52|Retail News|January / February 2020|www.retailnews.ie
Forecourt Focus: News Applegreen announces new charity partnerships APPLEGREEN has announced a new partnership with Enable Ireland and Pieta House, who join with the Irish Youth Foundation and FoodCloud to form their corporate charity partnerships for 2020 and 2021. The charities were chosen with the help and input of the Applegreen Ireland customers and staff and have a focus on the areas of children, mental health, disability and continuing to grow the Applegreen Blossom Fund. Joe Barrett, COO, Applegreen plc, said: “We are proud to announce our new charity partnerships and their strong focus on mental health, disability and youth wellbeing. We’re also delighted to continue our partnership with FoodCloud, enabling them to increase their ability to rescue more surplus food across the country. This community focused, sustainable approach is an area we are continuing to develop in order to drive a greater impact and make a positive difference.” Enable Ireland is a charity that provides vital therapy and support services to over 8,100 children and young people with disabilities, and their families. “We are delighted to have been selected as one of Applegreen’s chosen charities,” said John O’Sullivan, CEO of Enable Ireland. “Support from Applegreen’s staff and customers will go towards our respite services and enable us to provide the best possible support to the children and young people in our care.” Pieta House supported nearly 1,000 young people at the risk of suicide and self-harm in 2019 and has developed the Resilience Academy as a result. “The support of Applegreen will ensure that we can expand our programme to reach more schools across the country through our Resilience programme,” noted Elaine Austin, CEO of Pieta House. “Our trained counsellors visit schools, listening to the needs of the teenagers and teaching vital coping skills in the classroom.” Every time a customer makes a purchase in-store, 1c is donated to the Applegreen Charitable Fund at no extra cost to
Pictured are (back row, l-r): John O’Sullivan, CEO, Enable Ireland; Aoibheann O’Brien, CEO at FoodCloud Hubs; Bob Etchingham, CEO, Applegreen; Joe Barrett, COO, Applegreen; (front row, l-r): Vivienne Lawlor, Head of Communications at FoodCloud; Donal Kitt, National Fundraising Manager at Enable Ireland; Sinead Price, Director of Fundraising, Pieta House; and Lucy Masterson, Chief Executive of the Irish Youth Foundation. the customer. Money is also donated through counter-top boxes placed in all Applegreen stores nationwide and from fundraising events organised by staff. In 2018, an impressive circa €750,000 was donated to Irish charities, giving much needed support to the incredible work done by these organisations every day.
Maxol customers raise €66,000 for Aware MAXOL customers have raised an incredible €66,000 in the company’s Christmas fundraising campaign for its charity partner, Aware. It brings the total funds raised by Maxol to over €100,000 for 2019 and the total since the partnership began in 2016 to an incredible €420,000. Maxol’s Christmas Coffee Cup campaign saw a 10-cent donation go to Aware for every purchase of their exclusive Rosa coffee as well as other hot drinks, during November and December 2019. “We are delighted with the support shown by our customers for our charity partner Aware; it is amazing the difference we can make with a collective effort across the country,” noted Brian Donaldson, CEO of The Maxol Group. “We are very proud to partner with Aware and we look forward to rolling out more fundraising initiatives in 2020, as we celebrate our centenary year Pictured announcing the results of Maxol’s fund-raising campaign at Maxol. I’d like to thank all of our valued for Aware are Brian Donaldson (right), CEO of The Maxol Group, and customers, retailers and staff who have Drew Flood of Aware. supported this good cause.”
