16 January 2018
ESB marked its 90th anniversary in 2017 with a charity challenge inviting staff to form teams to walk, run or cycle blocks of 90km between July and October. Each 90km milestone entitled the team to cast a vote for one of the six chosen charities.
In all, 74 teams took part across the country, with each participant on average clocking 442 kilometres during the four months. (Photo of the winning ESB team with Aware CEO Dominic Layden is attached.) A total of €90,000 was distributed on the basis of the votes, with Aware receiving €25,000, Simon Communities of Ireland - €20,000, Electric Aid - €15,000, An Cosán - €12,500, Aware Northern Ireland - €10,000 and the Irish Red Cross - €7,500.
The so-called 90for90 challenge improved staff health and wellbeing while making a difference in the communities in which we operate. The funding comes from ESB’s Energy for Generations Fund, which seeks to empower and enrich the lives of individuals and communities across Ireland.
Gerry O’Brien, Head of Fundraising at Aware commented: “We were delighted to be chosen as one of the charities to benefit from this fantastic initiative celebrating ESB’s 90 years in business. Thank you to all the ESB employees who ‘got active’ for Aware and helped to raise an incredible €25,000 for our services. Like the ESB, Aware helps communities nationwide focusing both on supporting those affected by depression and bipolar disorder, and providing information and education programmes to empower people to look after their mental health.”
Teresa Sloan, Aware Northern Ireland Director of Fundraising and Communications added: “This money will make a significant difference to improving mental health across Northern Ireland through Aware’s work. We were thrilled to have been the chosen charity for ESB staff and hope they found the challenge benefited their mental, as well as their physical health.”
Meanwhile, Fionn Faherty, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Dublin Simon Community said “Simon Communities of Ireland are extremely proud of the long term relationship that we have with ESB. This generous donation will allow us to continue providing vital homeless services, when and where they're needed across the country. We are grateful to all of the staff at ESB, their kindness and support will allow us to continue being there for people when they need us the most."
Finally, Emma Doyle, Irish Red Cross Major Gifts Executive, says: “Thank you so much and well done to all of those involved in raising the incredible €7,500 that we received. Thanks to you we will be able to continue helping communities to be healthy and resilient at home in Ireland and overseas.”
ESB’s Energy for Generations Fund aims to maximise the impact of their investment by taking a more strategic approach to effect change. Funding is only part of the jigsaw – ESB also leverage the skills and knowledge within the company to bring about more sustainable and positive outcomes. Since it was launched in 2005, the Fund has awarded total funding of €11.5 million to over 700 local and national charities around Ireland.
ESB’s Energy for Generations Fund is open to organisations within the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. For more information on ESB’s Energy for Generations Fund, please visit our website www.esb.ie.
Photo (attached): Winning ESB team Sean Walsh, Claire Kierans and Brian Gray with Dominic Layden, CEO of Aware, presenting the organisation with €25,000 at a recent event at Aware's head office in Dublin. Photo credit: Andres Poveda
ENDS
Media enquiries to:
Paul Hand, ESB Press Office – 085 7256798/ paul.hand@esb.ie/ Twitter: @ESBGroup
About ESB
ESB is Ireland’s foremost energy company and the largest supplier of renewable electricity. Through innovation, expertise and investment, ESB is leading the way in developing a modern, efficient electricity system, capable of delivering sustainable and competitive energy supplies to our customers. Every day, ESB works for a better energy future by investing in low-carbon generating technologies in Ireland and Great Britain, building smarter electricity networks in Ireland and working with others to find innovative solutions to today’s energy challenges.
ESB contributes over €2 billion annually to the Irish economy through dividends, investments, taxes and jobs. ESB provides significant employment both directly, with 7,600 employees, and indirectly through contractors and service providers.