The Ireland Funds
The Ireland Funds : The Global Network For Ireland
The mission of The Ireland Funds is to be the largest worldwide network of people of Irish ancestry and friends of Ireland dedicated to raising funds to support programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development.
History On the occasion of his visit to Ireland in 1963, President John F. Kennedy joined with Irish President Eamon de Valera to form The American Irish Foundation.
The mission of this organization was to foster connections between Americans of Irish descent and the country of their ancestry.
In 1976, Dr. Anthony J.F. O'Reilly, former President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of H.J. Heinz Co., created The Ireland Fund with friend and fellow Pittsburgh businessman Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team. With a trinity of goals--Peace, Culture and Charity--The Ireland Fund appealed for support for Ireland and its people from all Americans, and especially those of Irish descent.
Over the following decade,The Ireland Fund formed a thriving fundraising network of chapters in cities across the U.S. including Boston, Chicago, Palm Beach, New York, Houston, Dallas, Denver, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Diego, Philadelphia, Providence, New Jersey and Washington D.C.
On St. Patrick's Day 1987, The Ireland Fund and the American Irish Foundation merged at a White House ceremony to form The American Ireland Fund and became the nation's and the world's largest private organization funding constructive change throughout Ireland, North & South.