In a picture reminiscent of a scene from the 1998 movie Armageddon, members of the Ballyglass RNLI crew pose for the opening shot of Bank of Ireland’s 2009 calendar. Second coxswain Pat Walker and eight of the Ballyglass RNLI crew, more used to the challenge of the high seas, feature in the bank’s quarter of a million calendars that this year profile the volunteering and fundraising efforts of its 16,000 employees both at home and abroad.
The Bank of Ireland’s Give Together initiative was established in March 2007 to support the bank’s thousands of employees who wish to volunteer their time and to fundraise for causes that are important to them. It involves a commitment by Bank of Ireland to give every employee one day’s volunteer leave each year to allow them to help a cause of their choice. It also provides a fund that contributes to employee fundraising achievements, raising vital funds for a wide range of charities and causes throughout the world.
To date over 5,000 Bank of Ireland employees have taken part in Give Together and their volunteer days amount to the equivalent of more than six years. With the assistance of Give Together individuals and groups of employees have been involved in raising over €8 million for the benefit of more than 1,000 causes.
