Dear Fellow Donors, Welcome to this edition of Connect magazine reflecting our activity in the first three quarters of 2017. This is a significant milestone for us as this year we are now Ireland’s largest private grant maker. This means that we must ensure that your generosity and support are delivered to those making the great- est change in the most impactful way. I hope that you will get a taste of that impact through the ar- ticles, highlighting just a handful of these projects including Fighting Words Belfast and FoodCloud Hubs. These projects are healing divisions in our society, helping those who are in the margins and supporting people as they rebuild their lives after the worst economic crisis in a lifetime. Of course, it is you who have made us the largest private grant maker for Ireland through your remarkable generosity and we would like you to experience directly the difference you are making on the ground by joining us in Ireland. Some of our leading donors from across the world did so at our annual conference in June. Spending a day with our grantees moved, touched and inspired many of them. This greatly informed the conversation we had on our ambitions and the shape we hope this organization will take by our 50th anniversary in 2026. As we prepare for growth, we reflect on the loss of our great co-founder, Dan Rooney. Together with Tony O’Reilly, Dan set us off on our journey and guided us throughout. Dan’s great humanity was at the heart of everything he did. He advised us and supported us in all the strategic decisions we made but was also directly involved with our projects and knew most of our grantees by name. For him his philanthropy was personal. He cared so deeply about those we strive to help. It is our privilege to continue to fulfill his mission. It is my privilege to meet so many of you who are doing so much to support Ireland. Together, you form a great community of concern which is making a great difference where it counts most. Kind regards. John Fitzpatrick Chairman, The Ireland Funds America Connect FALL / WINTER / 2017 connect 2017 • 3