30th May 2006:
Little Star Fund Questions Whether Ssia Windfalls Will Benefit Charities In Ireland
The Little Star Fund charity has questioned whether good causes will suffer in the next 12 months as businesses target consumers with SSIA windfalls.
An estimated half a billion euro is set to enter the economy in June as the first SSIAs mature, approximately the same amount as the Irish population gave to charity in 2005. In January 2005, the Irish Mortgage Corporation conducted research that found that of those with SSIAs, only 0.7% plan to give some of their windfall to charity - some 7,700 of the 1,100,000 SSIA savers.
The Little Star Fund consists of Ireland’s four largest charities for seriously ill children working together for the first time. Barretstown; Our Lady’s Hospital for Children, Crumlin; Temple Street Children’s University Hospital and The National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght are appealing to SSIA holders to donate a small portion of their windfall to help thousands of sick children and their families all over Ireland. The charity is asking for just a once-off donation - not a long-term, monthly standing order commitment.
Conor Byrne, a LSF spokesperson said: "We know from previous research on charitable giving that the majority of Irish people give money to one or more charities a year and the average is about €15 a month. If every SSIA holder made a once-off donation of €15 to the Little Star Fund, we’d collect a massive €16.5 million which would make a huge difference. We would just ask that people remember us if they’re planning on donating a small portion of their cash windfall to charity."
Last year approximately 119,000 children in Ireland benefited from the services provided by the three children’s hospital and Barretstown. Donations can be made via the charity’s website - www.littlestarfund.ie or by visiting any AIB branch or by posting a cheque to PO Box 10481 Dublin 12.
Ends:
Notes to Editors:
The Little Star Fund is a campaign between the three national children's hospitals - Temple Street, The National Children's Hospital, Tallaght and Our Lady's Hospital for Children, Crumlin and Barretstown, The charity's aim is to encourage the 1.1 million SSIA holders around Ireland to donate some of the SSIA cash windfall to help improve the lives of seriously ill children.
For further information, please contact Pembroke Communications:
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