Kildare social enterprise receives €20,000 in funding

The global philanthropic network known as the Ireland Funds (IF) has awarded €20,000 to Sensational Kids CLG through its Heart of the Community Fund.

Sensational Kids CLG is a Kildare-based social enterprise that aims to help children access services which have long public waiting lists, such as assessments, diagnoses and developmental therapies.

The IF said that it recognises 'the challenges organisations face in securing funding to build their capacity or meet their core costs', and that it uses the Heart of the Community Fund 2023 to provided grants in order to meet these needs.

The grants awarded by the Heart of the Community Fund have been made possible by philanthropic gifts and fundraising events of The Ireland Funds America, which is the largest of The IF's global chapters.

Commenting on the announcement, Caitriona Fottrell, the President and CEO of The IF, said: "The not-for-profit sector in Ireland is the engine on the ground delivering vital services every day, in every community.

"We understand the significant challenges organisations face, in particular, to meet their core costs to keep that engine going. We believe in each organisation we fund."

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Ms Fottrell continued: "We believe in what they do, and how they do it... We know that by investing in them, we are positively impacting the communities they work with.

"The Heart of the Community Fund is supported by our events and our committed donors, and we are grateful their generosity will enable great work across the island of Ireland."

Karen Leigh, the founder and CEO of Sensational Kids, also commented on the news: "We are so grateful to The Ireland Funds for their continued support.

"Funding from The Ireland Funds has helped up to continue to deliver life-changing therapies to the children who need it most.

"I would like to thank The Ireland Funds and their donors for their generosity; their support is positively impacting the lives of so many children every year through early intervention and therapy supports with Sensational Kids," Ms Leigh concluded.

This year’s grant round will provide a total of €930,000 in funding to 94 organisations in 24 counties across the island of Ireland under The Ireland Funds’ four pillars of support: Arts and Culture, Community Development, Education, and Peace and Reconciliation.

The IF was established in 1976 to promote and support peace, culture, education and community development throughout the island of Ireland, as well Irish-related causes around the world.

It has benefited the work of thousands of different organisations, through both financial and non-financial support.

Today, The Ireland Funds is one of the largest independent grant makers for the not-for-profit sector in Ireland.

For more information on The IF, please visit irelandfunds.org.