Josie Reynolds (centre) after receiving her Hero of the Year award from the National Lottery last year.
Good cause beneficiaries all over Connacht are being asked to check their eligibility to enter this year’s Good Causes Awards 2023 and follow in the footsteps of a County Roscommon winner last year.
Josie Reynolds, a volunteer with the Melting Pot Community Society in Roscommon Town, scooped the “Hero of the Year” award at last year’s event. The Melting Pot supports people on their mental health recovery journey by giving them the opportunity to volunteer and gain work experience with the organisation. The voluntary group offers an internet café and meals and wheels service to the wider community.
Monica Gaffney, founder of the Melting Pot in Roscommon, spoke about why Josie deserved the coveted award.
“She’s just amazing. She would work eight days a week if she could. What she has done for people in the community and how she looks after them is just inspirational”, she said.
With over €4 million on average being raised for Good Causes every week, the awards celebrate Ireland’s most inspiring clubs, community and voluntary organisations and projects.
The awards celebrate the inspiring work and achievements of thousands of projects, clubs and individuals all over Ireland, who, with the help of National Lottery Good Causes funding, have had an extraordinary impact on their local communities.
Individuals, community projects and organisations who received Good Causes funding between the years 2018 and 2022 are eligible to apply. Applications for the awards are now open and beneficiaries can check eligibility and enter www.lottery.ie/goodcausesawards.
The closing date for applications is March 31st.
The awards will have seven categories which are: Sport, Health and Wellbeing, Arts and Culture, Heritage, Community, Youth and Irish Language.
A special category, “Hero of the Year”, will also be announced at the awards final, in recognition of outstanding work done by an individual within an organisation and will receive a prize of €5,000.
Each category winner will receive €10,000 while the overall Good Cause of the Year will receive an additional €25,000.
This year’s National Lottery’s Good Causes Awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 21st, in Killashee House Hotel in Naas, County Kildare.
