongoing basis and in this, our 50th year, we wanted to go one step further. Today we recognise Waterford Marine Search and Rescue and all our other winners for their service to the local community; they are a deserved recipient of this funding and we congratulate them on the important role they play locally.”
The SPAR ‘Helping Hand Community Fund’ was awarded to clubs and groups across Ireland under five categories: Children & Youth; Community Services & Support; Heritage & Environment; Sport & Leisure; and Arts & Culture.
