Thursday, March 15, 2018

Boston Young Leaders St. Patrick’s Celebration 2018

On March 15th, The Ireland Funds’ Boston Young Leaders hosted a record crowd of 600+ at the annual St. Patrick’s Celebration, their signature event each year. Keeping with The Ireland Funds’ tradition of top venues, the Young Leaders, their friends and Ireland Funds’ supporters were welcomed to the Wharf Room at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Overlooking Boston Harbor, appropriately up-lit in green, equipped with multiple bars including two very popular Guinness bars and well-stocked food stations, the room was filled with laughter, stories, bidding on hotly-contested auction items, and a short, but impactful speaking program. Popular Boston-based Irish band “Devri” kept the night upbeat and Irish.

Steve Greeley, The Ireland Funds New England Director and Vice President of Development, opened the program by pointing out the Celebration represented another record-breaking evening of celebrating Irish pride while making a real difference in Ireland by supporting critical Irish non-profits. County Mayo’s TD Michael Ring, also the Minister for Rural and Community Development, gave a rousing and well-received expression of the deep gratitude of the Irish government for The Ireland Funds’ astounding support of Irish nonprofits and “keeping the bond between Ireland and Boston strong.” Minister Ring concluded by assuring those with Irish roots in the filled-to-capacity room, that their grandparents and great grandparents were looking down and smiling at the continued expression of Irish bonds.

The rising level of good craic achieved another boost after Chairman Mike Greeley challenged the Young Leaders to keep the Irish pulse in Boston strong and to continue to gather and give back to Ireland. Mike Greeley then thanked his Vice Chairmen Michael Collins, Jr. (Optum), Nora Kennedy (Suffolk Construction) and Matt Harrington (Intercontinental Real Estate) who each saluted the event’s sponsors. With records broken for both fundraising and attendance, the party continued with great momentum.

Thank you to all our sponsors and supporters, particularly our Patron Sponsors: Newmark Knight Frank, Optum, State Street, & Suffolk Cares and Benefactor Sponsors: Choate Hall & Stewart LLP, Claremont Properties, Dell EMC, Eversource, Goldman Sachs & Co., Grand Coast Capital, & Laura & Bob Reynolds and our in-kind sponsors Winston Flowers and Delta Airlines.

Photos: Sandie Allen

Contact

Stephen Greeley

Vice President of Development / New England Director

The Ireland Funds America

10 Post Office Square, Suite 1205 Boston MA 02109

T - 617-574-0720

E - sgreeley@irelandfunds.org

Email me