Tesco Ireland has announced that it has raised €2million for Aware through the fundraising efforts of Tesco’s employees and customers throughout the country and more than €81,000 was raised by Tesco stores in Mayo. The announcement marks the end of Tesco’s two-year Charity of the Year partnership with Aware which ran from 2012 to 2014, as selected by the company’s 15,000 employees.
The money raised over the past two years has been used to roll out Aware’s ‘Beat the Blues’ programme in secondary schools throughout the country. Funding from mid-2013 and 2014 was used to support Aware’s life skills programme, which focuses on teaching participants how to manage feelings of stress, worry, or anxiety. Thanks to the Tesco charity of the year partnership 67,923 students took part in Aware's Beat the Blues programme and 4,451 people completed Aware's Life Skills programme.
Catherine Swift, store manager, Tesco Castlebar, commented: “Through our partnership with Aware we have gained real insight into the incredible work that they do in raising awareness and offering support to those affected by depression in Ireland. Tesco’s Charity of the Year gives our colleagues and customers the chance to support a cause that is close to their hearts and we are delighted that Tesco stores in Mayo have raised over €81,000 for Aware over the past two years. Although our formal partnership with Aware has now come to an end, we will continue to work with them to support their fundraising activities going forward. We will also be announcing our next Charity of the Year in the coming weeks.”
Dr Claire Hayes, clinical director, Aware, said: “We are hugely appreciative to the colleagues, management and customers of Tesco Mayo stores for their support and dedication to raising funds for Aware over the past two years. Thanks to their efforts we have been able to bring our schools programme and our life skills programme to thousands of people right across the country. This has made a really positive difference in the lives of many individuals and families. We are delighted with what has been achieved as a result of the partnership and the benefits will continue to help even more people into the future.”
