Inspirational Donegal group awarded share of €100,000 Coca-Cola Thank You Fund

The innovative project Surf’s Up! by Liquid Therapy is one of 13 community groups nationally to receive a share of the €100,000 Coca-Cola Thank You Fund. 

Launched in May 2021 as “A Fund Supporting the Future of Young People across the Island,” grants totalling €100,000 were awarded by a panel of judges to projects seeking support for initiatives targeted at 16 to 25-year-olds. 

These projects will help to build their resilience, meet the education gaps that exist and tackle the mental health challenges young people are facing today and will continue to face. 

The successful Donegal based non-profit organisation is Liquid Therapy will receive €10,000 for its Surf's Up! Project, the first adaptive surf program of its kind in Ireland. 

Surf’s Up will deliver an ocean experience that supports individuals who struggle to participate in mainstream activities. Surf's Up! will take the form of ten 'Come and try' coaching day events delivered twice a month.

These will be available to young people who have an adaptive additional need; from wheelchair users to amputees, those with Cerebral Palsy to para-athletes. This program will support each participant to help them reach their personal potential.

Now in its eleventh year, over 280 non-profit organisations across the island of Ireland applied for the Fund under the categories of education and training, diversity and inclusion in young people and those taking an innovative approach to sustainability and environmental leadership. 

The 23 shortlisted groups pitched their ideas to the panel of judges during a series of virtual judging sessions, with seven of the thirteen recipient organisations set to receive a grant of €10,000 for the development of their local project. 

Joining the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund judging panel once again this year Lucy Masterson, Chief Executive of Irish Youth Foundation, who said: “The number of applications to the 2021 Fund is a potent reminder that the need is still very much alive in the youth sector following Covid 19- restrictions and the impact that they continue to have on Ireland’s most marginalised young people.

“Helping them to rebuild their lives through education and training is more important now than ever before, with immediate action needed to renew their confidence in themselves and help to level the playing field for the next generation into the future. All of those who applied for this year’s Fund are worthy recipients as they’ve shown a commitment to their local community, while I believe those selected to receive funding will have a very real impact and I wish them the very best of luck as roll-out their various programmes.”

As well as the 13 successful applicants, a further six organisations will receive €5,000 for their project ideas.

Agnese Filippi, Country Manager with Coca-Cola Ireland said: “The impact of the pandemic over the past two years has been particularly hard on our young people. Through the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund we are honoured to be in the position to support youth orientated organisations across the island of Ireland that are committed to supporting and helping young people to navigate their futures.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those who applied, as well as our distinguished panel of judges who had the impossible task of identifying the 2021 recipients. I wish all of the Fund recipients the best of luck in delivering their projects in the coming months. We look forward to hearing about the impact they have.”

More information about the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund can be found at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou