Coca-Cola Thank You Fund reveals Mayo recipient

Not for profit organisation Mayo North East has been selected for funding from The Coca-Cola Company and its strategic bottling partner, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland. 

The company announced today the 18 non-profit organisations from across the island of Ireland that have received a share of this year’s Coca-Cola Thank You Fund. 

The successful non-profit organisation from Mayo is Mayo North East, receiving €8,925 in funding.

A total of €200,000 in grants were once again made available to youth groups working to empower young people through transformative programmes of learning and sustainable development.

_{Chris Kelly from Mayo North East youth organisation (Photo: Conor McKeown)}

Mayo North East works with communities and public sector agencies to support individuals experiencing social exclusion, inequality, and poverty. The partnership aims to create sustainable, inclusive communities through provision of continued further education and development of local community groups. 

Funding will support a project called ‘Waste Wise Kitchen’, which will run two ten-week programmes focused on food waste, cooking skills, healthy eating, and ways to reduce food waste and be more sustainable.  

A key outcome is the project will lead to small changes regarding food waste and help participants become more informed and sustainable consumers.  

Now in its fourteenth year, the initiative continues its commitment to fostering education, employability, and environmental leadership among young people aged 16-25. 

This is the second consecutive year that €200,000 in grants has been made available through the Fund, enabling a greater number of community-based projects to inspire and empower the next generation to become skilled and engaged citizens.

Speaking about the importance of grant schemes such as the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund, Coca-Cola Ireland Country Manager, Agnese Filippi, said: “This year’s applications highlighted the essential role that community resources play in empowering young people to build a better future for themselves. “From initiatives that support education and personal development, to those enabling sustainable development and climate action, the diversity and creativity of the projects is truly remarkable. We would like to thank every organisation that applied this year and commend their efforts in making a lasting difference in their local communities,” he added,

Davide Franzetti, General Manager, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland went on to say: “The goal of this year’s Coca-Cola Thank You Fund was to play a role in fostering that ambition, helping to equip these future leaders with the resources and supports they need to thrive in their local communities. 

Operated in partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation (IYF), Lucy Masterson, Chief Executive concluded: “As a longstanding partner of the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund, we are delighted to announce the Fund’s support for 18 outstanding community organisations working to improve the future of young people. 

Over the past 14 years, the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund has awarded nearly two million to 182 non-profit organisations, making a significant impact in communities across Ireland. 

For more information about the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund, see the website.