GOAL support in Boston doubles

Friday February 29th was a milestone evening for GOAL USA, as it was the night of the  second Boston GOAL Ball. The Ball was made extra special by the fact that the amount raised was double that of the previous year. While the funds are still being counted, at present over $575,000 dollars has been raised, for programs targeting  the poorest of the poor in 11 developing countries.

GOAL founder and CEO, John O’Shea, who flew in for the event to act as keynote speaker, described the Ball as “a tremendous success”.

“Everyone involved should be very proud of their achievement,” he said. “Even though the Boston Ball is still in its infancy, in the space of a single year is has established itself as an event to be reckoned with. Thanks to the money raised at the Boston Ball tens of thousands of the world’s most vulnerable people will be given access to the fundamental needs and rights of life.”

The black tie event took place at Boston’s Seaport Hotel. The evening kicked off with a VIP reception hosted by the GOAL Boston Ball dinner chair, Eddie Byrne of Anglo-Irish Bank. Afterwards, GOAL Boston Advisory Group Chair Aidan Browne welcomed over 500 guests to the evening and led the way for MC Jimmy Tingle to entertain the room with snippets from his Jimmy Tingle for President show.

The live and silent auctions alone brought in $117,000 with guests bidding on items ranging from a luxury holiday in Belize, to a round of golf and dinner in Arizona with golf pro, Tim Clarke. Afterwards GOAL USA Representative Angela Dean announced to the room a special project that GOAL will complete over the next 12 months – the  building of classrooms and water and sanitation facilities in schools in one of the most impoverished districts in northern  Kenya. With the help of auctioneer Paul Saperstein and MC Jimmy Tingle, the guests gave generously and when the hammer fell the bidding had reached $137,500 – enough money to fully refurbish and provide water and sanitation  facilities in nine Kenyan schools.

All proceeds from the Ball will go towards GOAL’s programs in 11 developing countries across Africa, Asia and Central  America.  GOAL spends millions every year implementing relief and development programs ensuring that those affected by humanitarian crises and poverty have access to the fundamental needs and rights of life, such as, food, water, shelter, medical attention and literacy.

GOAL is proud to have maintained an exceptionally low administration cost over the past 31 years, ensuring  that the maximum amount of money will get to those most in need.

GOAL USA would like to extend our thanks to everyone who made the night a success, in particular our dinner chair Eddie Byrne of Anglo Irish Bank, our co-chairs Aidan Browne of Sullivan & Worcester LLP, Leslie Buckley of Digicel, John McGrail of the Mayo Group and Peter Merrigan, Taurus Investment Holdings. We would also like to thank our dinner sponsor Anglo Irish Bank and our sponsors Sullivan & Worcester, HP Hood, Commonwealth Wine & Spirits Inc., Jurys Boston Hotel, Custom Plastic Card Company, Caribbean Card Services, Ben Butcher and STAG, Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation, Brendon Properties, Grupo di Foto, Cityscapes Plant Care Inc., ezetop, The Fallon Company, Lincoln Properties, The Bulfinch Companies, and Nick Shabanoff.  Friends of GOAL: Northland Residential Corporation and Saunders Hotel Group 

Thank you to all of our Table Sponsors.  Our Diamond Table Sponsor: Digicel - Leslie Buckley; Platinum Table Sponsors: Boylston Properties, William McQuillan; Candidate Manager, Ryan Reid; Equity Industrial Partners, Donald Levine, the Mayo Group, John McGrail; Reimer & Braunstein LLP, Rich Lefkowitz  and Taurus Investment Holdings, LLC, Peter Merrigan; Gold Table Sponsors: American Ireland Fund, Bridget Hester; Anglo Irish Bank, Jonathan Tuthill; Burns & Levinson LLP, Frank Segal; Campanelli Companies, Dan DeMarco; Callahan Construction, Patrick Callahan; CWB Boylston, Stephen Weiner; DLA Piper US LLP, John L. Sullivan; The Drew Company, John Drew; Focus Fitness, Pete Donohoe; Goulston & Storrs, Mike Haroz, Intercontinental Real Estate Corp., Peter Palandjian; Lincoln Property Management , Kevin Malloy, Mintz Levin, Ben Hincks; New Boston Fund, Mike Buckley; Roche Bros., Eddie Roche, Sullivan & Worcester LLP, Aidan Browne; UBS, Peter Cotter; Silver Table Sponsors: Aidan Browne, Cronin Development , Jon Cronin; Crosspoint Associates, Jamie Carlin; Cummings Properties, Matt Donaghey; Joe D’Alton; FHO Partners, Chuck O’Connor; Holiday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P., John Fowler; ICCUSA Boston, Paul Dwyer; Joe Harney; Kavanagh Advisory Group, John Kavanagh; Kevin Malloy; Peter Merrigan; Thom L. Neff; Kate Sullivan and Scott Tully

Prize Sponsors: Aer Lingus, Aidan Browne, Anglo Irish Bank, Aisling Gallery, Anthony Nachef PhD, Atlantis – Bahamas, Atria Restaurant, Bia Bistro, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Central 37, Circle Furniture, Colin Hannan, Commonwealth Travel, Crate and Barrel, Cronin Development Corp., Crystal Travel, David Crowley, Digicel, Distilled Clothing, Donnie Wahlberg, Eddie Byrne, eyeSpy Baby, Fenway Park, Fidelity Investments, Focus Fitness, HP Hood, HR Design, Intercontinental London, Irish Open, Jack Randall, Mari Jo & Joe Harney, Joe Keogan, John McGrail, Jon Cronin, Julbo Inc., Julie Livingstone, Jury's Boston, Jury's Great Russell Street, Ka'ana Boutique Resort, Kate Sullivan, Kevin Crosby, Kevin Malloy, Killarney Golf and Fishing Club, Kjeld Mahoney, Kyle Schneck, Leslie Buckley, Marc Jacobs, Marinelli Designs, Mark Haddad & Kurt Hakansson Design, Mary Schrall, Mayo Group, N.V. Perricone, New England Patriots, New England Revolution, Nora Roach, Noreen Browne, Patrick Pellitier, Pete Donohoe, Peter Merrigan, Peter Palandjian, Reimer & Braunstein LLP, Rene Michelena, Ritz Carlton Amelia Island, Ronan Hannan, Silverleaf Country Club, Sorcha, Stephen Johnston, Steve Kanab, Sullivan & Worcester LLP, SuperClubs, The International, The O’Dowd Family, The Old Head Golf Links, The Royal Dublin Club, The Wentworth Club, The Westbury Hotel, Tim Clark, Tom Bryant, Tracy Byrne, Tully's Travel, Veuve Clicquot and Wachusett Mountain