/24-7PressRelease/ - NEW YORK, NY, March 09, 2008 - The annual Young Leaders St. Patrick's Day Celebration will take place on Thursday, March 13th at Cipriani 23rd Street in NYC. With more than 800 friends of Ireland attending, the event has established itself as New York's best St. Patrick's Day party and aims to raise over $200,000, with support from lead sponsor Bushmills. Emmy Award-winning Irish-American television host Conan O'Brien will receive the 2008 Young Leaders Irish Spirit Award in recognition of his Irish heritage, outstanding achievements in the entertainment world, and philanthropic work with the non-profit "Labels are for Jars" in his native Boston.
Proceeds from the event will support PeacePlayers International, an organization that uses the game of basketball as a tool to promote mutual understanding and respect between Catholic and Protestant communities in Northern Ireland. Basketball, unlike traditional sports in Northern Ireland, is not affiliated with either community. By competing together on mixed teams on a regular basis, prejudices are overcome by the desire to play and have fun.
At the celebration, Young Leader co-chairs Patrick Tully and Robert Fox will present The American Ireland Fund 2008 Young Leaders Irish Spirit Award to Conan O'Brien and Celtic rock band Scythian will provide entertainment. Robert Fox and Pat Tully comment "the Young Leaders St. Patrick's Day Celebration is a true celebration of all things Irish and has quickly become one of the most important St. Patrick's Day parties in the greatest city in the world."
The mission of The American Ireland Fund is to be the largest worldwide network of people of Irish ancestry and friends of Ireland dedicated to raising funds to support programs of Peace and Reconciliation, Arts and Culture, Education and Community Development throughout the island of Ireland. The Ireland Funds host more than 100 events in 40 cities attended by over 40,000 people. Since 1976, The Ireland Funds have raised over $300 million. Paving the way for the future of The American Ireland Fund, the New York Young Leaders is a key program attracting young, energetic individuals wishing to cultivate an authentic connection with their heritage, while channeling their philanthropic efforts to Ireland's advantage.
For more information, please contact Maureen Gillespie at 212.689.3100/mgillespie@irlfunds.org
To learn more about The American Ireland Fund, please visit http://www.irlfunds.org
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