Westmeath charities receive funding from the Late Late Toy Show Appeal

The lives of children across Ireland will be improved in multiple ways through 147 RTÉ Toy Show Appeal grants announced today, and which were made possible by the generosity of viewers of last November’s Late Late Toy Show. The total money raised was almost €4million!

Two Westmeath charities have received funding from this appeal by Community Foundation Ireland. New Horizon - Athlone Refugee & Asylum Seeker Support Group were awarded €12,000, while Helium Arts were awarded €58,000 (with additional counties nationwide benefiting as well).

Athlone Refugee & Asylum Seeker Support Group aim to run the New Horizon Summer School for young asylum seekers and refugees to help them prepare for second level education and have better opportunities for later in life.

Helium Arts' project aim, 'Reducing Inequality for Teens Through Creativity’ intends to increase the creativity and well-being of teenagers with physical health conditions to bring joy, build social connections, and improve well-being.

Announcing the grants Dee Forbes, outgoing Director-General of RTÉ, said: “Children’s voices have always been at the very core of The Late Late Toy Show. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our viewers, thousands of children are now being supported in so many different ways.  To everyone who donated a huge thank you; this will help so many young lives in the year ahead and is a remarkable testimony to Ireland’s renowned generosity.”

Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland added: “The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal continues to make an enormous contribution to our mission of Equality for All in Thriving Communities. Over three-years with the distribution of €17.6 million in total viewers have impacted on young lives in every part of our country. Children’s lives are being transformed thanks to the generosity shown by family, friends and neighbours who respond during the Toy Show to ensure the magic continues all year."