6 June 2017
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
The Cope Foundation has launched its flagship fundraising campaign that encourages people across Cork to plant Flowers of Hope seeds to help children and adults with an intellectual disability or autism to “grow, blossom and fulfil their own unique potential”.
Jonathan Healy, Presenter with Newstalk, and more recently with Red FM online, launched the Flowers of Hope campaign at Cope Foundation’s Beech Hill Garden Centre in Montenotte, Cork. The campaign will raise funds for programmes that support 2,350 children and adults across its 69 locations in Cork city and county.
The Flowers of Hope campaign has a long-standing history in Cork. Each year volunteers have visited homes distributing the envelopes with the Flowers of Hope seeds in lieu of donations. This year, the campaign is blossoming somewhat with the introduction of Flowers of Hope boxes – which are displayed in various retail outlets, garden centres, credit unions etc. throughout Cork city and county. People are welcome to take a gift of an envelope with the seeds from the box and make a donation either online or by post.
Jonathan Healy, Presenter with Newstalk and Red FM with Ciara-Jane O’Sullivan (aged 2) from Blarney at the launch of Cope FoundationÕs Flowers of Hope campaign at Beech Hill Garden Centre in Montenotte.
Picture Darragh Kane
Jonathan Healy, Newstalk and Red FM said
“Flowers of Hope has always been special to me because as a child I used go from door to door with my mother collecting for Cope Foundation and then waiting and waiting for the flowers to grow! What’s great about this year’s campaign is that people will be able to pick up their envelopes in locations across Cork and simply post their donation back to Cope Foundation. Every cent raised goes to help kids like Ciara-Jane, who is a wonderful bundle of energy finding her way in life. It was brilliant to see her communicate using Lámh sign language, which is one of the programmes supported by this campaign. So if you see an envelope, don’t pass it by. Pick it up, plant the seeds and post it back!”
John Clifford, Head of Fundraising, Cope Foundation said
“Flowers of Hope raises money for resources and equipment that enables children and adults with intellectual disabilities or autism to communicate. This year, funds raised will help Cope Foundation to deliver more Lámh courses to families (Lámh is a manual sign system used by children and adults with intellectual disability and communication needs in Ireland.); fund specialised assistive equipment and technology that promotes communication, such as eye-gaze technology; and fund specialised total communication training for families.”
Ciara-Jane, from Blarney, has Down syndrome and since she was a baby she and her family have received various supports through Cope Foundation’s Early Intervention services. For the first time ever, she is now able to communicate with her family using Lámh sign language which she and her mom are learning at Cope Foundation. Ciara-Jane’s grandparents are even learning the signs with her and it’s fantastic to see her developing in this way. Funds raised from Flowers of Hope this year will help more families and children like Ciara-Jane to communicate.
About the charity
Cope Foundation celebrates its 60th Anniversary this year. Since 1957, the organisation has been supporting children and adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism. We do this by providing a suite of vital therapies and opportunities which help people live their lives to the full in a way that they choose and in their own community.
Today the charity supports 2,350 children and adults with a broad range of person-centred care services and supports which are offered through a network of 69 locations in Cork City and County. Dotted throughout Cork city and: Ballincollig; Mitchelstown; Fermoy; Midleton; Cobh; Carrigaline; Clonakilty; Bandon; Skibbereen; Macroom; Kanturk and Mallow.
Currently, there are 1,547 people using the day services, 433 using our residential services, and 370 benefitting from multi-disciplinary therapies such as SLT, physiotherapy and ASD services and more.
Cope Foundation is a registered charity in Ireland. Cope Foundation is ISO Certified (9001:2008) and is also accredited and certified by CHKS (leading provider of healthcare intelligence and quality improvement services.). Cope Foundation is the first intellectual disability organisation in Ireland to achieve both CHKS accreditation and ISO certification.
