EY’s Lisa Kealy, Wealth and Asset Management Sector Leader, has been named a Corporate Ambassador for Focus Ireland’s Shine A Light Night event on October 16. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, Ireland’s business community has the option to host virtual sleep-outs in their own homes, gardens and safe private spaces in line with government advice.
Lisa commented:
I am humbled to be given this opportunity to shine a light on the homelessness crisis in Ireland. Taking part in the sleepout last year had a tremendous impact on me and I am delighted to play a part in supporting the 8728 people who are currently homeless in Ireland – which includes 2652 children and 1412 families in emergency accommodation.
Through this event, Ireland’s business community can help to fight homelessness in a very real way and this year, your support is more important than ever before. Due to Covid-19, people experiencing homelessness in Ireland are even more vulnerable and the increased demand for Focus Ireland’s services is expected to continue as the economic impact of the virus hits the country. This year’s virtual sleepout option will make Shine A Light Night safe and accessible to as many businesses and employees as possible. Will you give one night to change a lifetime?”
Lisa will once again be sleeping out this year with the help of an expanded team including past Irish Funds’ Chairs Yvonne Connolly, Tara Doyle, Alan O’Sullivan and Brian Forrester, Irish Funds Council member Ronnie Griffin, and Irish Funds CEO Pat Lardner. Help them achieve their fundraising target here.
Calling on business leaders to get involved, Pat Dennigan, CEO Focus Ireland said:
Shine a Light Night is our most important fundraising initiative each year and we have always been strongly supported by the business community in Ireland – we are truly grateful for their involvement and support in driving funds to ensure our vital services can continue to help those who are homeless across Ireland. As a result of Covid-19 and arising government restrictions, we have made the unfortunate but necessary decision to cancel our schedule of outdoor corporate sleepouts across the country. Instead, we hope that Ireland’s business leaders and companies will continue to show their support for Shine a Light Night and take part ‘virtually’ by sleeping out safely in their own homes, gardens, or private safe spaces.”
L-R: Lisa Kealy, Pat Dennigan (Focus Ireland CEO) and Jamie Heaslip
In 2020 Focus Ireland’s Shine a Light campaign, which is proudly supported by Bord Gáis Energy, is aiming to raise €1.3 million on Shine a Light Night, with Ireland’s business community helping to raise the vast majority of this. This year however, members of the public can also get involved in the initiative within their homes and host their own sleep-outs to shine a light on homelessness in Ireland. Since the event began in 2012, Shine A Light Night has raised over €5.3m for people experiencing homelessness in Ireland. In 2019, the support of Bord Gáis Energy as sponsors enabled Focus Ireland to help over 14,200 people.
For further information on Shine A Light Night 2020 and to register for a virtual sleep-out visit www.focusireland.ie/shinealight.
