1.1m children to benefit from Toy Show Appeal grants

It has been announced that 1.1 million children and their families will benefit from donations to the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal.

122 grants, totalling €3.6 million, will be distributed following the generosity of Late Late Toy Show viewers last November.

The grants will support the work of registered children’s charities and community groups across the island of Ireland.

The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal began in 2020 and was inspired by the story of the late Saoirse Ruane from Kiltullagh Co Galway, who won the hearts of the nation when she appeared on The Late Late Toy Show.

Announcing the grants, RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst praised Saoirse for making “such a positive and lasting impact on us all”.

“The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal is one of the most important things that we do as an organisation. We are so grateful for the support of our Late Late Toy Show audience whose generosity has ensured that RTÉ can continue to make a positive difference to the lives of thousands of children, and their families across the island, north and south,” he said.

He added: “Children have always been the inspiration behind The Late Late Toy Show and have, in turn, inspired the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, not least, Saoirse Ruane who will be remembered as someone who made such a positive and lasting impact on us all. Her memory will live on through the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal and the many young lives that will be transformed.”

Five charities – The Offaly Traveller Movement, Crosscare, Community Law & Mediation, Children At Risk in Ireland CARI and Baboró International Arts Festival for Children – are set to receive transformative grants of €120,000 each.

The remainder of the donations will be split amongst over a hundred charities across the island of Ireland by charity partner Community Foundation Ireland who manage the grant process on behalf of RTÉ and its viewers.

Among the recipient charities are organisations like AsIAm Ireland’s Autism Charity, Barnardos, Barretstown, Cancer Care West, Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation, Helium Arts and Hill Street Family Resource Centre.

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