Philanthropic Tiger to be fostered as Ireland Funds CEO/President speaks in Waterford
The benefits from philanthropy to society as well as to donor companies and individuals were promoted on Friday, September 8 when Kingsley Aikins, Chief Executive and President of the Ireland Funds, delivered a lecture at Waterford Institute of Technology.
Individuals, communities and organizations with an appreciation of philanthropy and active in the area of fundraising attended this unique lecture by Kingsley Aikins.
The lecture was very well received by those that attended and Waterford Institute of Technology were delighted to have Kingsley speak at the Institute.
More about Kingsley Aikins and this lecture
Mr Aikins believes a unique opportunity now exists for the Celtic Tiger to become a 'Philanthropic Tiger' and feels many of the conditions are in place for Ireland to enter a golden era of generosity and become one of the leading philanthropic countries in the world over the next decade.
"Recent estimates indicate there are some 30,000 millionaires in Ireland, even when the value of principal homes is excluded. More than 2,700 of these now have a personal net worth of €5-30m while a further 300 are worth over €30m so there can be no doubting the tremendous wealth that there is in Ireland today. The Irish are generally regarded as a giving and sharing people and this was shown at times of far less affluence such as 1985 when - despite being in the economic doldrums - we donated so generously to Live Aid.
"If Ireland is to maximise the long-term benefits from the current unprecedented period of prosperity then it is essential that we harness the generosity of the many very wealthy individuals living and working in Ireland. With their support, the Celtic Tiger can become the Philanthropic Tiger and each and every one of the 4.2m-plus people now living in this country will benefit - not least those who give.
"Indeed, one of the points I'll be emphasising when I speak at Waterford Institute of Technology is that the benefits of philanthropy and altruism don't exclusively fall to those in receipt of generous support. Rather, it has been our experience time and again with the Ireland Funds that the donors also draw enormous reward from their giving."
Welcoming confirmation that Mr Aikins is to speak in Waterford on the afternoon of September 8, Desmond Miller, Chairman, Advisory Board, Waterford Institute of Technology Foundation said, "This will provide a timely opportunity for the southeast to consider the potential gain for the region from a culture of philanthropy similar to that which has brought tremendous benefit to communities in the United States.
"As global head of the Ireland Funds, a former Executive Director of the American Ireland Fund and founding Director of the Australian Ireland Fund and the Ireland Fund of New Zealand, Kingsley is uniquely qualified to guide us in this regard. The Ireland Funds have secured over US$300m (€235m) during the last 30 years for 1,200 organisations and projects throughout the island of Ireland.
"There is also a very neat fit here in that part of the raison d'etre for the Waterford Institute of Technology Foundation is to promote planned giving with private donations, bequests and contributions that will help accelerate development of the higher education infrastructure in the southeast region in a way that benefits this and future generations. It is essential that we reduce the region's traditional reliance on Exchequer funding and the private wealth certainly now exists to do that."
Kingsley Aikins, President & CEO, The Worldwide Ireland Funds
