Mason Hayes & Curran launches second year of Engage & Educate Fund

Following a successful first year, €150,000 in funding will be available to be shared between the 2018 Engage & Educate awardees.

Sean Kyne, minister of state for community and digital development, told yesterday’s launch event: “This fund is a great example of how Corporate and Government partnerships can come together to solve social issues in Ireland, and I particularly want to congratulate Mason Hayes & Curran for their vision and leadership.”

The fund will support community projects that empower people through education to achieve their full potential and to contribute to their communities. Successful projects will receive a share of the significant fund including a cash grant and access to an Accelerator programme which provides supports similar to those provided by venture capital companies to commercial enterprises.

Richard Woulfe, partner at Mason Hayes & Curran, said: “Mason Hayes & Curran have supported the provision of educational opportunity, particularly for disadvantaged people, for many years. We strongly believe in the individual and societal advantage that educational opportunity can bring and that’s why we have such a long standing commitment and focus on the issue.

“Our thinking is that Irish indigenous businesses like Mason Hayes & Curran have an important role to play in finding and supporting innovative educational solutions to help combat disadvantage. Businesses can also benefit themselves greatly from engaging with such initiatives. It helps build deeper relationships with communities and also promotes staff engagement.

“Our staff are very invested in the Engage & Educate Fund and have been involved in the mentoring and coaching of awardees.”

The Engage & Educate Fund will be open for applications through the Social Innovation Fund Ireland website until 16 March 2018.