Coca-Cola has launched the ‘Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’ and announced the availability of €125,000/£103,000 in funding to community and voluntary groups promoting active lifestyles throughout the island of Ireland. The ‘Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’ is open for entries from today until July 6th, 2012 and will be accepted through www.coca-cola.ie.
The ‘Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’, which is being supported by the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) and the Wheel, has been developed to support innovative projects and initiatives that are helping people and communities adopt and enjoy more active lifestyles.
Speaking today, Maire Campbell, Public Affairs and Communications Director, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland said: “In 2011 the Coca-Cola Company celebrated its 125th anniversary in Ireland with the launch of the ‘Coca-Cola 125 Years Thank You Fund’ which recognised the very worthwhile work that is happening in communities all over the island. We were overwhelmed by the response that the Fund received with a total of 600 worthy applications. Fifteen grants were awarded to support initiatives in three broad areas: Youth programmes, environmental projects and programmes supporting active lifestyles. The majority of applications were in this last category so as a result this year we have decided to make this area the focus of the fund.
“Not only do we want to support relevant initiatives which are already in place, we are particularly keen to hear from organisations that have new and innovative ideas which they want to introduce and require the funding to make it happen.
A total of €125,000/£103,000 is available for distribution to eligible organisations.
Ten projects will €10,000/£8,200 grants and this year, an outstanding overall winner will be awarded funding of €25,000/£20,500. The project selected will represent best practice and will be a creative and innovative initiative capable of being replicated in other communities.
As the official partner to the ‘Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’ James Laverty, Fundraising Information Officer of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action said: “NICVA is delighted to be partnering with Coca-Cola again this year for the ‘Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’. The Coca-Cola Company is to be commended on its continued investment in communities across the island of Ireland. Now, more than ever, many of our members are operating with less and less money yet the demand for their services continues to increase. Corporate leaders, like Coca-Cola, are helping to meet a growing funding gap for many organisations and we would expect this to be a keenly contested application process. We are delighted to be involved again for the second year in a row. I would encourage any organisation with an innovative idea in this area to enter.”
The ‘Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’ is open for entries from today, 30th of May until the 6th of July. All applications will be accepted online at www.coca-cola.ie. After the entries are closed a judging panel consisting of Coca‑Cola, The Wheel and the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action will create a shortlist of 45 organisations which will be published on the www.coca-cola.ie website on September 1st, 2012. The public vote will account for 50% of the final decision and a vote by an expert judging panel will account for the remaining 50%. The winners will be announced by November 2012.
Full details on ‘The Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’ can be found at www.coca-cola.ie.