Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards to honour young volunteers from across the island of Ireland
Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan, TD and Education Minister, John O’Dowd MLA are encouraging Ireland’s youth north and south to apply for the 2015 Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards Programme, which recognizes young people for exemplary volunteer service.
The call was supported by The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) and The General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI), which partner with Pramerica Systems Ireland, located in Letterkenny, in the recognition programme that recognises and rewards outstanding acts of volunteerism by Ireland's post-primary school students for volunteer work carried out in their local communities and abroad.
At a reception in The College of Anaesthetists in Merrion Square North, both Ministers encouraged schools across the island to nominate young people who give their time, energy and spirit to make a positive impact on their communities.
The Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan TD, commented: “I am delighted that young people across Ireland can now apply for this scheme. Volunteering is a fantastic way to contribute to your local community and make a real difference. These awards recognise and honour volunteers, so I would encourage students to enter and I wish them the very best of luck with their entries.”
Caroline Faulkner, Senior Managing Director and Chief Information Officer of Pramerica Systems Ireland, which launched the program in Ireland in 2006, said, “Many young people take part in volunteer activities that have a real impact at a local as well as a national level. We continue to be inspired by the selfless acts of our young people who are so passionate about serving people in their communities.
“With the Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards, we shine a spotlight on the young people who unselfishly reach out to others. I encourage all post primary students to volunteer and to apply to our programme so that we can share their wonderful work and celebrate the strength of volunteerism in Ireland.”
Since its inception, The Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards has honoured more than 150 youth volunteers from across Ireland for their volunteer work and the 2015 awards programme provides an opportunity to salute deserving students who are involved in community service activities.
The Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards is open to all post primary students who volunteer in their community, at school or abroad. To apply for a 2015 award, students must download the application at www.pramerica.ie/spirit, and then submit the completed form to their school principal by the 24 October, 2014. Principals have until 7 November to nominate students for national-level recognition. Every school can submit a maximum of two applications to go forward for national judging.
Twenty finalists will be selected and each will win a cash prize of €500, an invitation to the Gala Awards dinner and recognition for their school. Two All-Ireland Youth Volunteers of the Year will be selected from the finalists, each of whom will receive €1,000 for their chosen charity and a trip to the United States.
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Notes to editors
About the Awards
The Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards programme is modelled on The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, which was created in 1995 in the United States by Pramerica's parent, Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI)*. Since then, nearly 375,000 young Americans have participated in the programme and more than 100,000 have won awards. The programme has been widely praised by educators, government officials, parents and community leaders. Many notable Americans, including former President Jimmy Carter, former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell (ret.), former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former First Lady Laura Bush, former U.S. Senator and astronaut John Glenn, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, sports superstar Magic Johnson, actor Richard Dreyfuss and actress/comedian Whoopi Goldberg have participated in the programme. PFI has introduced the programme in other countries where it has a significant business presence, including Japan in 1997, South Korea in 1999, Taiwan in 2000, Ireland in 2006, India in 2010 and China in 2013.
In Ireland a number of leading public figures have supported and participated in the programme including Bertie Ahern, John Hume, Caitriona Ruane, Mickey Harte, Declan Kidney, John Lonergan, David Coleman and Martin O’Neill.
About Pramerica
Pramerica Systems Ireland Limited, located in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, began operations in 2000 and has more than 1,100 employees. It provides essential computer-technology and client-contact services to PFI businesses around the world. Its Information Technology group develops software and other systems solutions for PFI business groups and its Operations group functions as a back-office contact centre and delivers a suite of professional service for PFI business groups.
Partners
The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) represent principals and deputy principals in the Republic of Ireland at post-primary level. The association aims to provide a united voice for principals and deputy principals.
The General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) is an independent, self-regulatory body established to represent the professional interests of teachers in Northern Ireland.
Prudential Financial is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom.