Childline receives €100,000 donation from Ryanair
ISPCC Childline today welcomed a €100,000 donation from charity partner Ryanair.
Childline is the airline's chosen charity partner for 2017.
A the end of Ryanair's second year of the fundraising partnership, the airline has handed over a big cheque just in time for Christmas.
Childline, the only 24-hour listening service which seeks to support and empower children and young people in Ireland, raises almost 85% of its funding raised through corporate and individual donations.
Childline will receive over 1,200 calls on Christmas Day this year.
The donation will help ensure Childline volunteers are there to take calls from children every day and night over the festive period.
ISPCC's Gill Waters thanked Ryanair customers and the airline for its support.
"Your commitment to ISPCC Childline means we can be there to answer calls from children every day and night. While houses around the country are filled with Christmas cheer and excitement, not all children experience the magical feeling of Christmas," she said.
"Instead, they experience fear, loneliness, pain and neglect. Thankfully many of them reach out to Childline, to share their worries and fears. With Ryanair's support, Childline is there to listen and give them hope," she added.
A number of fundraising initiatives were held throughout 2017 including a week-long summer holiday competition on TV3, a charity abseil, the Great Christmas Giveaway draw, and Ryanair will also be running its annual Head Office Christmas Jumper Day next week.
Ryanair thanked all of its customers who supported its charity partnership over the past 12 months.
“Ryanair is proud to partner once again with ISPCC Childline in 2017 and support the invaluable work they do to help children in need and the €100,000 donated will enable them to continue to provide a vital range of services," said Ryanair’s Robin Kiely.
"We have held a number of fundraising efforts in conjunction with Childline throughout 2017 and we wish to thank everyone who supported our events. We look forward to further charity events in 2018.”
Meanwhile, Ryanair management will hold their first-ever talks with the pilots' union tomorrow.
It recently announced it will recognise pilot unions in six European countries - including Ireland - as it tries to avoid disruption over Christmas.
Strikes were threatened for Wednesday, but IMPACT last night suspened the action.
It warned they could reinstate it if they are unhappy with the outcome of discussions.
