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Christmas FM listeners raise over €100,000 for Age Action

Published 29/01/2015

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Charity radio station Christmas FM today announced that its listeners have raised over €100,000 for Age Action.

Age Action | Christmas FM
The generosity of Christmas FM listeners will enable Age Action to provide more than 30,000 Care and Repair visits during 2015

"With over €100,000 donated, Christmas FM's listeners have yet again risen to the challenge and shown that the spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Ireland,” Christmas FM co-founder Walter Hegarty said. “Their generosity will enable Age Action provide more than 30,000 Care and Repair visits during 2015, helping our older people to live happy and independent lives.”

He thanked Centra for their committed sponsorship support and The Ballsbridge Hotel for giving the station  a friendly place to call home. “Christmas FM seems to connect with the best in us and to work with nearly 100 other volunteers in bringing it to Ireland and around the world was a great privilege and a lot of fun" Mr Hegarty added.

Age Action was delighted by the response of the station’s listeners. “We are blown away by the generosity of the Christmas FM listeners,” Age Action’s Head of Advocacy and Communication Eamon Timmins said. The funding would enable Age Action’s Care and Repair teams help thousands of older people, he said, enabling them to continue to live with dignity and independence in their own homes.

“Christmas FM really brings the spirit of Christmas to life through its festive music and the generosity of its volunteers and listeners,” Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of Centra – the station’s sponsor for 2014 - said. “We at Centra were thrilled to sponsor the station for a second year in a row. It was fantastic to work with Age Action who, like Centra, are part of communities right throughout the country. As part of our partnership Centra hosted a number of Christmas lunches at Age Action community centres throughout Ireland where we witnessed a real sense of festive community spirit.”

Christmas FM is run as a not-for-profit operation with 100% of donations going directly to charity. Since 2008, Christmas FM has raised over €600,000 for charities including ISPCC, Barnardos, Simon, Focus Ireland and Aware. More than 100 volunteers participated across the on-air production and promotion of the station, with each devoting between 20 and 50 hours of their time.

For the seventh year in a row, Christmas FM brought round-the-clock Christmas tunes and festive cheer to listeners in the run up to Christmas. Some of the famous faces to pop in and share their Christmas cheer, included singer Brian Kennedy, TV presenter Sile Seoige, actor Frank Kelly, comedian Al Porter and Danny O'Carroll and Paddy Houlihan, from the cast of Mrs Brown’s Boys. 

It’s expected that work will begin on planning 2015’s Christmas FM broadcast soon. Those who wish to contribute or take part in the station in any way are encouraged to make contact early to avoid disappointment. For details see www.christmasfm.com

 

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Age Action Ireland to benefit from Gas Networks Ireland Survey

Gas Networks Ireland is raising money for Age Action. If you've recently called their contact centre or had work done by them, you might receive a text from Gas Networks asking for your feedback. For every response received, they'll donate €2 to Age Action. There is no obligation to participate.

How It Works - If you've had contact with Gas Networks Ireland service centre or had work carried out by them, you may receive a message from Marie Lyster, their Customer Experience Manager. This message is an invitation to share your feedback. 

By providing feedback – only if you choose to – you'll be supporting Age Action Ireland. For every piece of feedback received, Gas Networks Ireland will donate €2 to our organisation. This contribution can support our efforts to improve the lives of older people in Ireland.You won't be asked for any bank details or money. Gas Networks Ireland is handling all the donations.

If you would rather not get these texts, just let them know and you won’t be included.  If you are over 65yrs old, you can contact them directly on their Age-Friendly service.  See their contact details here.

For Corporate Clients- Please note that Gas Networks donate €50 for each qualitative interview their commercial customers take part in.

Details on Gas networks customer surveys is available here.

For more information about our work and other ways to get involved with Age Action, please click here.