Allergan donates €20,000 to ALONE for Covid-19 response efforts
Allergan has announced that the Allergan International Foundation (AIF) has awarded a €20,000 charitable grant to ALONE to aid in its efforts to support the local community in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The donation to ALONE is part of a $2 million global donation effort by the Allergan International Foundation to support more than 70 organisations helping communities around the world who have been impacted by Covid-19.
The Allergan International Foundation grant to ALONE will support the group’s efforts in meeting the needs of older people in Ireland, including the management of a national helpline for older people in collaboration with the Department of Health, the HSE and local authorities.
ALONE has received more than 5,500 calls to their National Helpline following the introduction of cocooning measures nationwide, and is adding further staff members to answer phone calls to meet the increasing demand.
Commenting on the support for ALONE, Paul Coffey, Trustee of the Allergan International Foundation said: “Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, ALONE has been a vital source of information and reassurance for our elderly communities in Ireland.
“ALONE provides services such as housing support, befriending, and campaigns for change to hundreds of older people every week, and their supports have become increasingly important during the COVID 19 outbreak.
"We are grateful to be able to contribute to their role in supporting vulnerable people in our communities during this challenging time, and hope that this donation will aid the further expansion of their services to respond to Covid-19.
”In response to the donation, Sean Moynihan, CEO of Alone said: “We are so grateful to the Allergan International Foundation for their generosity and support during what is an extremely difficult period for many older people in Ireland, with many facing increasingly challenging circumstances due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“Support from groups like the Allergan International Foundation enables us to continue to provide our vital services and we would like to thank them for their wonderful assistance. This donation will help us to provide our services during the Covid-19 crisis and into the future."
Commenting on the global programme, Brent Saunders, chairman of the Allergan International Foundation, said: “The goal of these grants is to put much needed financial help in the hands of organisations who support vulnerable people in need of food, housing, healthcare and mental health services as quickly as possible as communities continue to manage the impact of Covid-19
.“We are humbled by the care these front-line organisations provide to people in local communities, and are proud to add them to the many organizations we support who are making a difference in the health and wellbeing of our communities during this time.
”In addition to ALONE, the Allergan International Foundation is providing grants to organisations across many countries where Allergan employees live and work, including:
Australia: Foodbank Australia
Brazil: Associação Paulista para Desenvolvimento da Medicina
Canada: National Food Banks of Canada
France: Fondation De France
Germany: Die Tafe
lItaly: Associazione della Croce Rossa Italiana – ODV (Italian Red Cross)
Spain: Cruz Roja (Spanish Red Cross)
Turkey: Turk Kizilay (Turkish Red Crescent)
United Kingdom: Lender Hand.