AIRPORTS: DAA STAFF HELP RAISE Ђ300,000 FOR CHARITY IN 2017

Dublin Airport's chosen charities benefited to the tune of Ђ300,000 last year thanks to the efforts of daa staff, supported by the company and members of the public.

As a reasult, the Irish gateway's charity partners of MS Ireland, Merchant’s Quay Ireland and My Canine Companion for Autism all received a Ђ100,000 cheque from daa.

Sale of KLM airline tickets --- >>>

Staff raised the money for the three charities through a series of events and the company also makes a significant contribution to the fund. 

Members of the public also support the scheme through collection points throughout the airport for passenger donations.

My Canine Companion, which provides service dogs for children and young adults, said it was “blown away” by size of the daa donation, while Homeless and drug services charity Merchants Quay Ireland described the Ђ100,000 cheque as “transformational”. 

MS Ireland said the generosity of daa staff and passengers was “overwhelming”.

Daa’s Charities of the Year scheme, which is one of the largest such programmes in the State, was established in 2007 and over the past decade it has raised more than Ђ2.3 million for a total of 21 Irish charities.

“I am immensely proud of the continuing support and unwavering passion of daa staff in raising this huge sum of money for charity every year,” says daa's chief executive, Dalton Philips.

“The Ђ300,000 raised last year will make a real difference to people’s lives, and on behalf of our three charity partners I would like to thank staff and passenger who so generously contributed to the charity fund over the past 12 months.

“We’re acutely aware that these funds have the power to transform lives for the better.”

The airport's charity of the Year scheme is managed by staff, who also select the charities to benefit each year, and generate a significant amount of the funds through their activities. 

Last year daa staff rowed, cycled, ran marathons, baked cakes, lost weight through Operation Transformation, wore their county jersey or Christmas jumper to work, took part in quiz nights, race nights and a host of other events.

The funds left in cash collection points throughout Dublin Airport also support the chosen charities for the year.

My Canine Companion's chief executive, Niall Ruddy, has no doubt that the Ђ100,000 will make a huge difference to the charity. 

"On behalf of all the staff and clients of the My Canine Companion family I would like to thank all daa staff," he enthuses.

"We are totally blown away by the amount raised from all your efforts. In a record year for the charity My Canine Companion had 47 qualified dogs in 2017. 

"This fantastic donation will ensure that many more children and young adults will receive the life changing gift of a service dog for them and their family. We would like to wish all the staff and your current and future charity partners continued success."