Staff & Passengers Raise €315,000 For daa’s 3 Charities

Airport operator daa has presented cheques totalling €315,000 to three great Irish charities, following a 12-month programme of fundraising activities across its businesses, including Dublin and Cork airports.

The incredible fundraising efforts of staff and passengers mean that the three charities – The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Cork Life Centre and Ronald McDonald House – have each received a cheque worth €105,000.

The three charities were selected by daa staff as their Charities of the Year programme for 2023.

Since 2007, daa’s charity programme has raised over €3.7 million for 33 different charities. That number will now rise further, with 3 new charities selected for the 2024 Charity of the Year programme.

Following a rigorous selection process over recent months, daa employees have voted to support A Little Lifetime Foundation, Cliona’s Foundation and Cork Penny Dinners in 2024.

According to Kenny Jacobs, CEO of daa: “I believe this programme is another fantastic example of how our people are always willing to go above and beyond – to show up and support each other and others. It shows the care and consideration that lives in this organisation, and the spirit of kindness and generosity that is core to our people”.

Speaking at the ceremony after being told how much had been raised for his charity, Andy Heffernan, CEO of The Alzheimer Society of Ireland: “For all of the moving parts of daa to come together to support us, means a huge amount. To raise this amount of money in one year is phenomenal. This programme has also helped to continue to spread awareness and the de-stigmatisation of dementia. I have no doubt that there are many people on a daily basis travelling through Dublin Airport with dementia. The awareness raised with staff within daa will make their journeys through the airport that bit easier.”

According to Craig Hayes, Deputy Director of Cork Life Centre: “We have been blown away by the generosity shown by the daa charity programme. We would also like to thank James, our charity champion for his support this year. This donation will continue to allow us to enrich young people’s journey through education and to further develop the skills of the young people we help at the centre.”

Joe Kenny, CEO of Ronald McDonald House, said: “I want to express our sincere gratitude to daa and its passengers for their generous donation and support this past year. We are very grateful to our charity champion, Pat Aspell and all the charity committee, for all they have done this year to support us. daa’s contribution will help us make a huge difference to families in the future. This contribution by daa will be recognised in the new Ronald McDonald House at The New Children’s Hospital, which started construction this year. This will allow us to continue to look after families for generations to come.”

About daa’s Charity of the Year Programme

daa’s Charity of the Year is one of the largest of such programmes in Ireland. The programme is managed by daa employees and each year new charities are nominated and then selected through an online vote to become daa’s charity partners. A charity committee oversee and guide fundraising activities throughout the year, for the chosen charities. Charity Champions, who successfully campaigned for their charity join the committee and are a vital link between daa and our charity partners. Passengers and members of the public can also support the scheme by donating at collection points located throughout our airports.