daa, the operator of Cork and Dublin airports, has announced details of the three great charities it will raise money for in 2025 as part of its hugely successful Charity of the Year programme.
The three charities, selected by daa employees, to support over the coming 12 months are Good Shepherd Cork, Little Blue Heroes and CRITICAL.
These partnerships highlight daa’s commitment to supporting organisations that make a significant impact on communities throughout Ireland.
daa has committed that it will once again match the total sum raised by staff and passengers, just as it did last year when daa’s Charity of The Year programme raised a total of €500,000 for its chosen charities, including €250,000 in matched funding.
Kenny Jacobs, CEO of daa, expressed his admiration for the fundraising efforts of daa employees: “I am continually blown away by the fundraising efforts of daa staff who every year dream up fun and innovative ways to raise money for great causes. The money that they raise, combined with generous donations from passengers in our airports, makes a huge difference to peoples’ lives all around Ireland and I’m delighted to see that this will continue in 2025 with the selection of these three great charities. daa is delighted to announce that it will match every euro raised to ensure that each of the three charities will receive a great sum in 12 months’ time. I can’t wait to see what fundraising ideas our teams have in store for the coming year.”
About daa’s 2025 charities:
Good Shepherd Cork is a homeless shelter that provides emergency accommodation for women and children. Their mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment for those in need, helping them to rebuild their lives and regain independence.
Little Blue Heroes supports families of children with serious illnesses in Ireland while empowering the lives of children through community engagement. The foundation works closely with An Garda Síochána to create a special moments and lasting moments for these brave children and their families.
CRITICAL is a volunteer emergency medical responding team who provides pre-hospital emergency help throughout communities across Ireland. Their dedicated volunteers are often the first on the scene, delivering life-saving care and support in critical situations.
Zoe Gallagher, corporate fundraising officer, CRITICAL, said: " We are deeply grateful to be chosen as one of the three charity partners for the year. This recognition means a great deal to us, and we are thrilled to collaborate with such a reputable organization dedicated to making a positive impact. Our heartfelt thanks to the daa for selecting us, and we look forward to a partnership that benefits those in need and drives impactful change in our mission to empower communities to save lives.”
Karl Heller, chairperson, Little Blue Heroes, said: “On behalf of The Little Blue Heroes Foundation and all our Honorary Garda we want to thank DAA for the amazing opportunity to be part of their charity initiative for 2025. At Little Blue Heroes we support amazing children who inspire us every single day as we celebrate special moments with them, their families and Garda Síochána, and the community throughout Ireland.”
Claire Harrington, Volunteer and event Coordinator, Good Shepherd Cork, said: “We at Good Shepherd Cork are delighted to be chosen as one of daa’s Charities of The Year. We are really looking forward to the year ahead and working closely with everyone at daa.”
About daa’s Charity of the Year Programme:
daa’s Charity of the Year Programme is an annual initiative that supports selected Irish charities through employee-led activities and donations.
Each year, daa employees nominate and vote for charities to benefit from a 12-month fundraising campaign. This programme includes various fundraising events across Dublin and Cork airports, with all proceeds going directly to the charities.
Since its launch in 2007, the initiative has raised almost €4.2 million, helping a wide range of causes, including health, social services and community support.
