The first two beneficiaries of the unique Cork Foundation fund will be announced at its inaugural Founders’ Dinner in Cork on November 15^th. The Founders’ Dinner, which will be held in the Rochestown Park Hotel, offers Cork –connected businesses and individuals the opportunity to contribute to job creation with the proceeds helping to fund enterprise in Cork.

Cork Foundation, which was established earlier this year is supported by business leaders such as Sean O’ Driscoll, Chairman and CEO Glen Dimplex and Chairman of the Cork Foundation Strategic Advisory Board, Anne O’Leary, CEO of Vodafone Ireland, Bob Savage, Vice President & General Manager of EMC, Pádraig Ó’Ríordáin, Chairperson, DAA & Partner, Arthur Cox  and Caroline Dowling, President of Integrated Network Solutions, Flextronics along with political figures such as Minister Simon Coveney, Minister Sean Sherlock, Micheal Martin, TD and Áine Collins, TD. The Foundation has a target to raise €5 million by connecting contributors from home and abroad directly to Cork businesses and community enterprises.

The country’s most influential business figures, prestigious Irish American diaspora and global philanthropists will attend the gala dinner, with the critical need to drive economic growth and job creation throughout the Cork region at the heart of this event.

The night will include key-note speeches from Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton TD, prominent business people and prestigious Cork Foundation board members, while MC on the night will be global philanthropy guru Kingsley Aikins.

Cork Foundation will use the prestigious and influential occasion as a platform to demonstrate how, with financial contributions from leading and high-profile figures from the business and philanthropy world, it is already contributing to job creation and increased economic activity.

Yvonne Barry, Cork Foundation Chairperson and Partner of Quintas said: “Since the establishment of Cork Foundation, the initiative has welcomed financial contributions and support from organisations and individuals
which we are proud to be in the process of disbursing to local companies and community enterprises”.

“We are looking forward to our Founders’ Dinner, which will be a night not to be missed for those who wish to connect and engage with influential business leaders and high-profile philanthropists, offering the business community an opportunity to directly contribute to sustained job creation and economic growth in Cork.”

The Cork Foundation complements existing enterprise support services by bridging gaps in current funding models, addressing many of the challenges facing Cork businesses and communities in accessing credit and bridge finance.

Cork Foundation’s inaugural Founders’ Dinner is in conjunction with two key events in America which will be hosted by Cork Foundation in Chicago and Boston and attended by key Cork-connected business leaders, Cork Foundation supporters and Irish American diaspora.

To attend Cork Foundation’s Founders’ Dinner or for further information call 021 4214814 or email info@corkfoundation.com