Abbott announced as Official Corporate Partner for European Volunteering Capital Programme 2017
To help highlight the positive impacts that volunteering has on lives across Ireland, Abbott is lending its support to the European Volunteering Capital Programme as the official corporate partner 2017.
Sligo was named European Volunteering Capital 2017 by the European Volunteer Centre, which promotes volunteering across the European Union and is supported by the European Commission.
This is a major achievement for Sligo, which faced competition from other European cities. As European Volunteering Capital, Sligo will deliver a year-long programme across Ireland aimed at highlighting the impact of volunteering at local, national and European levels through a series of high profile events, conferences and community engagement activities.
Representatives from Sligo County Council and Sligo Volunteer Centre, which led the Sligo bid, were in attendance at the announcement of Abbott’s official partnership with the European Volunteering Capital Programme. Throughout 2017, Abbott will work closely with council officials and the European Volunteer Centre on a range of initiatives to showcase the positive impact of volunteering, include expanding volunteering programmes and raising awareness of the importance of volunteering. These efforts build on Abbott’s strong culture of giving and community work; through its Irish operations, Abbott’s employees have delivered more than 11,000 volunteer hours in 2015-2016.
Mayor of Sligo, Cllr Marie Casserly added ,“We are delighted that Abbott has joined us as the official corporate partner of European Volunteering Capital Programme 2017. Abbott has consistently contributed positively to a wide variety of voluntary initiatives and education programmes in our local community, and across the country. We look forward to a fruitful partnership as we seek to make the EVC 2017 programme a huge success that will resonate positively for many years to come.”
Speaking at the launch event, Conor Murphy, site director, Abbott’s diagnostics facility in Sligo said, “At Abbott, we’re all about helping you live the best life you can, and volunteering is an important part of this commitment, especially in local communities where our employees live and work. That’s why we’re so excited to partner with Europe’s Volunteering Capital programme for 2017 here in Sligo and across Ireland. We look forward to raising awareness of the importance of volunteering for us all – and we encourage other companies, organizations and the general public to get involved in local efforts.”
The European Volunteering Capital designation is organised by the European Volunteer Centre, the European umbrella association of twenty-nine national and regional volunteer centres across Europe.
It aims to promote volunteering at the local level by giving recognition to municipalities that support and strengthen partnerships with volunteer centres and volunteer-involving organisations, celebrate and promote volunteering and the impact made by volunteers.
The 2017 designation was officially kicked off at the Spirit of Sligo event, held on Friday 27th Jan. The event featured contributions and literary reflections from a range of local personalities and volunteers.”
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