iDonate have offered to auction the scrapped e-Voting Machines for charity through their online Charity Auction Shop. Buyers would nominate a charity to benefit from the purchase of a unit.
iDonate are calling on Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan to make available some of the scrapped e-Voting Machines in an effort to raise much needed revenue for charities across Ireland.

Alan Coyne, Marketing Manager for iDonate estimates that €500,000 to €1,000,000 could be raised for some of the 12,000 non profit organisations in Ireland through the sale of a portion of the 7,000+ units. He says “iDonate are seeing huge interest from charities and fundraisers to make the units available for charity events”.

iDonate, a Galway based web marketing company, have made available a free fundraising platform to charities and non-profits. The services include online donations, fundraising pages, SMS text campaigns and an eBay like auction shop where the public upload items for sale while nominating a charity to be the beneficiary of the sale or auction.

iDonate ; N17 Business Park, Tuam, Co. Galway
Tel: 093 52467 – web : www.idonate.ie – email : info@idonate.ie

A lot of information on the Governance Code website

The service is free.

We will also give a mention on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Maintain a steady pace: Enjoy the race day atmosphere and excitement, but remember to maintain your pace so you do not run out of steam too early.

Take Refreshments: Before the race, know how far apart aid-stations will be located and plan how often you will need to consume fluids or snacks. You should consume 6-8 oz. of water or sports drink every 15-20 minutes to stay hydrated.

Carry Energy gel: Consuming energy gel is a great way to replenish carbs (glycogen) during the run. They are light-weight, small, and easy to consume. Get one down just before reaching an aid-station so you can wash it down with fluid.

Eat Safe: Do not consume anything before or during the race that you have not consumed during training. Introducing a new type of food to your body may lead to an upset stomach and require unwanted stops at the portable restrooms during the marathon.

Plan ahead: Lay out your running gear the night before race day. You do not want to find yourself scrambling to find your chip timer or bib pins in the morning. Even worse, you don’t want to be at the starting line and realize you forgot your timer, energy gel, or anything else you may need.

Support others: If you find yourself passing other runners late in the run, encourage them by simply saying “keep it up, you’re looking good” or “great job, you’re almost there” or anything positive and encouraging. It just might be the lift they need.

Dry clothes: Have a change of clothes waiting for you after the finish so you can stay warm.

Don’t forget to stretch: Be sure to stretch good after the finish. You will likely feel invincible after you cross the finish line, but treat your body to some good post-race stretching and it will reward you with less soreness in the next few days.

Enjoy a post-race snack: Shortly after the finish, snack on a banana, bagel, energy bar or other item to replenish nutrients. Wash it down with water or sports drink.

As you know, Pieta House have developed a very special relationship over the last number of years with communities and organisations across Ireland.. We have taken a great amount of pride in the amount of public support we have received and can honestly say we would not have made such incredible progress without such invaluable support.

You may be aware that we are under increasing financial pressure – the demand on our service is so relentless that for the first time in 6 years we are operating a waiting list. We are doing everything we can do eliminate this, but it’s not easy.

Our annual fundraiser, Darkness into Light, is our biggest event of the year, and we are calling on all supporters of Pieta House to make this the most successful year yet. I am asking you to help us promote this awe-inspiring event, by doing any of the following:

> I have written a letter encouraging all who can to participate in Darkness into Light. Would it be possible to send this email to all your staff/contacts?

> Would it be possible to send you some posters and registration forms advertising the event and could you put them up in an appropriate location?

> How about having our Countdown Banner on your intranet (or website if you really love us!) Please see http://dil.pieta.ie for an idea of what we mean. This has been the most popular way for people to register to date.

> If you have any internal Newsletters or emails, would you be able to mention Darkness into Light for us?

> If you have any other suggestions as to how we can promote this event we would be delighted to hear from you.

If you could help us out with any of the above for Pieta House, we would be so grateful. In the same breath, if you cannot help us directly this year, we totally understand – but if you could forward this email onto someone you know who might be able to help us, that would be brilliant.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this email.

Kind Regards
Joan Freeman

Deputy O’Cuiv was hugely instrumental in bringing the issue of VAT on SMS text donations to the fore.

Prior to Christmas iDonate contacted several public representative to highlight the issue. Deputy Eamon O Cuiv contacted us to get the background.
He consequently tabled as Dail motion to highlight the matter. He has been given written assurances by Government that the matter will be resolved.
He has asked us to update him monthly on progress, as he plans to continue to table the matter until fully resolved.

Press Release from Eamon O Cuiv – Click Here

Article in This Weeks Galway Advertiser – Click Here

Article in This Weeks Foinse (As Gaeilge) – Click Here

To Enter Register Online on iDonate.ie before April 6th and will get you up and running on iDonate.ie. Winner will be announced on Friday 13th April. Unlucky for some!!!

Terms & Conditions Apply. Email alan@idonate.ie for more details

This is a question we as a nation are all beginning to answer with a definite YES!!

In the loving memory of my wonderful Mother, i am undertaking a huge challenge of Running & Cycling around coastal Ireland – a journey to raise vital funds and also build awareness of this terrible disease.

Whether you live in our main cities or in our beautiful coutryside, we aim to touch as many cities, towns & villages as we possibly can in iur 2600km journey. The challenge every day for the month of August 2012 is to run 20km & cycle 80km making sure that we finish back in Galway for the 1st of September (which will coincide with my mothers 15th year annivesary).This challenge equates to undertaking a half ironman (excluding the swim) every day, but is nothing compared to all the cancer patients that are undertaking treatment.

Everybodies support is requested, wether you want to join me on a leg or just take a sponsorship card or even just make a small donation, all help is greatly appreciated, So if you know anybody effected or you want to do something for them, please feel free to look at our website www.journeyformags.com or call me Darren Duane on 086 3846861 and ill be more than happy to assist in any way that i can. Alternatively you can contact the Marie Keating foundation directly as all proceeds are going to this foundation.

The Young Leaders programme has been running in the United States for a number of years with a series of high profile events aimed at younger people who it is hoped will become the next generation of charity donors.

More than 100 members of the Irish Young Leaders programme gathered in Dublin this week as part of a series of events around the world. Young Leaders events will take place in New York and Boston next week.

“These are young professionals who are well educated and are either starting out in business or establishing their careers,” Kieran McLoughlin, the Ireland Funds’ worldwide chief executive, told the Irish Times. “If we get them young, secure their commitment to support Ireland philanthropically, we hope they will give very generously over the course of their lives,” he said.

Membership of the Young Leaders group costs between $100 and $1,000 a year, with members are encouraged to make additional gifts or donations to specific projects.

The funding goes towards a range of projects in Ireland focused on disadvantaged young people, the elderly, culture and education, as well as the peace process.

About 400 Young Leaders have signed up as members in Ireland, the US and Australia, according to Mr McLoughlin. So far they have raised more than $1 million.

The Young Leaders initiative was first established several years ago in the USA, largely because those involved in fundraising were worried that future generations of Irish-Americans wouldn’t have as strong a bond with their ancestral homeland as their parents did.

Source – fundraising.co.uk

The Ireland Funds are currently accepting applications for their Grant Round, which is open from 1st Feb – 30th March 2012.

The objective of the Small Grants Round is to enable as many organisations as possible to fund new and innovative responses to social need. The amount of funding available will vary from year to year but is typically around $1 million. Applicants can apply online during the period in which the Grant Round is open, which is typically February – March

Visit www.theirelandfunds.org/grant-round for more info