Airport staff’s fundraising efforts soar

THE Dublin Airport Authority (daa), supported by the company and members of the public, generated €240,000 for its three Charities of the Year during the past 12 months.

Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Parkinson’s Association of Ireland and the Diabetes Unit at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin were each presented with a cheque for €80,000.

The fundraising efforts during 2015 means that daa staff have donated more than €1.7 million to 15 Irish charities over the past nine years.

Celebrating the achievement, daa chief executive Kevin Toland said the money raised will make a real difference to people’s lives. 

“I am immensely proud of the continuing support and passion of daa staff in raising this massive sum of money for charity,” Mr Toland said. 

“Since our charity programme started, 15 Irish charities have received significant donations to the total value of €1.7 million over a nine-year period. 

“This truly is a phenomenal sum of money doing a lot of good for Irish charities.”

Speaking at the cheque presentation, Temple Street Foundation chief executive Denise Fitzgerald said: “We are so grateful to all the daa employees who worked so hard to raise a huge €80,000 over the last year from bake sales to fashion shows and even a team rowing from Ireland to France! 

“These funds will help build our much-needed new Neurology & Renal Outpatients’ Unit and will go a long way in helping sick kids in Ireland. Thank you to everyone for your kindness and support.”

Chairperson of Walk for Diabetes, part of CMRF at Crumlin Hospital, Tom Walsh, said: “I want to thank most sincerely all the staff in daa, the management and the travelling public for their overwhelming achievement in raising €80,000 for each of three charities during 2015. “Raising funds of any amount for charity is never easy, but to continue to do so every year at these kind of levels since 2007 is just unbelievable. 

“The funds will be used at the Diabetes Centre in Crumlin to maintain services at current levels and to ensure we continue our diabetes pump therapy treatment programme into the future.”
Chief executive of the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland Paula Gilmore said the funding will enable the association to continue providing vital services including its nurse call-back service. 

“We are overwhelmed with the generosity and support we have received from the DAA,” said Ms Gilmore. “They ask so little and give so much.”

Over the course of 2015 a wide variety of events took place with daa employees, families and friends getting involved to support the three charities. 

Events included a 100/50k cycle, Women’s Mini Marathon, a 5k road race at Dublin Airport, a parachute jump, a charity row, marathons, and books and cake sales.

The amount of money raised is greatly helped by the coin donations made by visitors to Dublin Airport using the many charity coin boxes throughout Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

Three more Irish charities will get a slice of the fundraising pot from activities organised by daa staff in 2016. Aoibheann’s Pink Tie, Childline and ARC Support Centre topped the poll of charities nominated by daa staff.

Meanwhile, Dublin Airport has hit a new high in passenger satisfaction ratings, according to new survey figures published in the latest round of Quality of Service Monitoring at the airport.

The airport achieved its highest ever Q4 score for overall passenger satisfaction across the full spectrum of passenger comfort and services as set out by the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR).