DAA Staff Raise €225,000 For 3Ts Charity

February 22, 2012

Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) staff raised a staggering €225,000 for their charity of the year 3Ts – Turning the Tide of Suicide – during 2011.

A parachute jump, sponsored cycle, a row from Dublin to Holyhead, a Fire Station calendar, ceí­lí­ night, a Halloween party and numerous cake sales and raffles were just some of the events that contributed to the overall sum raised.

The donation to the 3Ts is the single biggest sum ever raised by DAA staff in a single year. Over the past five years, staff have raised more than €830,000 for five different worthy causes.

“I am very proud of my colleagues who have shown such an enormous amount of motivation, enthusiasm and energy to raise such a huge amount of money for this excellent cause,” said DAA Deputy Chief Executive, Oliver Cussen. “The amount raised this year has far surpassed previous years, which is an indication of how suicide has touched people’s lives.”

Accepting the cheque on behalf of 3Ts, Noel Smyth, Chairman 3TS said: “We would like to formally extend our thanks to everyone DAA for raising this very significant sum of €225,000, which far exceeds all our expectations and demonstrates their support and commitment to the issue of Suicide Prevention in Ireland. The wide and varied events and promotions have provided 3Ts with a platform to raise awareness with the general public on the streets and in the airport, to select audiences whom we otherwise could not hope to reach,” he said.

“This generous donation will be divided between a number of Suicide Prevention and Awareness charities with whom we work, with a large percentage of funds going towards the 1Life Helpline, Ireland’s only dedicated 24/7 Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1800 24 7 100.”

The 3Ts charity is the fifth one to be nominated by DAA staff as part of an annual scheme that has raised significant funds in recent years for the Irish Hospice Foundation, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, the Beaumont Foundation and Irish Autism Action. The charity is selected each year by a staff vote.

“We are very confident that this year that our charitable efforts will pass the €1 million mark, which is an incredible achievement,” said DAA Charity Chairperson Siobhán Moore. “We are delighted to have chosen Barretstown as our charity for 2012 and we are already planning our fundraising efforts for the year ahead.”