Allergan gives €60k to Mayo charities

GENEROSITY Shauna Crossan, HR Director, Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ireland; Sean O’ Malley, Westport Lions Club; Pat O’ Donnell, Vice President & Managing Director, Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ireland; Michael O’ Donnell, Westport/Aror (Kenya) Partnership and Eileen Mc Namara, The Carers Association at the announcement last week.?Pic: Keith Heneghan/Phocus

Allergan International Foundation awards €60,000 to Mayo charities


Neill O’Neill
neilloneill@mayonews.ie

THE Allergan International Foundation recently awarded €60,000 to local charities, as part of its global philanthropic initiatives.
The substantial funding grants of €20,000 each were given to the Mayo Carers Association, Westport/Aror (Kenya) Partnership and the Westport Lions Club. The money is awarded by the Allergan International Foundation, which is committed to providing a lasting and positive impact on communities outside the USA, where the employees of Allergan live and work.
Speaking to The Mayo News, Mr Michael O’Donnell, of the Westport/Aror Partnership, stated that the funding would be used by the organisation specifically for the purchasing of a new ambulance to operate out of their health centre in Aror.
“We have been fundraising specifically for a new ambulance as it is badly needed,” he said. “This generous contribution from the Allergan International Foundation is a real shot in the arm for us, as we must also fund the medical centre itself, while seeking extra money for a new ambulance. We are still a long way off funding the ambulance, but this money will greatly help us reach our goal. We realise that it is not a local decision to grant this funding and are delighted that the Allergan Foundation’s International Committee saw merit in our application and responded so kindly.”
Westport Lions Club member, Sean O’Malley, added that the €20,000 his organisation received will also be spent in Kenya - in the Malindi region on the east coast of the country, where the Westport Lions Club organise several self-sustaining charitable initiatives.
“We will be using the money to develop six bore holes which will bring fresh drinking water to over 1,000 people in the region,” he said. “I have already identified the locations for the holes - which we try to have near schools -  and will return t0o the area later in the year to supervise the work. At present the ladies of the region have to walk over ten kilometers a day to bring water back in jars, so this will make life a lot easier for entire communities.”
Sean O’Malley was also very grateful for the generous support of the Allergan Foundation, and also expressed his continuing thanks for all previous sponsorship Allergan have provided to Westport Lions Club.
The Allergan International Foundation grants money to organisations with a charitable purpose in four key areas: Health and Human Services, Arts, Education, and Civic Programmes.

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