Communities: O2 Ireland
Irish Autism Action
O2 Ireland announced a three-year charity partnership with Irish Autism Action in January 2006.
This is the first time O2 Ireland has focused on a single charity for its community investment activity and follows a programme of employee consultation.
We are supporting the IAA in building Ireland’s first National Autism Diagnostic Centre and we aim to donate at least €100,000 for each year of the partnership.
Autism affects people’s ability to communicate and form relationships. The charity was founded in 2001 with a philosophy to be ‘a voice for those who have none’. We plan to use employee and customer fundraising, volunteering, awareness building and mobile technology to support people affected by autism.
“With no cure and with numbers of diagnosis rising, those affected by autism and their families face an uphill battle which is aggravated by a lack of services, available information and a poor general awareness and understanding of the condition. In partnership with O2, the IAA can work to change this. With the support of O2, Irish Autism Action (IAA) is better positioned than ever to accomplish our mission to provide the highest standards of education, care and support to individuals and families who face the challenges of autism on a daily basis.”
Cormac Rennick, Chairman Irish Autism Action
During the first six months, €70,000 was raised through employee activities including Christmas card, raffle and party donations, and a corporate donation.
Our goal is to recruit at least 60 employee volunteers, and we expect to help refurbish the charity’s diagnostic centre during the coming year.
Children from the ABACUS School (Applied Behavioural Analysis School for Autistic Children), Kilbarrack, Dublin.
O2 Ability Awards
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD, and O2 Ireland Chief Executive Officer Danuta Gray presented the O2-sponsored Ability Awards in February 2006.
The Bank of Ireland's Customer Operations and Kerry Local Authorities took top honours.
The awards acknowledge organisations that recognise the contribution people with disabilities – employees and customers – make to business. This is our second year of sponsoring the Awards which are run by the Aisling Foundation and founded by Caroline Casey, who is herself visually impaired.
Within O2 Ireland we are implementing a full diversity programme to complement our sponsorship of the awards. O2 Ireland Chief Executive Officer, Danuta Gray is Diversity Champion across the O2 Group.
“I would like to compliment and congratulate O2 for the vision they have shown in taking the initiative to sponsor such a worthy event.”
Brian Goggin, Group CEO, Bank of Ireland
Cycling for autism
O2 supported the Irish Autism Action Autism Life Cycle where ten volunteers from St. Andrews Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in Carlow cycled across all 32 counties to raise funds for Irish Autism Action.
O2 employees also got involved by participating in an employee fundraising cycling challenge in our Dublin and Limerick offices.
O2 is supporting the IAA Autism Around Ireland Life Cycle to raise funds for the charity.
O2 employees supported the IAA Life Cycle by participating in an internal cycling challenge.
Payroll giving
Can Do Giving was introduced in October 2005. Through the scheme we support three charities, Irish Autism Action, Chernobyl Children’s Charity and AWARE, a charity that aims to assist people affected by depression.
