EBS Building Society today announced details of a national award scheme that has been designed to celebrate local heroes in Cork and across the country. This year one local group, club or cause per EBS office will receive €500 in funding from the EBS Community Fund. In addition to this one Community Fund recipient from each county will be selected to go forward and represent their county and be in with a chance of receiving €10,000 in funding.
2011 has been announced as the European Year of Volunteering, so this year the EBS Community Fund has been extended to include a Volunteer of the Year. Recognising that volunteers are the driving force behind all community groups EBS is also going to recognise one ‘EBS Volunteer of The Year’. This person will be nominated by communities throughout the country with a final selection being made by an independent panel. The volunteer chosen will receive €1,000 towards the charity, club or group they are involved with.
EBS Building Society is asking members of the public to show their support through nominations for the EBS Community Fund. To nominate a community group, club or cause or a volunteer hero simply call in to your local EBS office and pick up a nomination form. Entries will be taken up until 1st November.
Aidan Power, Head of Marketing at EBS said: “Community groups, organisations and volunteers make up the fabric and lifeblood of communities throughout Ireland. The selfless work that happens in this country on a daily and weekly basis helps to enrich the communities where we live and work and improve the quality of life in Ireland. The Community Fund is a mechanism which allows us to reward and recognise some of this work on a regular basis.
“Over the past number of years, the EBS Community Fund has rewarded small charities, voluntary groups, clubs and organisations that make a positive impact on their communities. The nominations are not confined to any type of organisation and can be anything from a football club to a homework club or a support group that helps the elderly. We are delighted to also introduce the ‘EBS Volunteer of the Year’ award as part of the celebrations leading up to the 2011 European Year of Volunteering. The work that is done by volunteers all over this country can sometimes go unrecognised and this award I hope will allow communities to celebrate their local heroes and give them the praise they deserve. I’d encourage everyone to get involved with this year’s EBS Community Fund and I look forward to seeing the entries flying in.”
For further information about the EBS Community Fund log onto www.ebs.ie or call into your local EBS office
