OCC Construction based in Galway which undertakes commercial building contracts has donated over €90,000 to charity organisations within Ireland since its inception in 2010. As a team of 12 OCC employees each nominate a charity to share a pot of over €20,000 donated by OCC construction.
OCC Construction Managing Director Peter O’Connell is hoping that through highlighting the charitable giving of his company and his staff other successful business organisations will see this as the norm and will follow suit.
“We believe life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity and responsibility to give something back,” explained Mr O’Connell. My ambition is by 2022 to be able to give €100,000 to charity every year which I will make possible by growing our business. With a strong charity goal aligned with your other business goals, I believe the world conspires to help you achieve what you want.
In 2018 OCC will have donated over €20,000 to various charities supporting people in Ireland including Jigsaw Galway, Galway Rape Crisis Centre, SVP Galway, Cope Galway, Galway Hospice, Galway Simon Community, Friends of Belarus Galway and East Galway and Midlands Cancer Care Support.
OCC Construction last week held a presentation evening to their nominated charities in the Meyrick Hotel, where Minister Sean Canney attended to show his support for philanthropy.
“We work as a team in business and really want to bring together our team through the act of giving. By engaging staff in CSR you are again creating a culture of change and of value. In order for change to happen we need to bring people together. We are in a very fortunate position and feel that we need to give back to society and to those who need our help.
Businesses have a responsibility to be the change in the world, especially successful ones. We need now more than ever to be kinder to one another, by giving back we can ensure that life is made easier and maybe look a bit brighter for those that need it. Businesses and people need to do more,” said Mr O’Connell.
From Killererin, Co Galway, Peter was the 33rd Irish person and the first man in Connacht to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain, Mt Everest. While climbing, Peter raised awareness and funds for suicide charities Jigsaw and Pieta House. He has lead by example throughout his outdoor pursuits across the globe including reaching the Summit of Manaslu 8163m in Nepal, 8th highest in the world, Denali, Alaska 6190m, highest in North America, Ama Dablam, 6812m Nepal, several technical peaks in the Frnech Alps, many marathons and ultramarathons as well as swimming across Galway Bay for Cancer Care West at the annual Galway Bay 13km swim.
To find out more or to see how your company might work with employees to create a culture of giving, log onto www.occo.ie
