How do you say thank you? Go raibh míle? Merci beaucoup?
Well, Coca-Cola do it through the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund. Marking a major milestone, this year the fund will hit €1,000,000 in donations to youth-orientated non-profit groups, charities, community and voluntary organisations, sporting groups and NGOs across Ireland.
In 2019, another €100,000 will be available to projects that support and inspire young people in their area. Coca Cola are calling on community leaders to make a difference and apply now for funding at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou.
Those who enter are in with a chance of securing grants of €5,000, €10,000 or €20,000 to put towards their chosen projects in education, training, diversity and inclusion and those with an innovative approach to demonstrating sustainability.
The Fund was set up eight years ago on Coca-Cola’s 125th anniversary to give back to local communities. Operated in partnership with The Irish Youth Foundation and Youth Action Northern Ireland, €955,000 has been donated to 83 organisations involved in youth targeted community, social and education programmes.
In 2018, the Fund introduced the first People’s Choice Award, an opportunity for the public to have their say, which was won by Love and Care for People. The migrant-led organisation received €5,000 in funding to invest in a project to help equip young people with skills to look after their mental health and wellbeing.
The ‘People’s Choice Award’ will return for 2019 with the public once again voting for their favourite project among the final 20 shortlisted organisations. Further details of The People’s Choice Award will be announced over the summer.
The winning groups will be announced at Zeminar, Ireland’s largest youth conference in October.
Fancy getting involved? If you know a new community project that could use some help from the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund, head to www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou to apply. Closing date July 12th.
