Staff at Brown Thomas Limerick raise €16k for Children’s Grief Centre

Brown Thomas charity partner – Liam Dwan, General Manager Brown Thomas with members of the fundraising committee and staff who raised more than €16,000

Staff at Brown Thomas Limerick raise €16k for Children’s Grief Centre

Pictured at Brown Thomas in 2019 for the Brown Thomas Gifting Bear campaign are Patrick McLoughney, Brown Thomas counter manager Suzie O’Kelly, Sr Helen Culhane, founder of the Children’s Grief Centre, Olive Foley, Centre Ambassador and Richard Lynch, I Love Limerick. Picture: Orla McLaughlin.

Brown Thomas Limerick has chosen the Children’s Grief Centre as one of its official charity partners for a second year. As part of this, the Children’s Grief Centre is to receive raised funds from staff fundraisers throughout the year including the Christmas gift wrapping in December. 

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Liam Dwan, manager at the Limerick store, members of the fundraising committee and staff presented the Children’s Grief Centre with a cheque this week for a substantial €16,125.48.

Speaking at the store, Liam said, “Our fundraising is well underway for 2020 with a number of activities happening already to raise funds for the Children’s Grief Centre. Everyone is looking forward to working together to help the Centre to continue to support children and young people” Brown Thomas charity partner

Last year the staff took part in a number of events; a charity walk, a river cruise and on June 14, the iconic Brown Thomas window became a home for teddy bears of all shapes and sizes as part of their ‘Gifting Bear’ campaign. Staff also volunteered at Children’s Grief Centre events and donated much needed spot-prizes.

Sister Helen Culhane, founder of the @children_grief is looking for funding for the support for their services which has severity been affected by Covid-19#ilovelimerick #lovelimerick #lovinlimerick #limerickedglimerickembrace pic.twitter.com/rjDLd6PjcS

— #LimerickTilliDie (@ilovelimerick) October 15, 2020

Katrina Morgan, Fundraising and Events Coordinator spoke of the dedication of the staff; “Even in this current climate and the difficulties faced by the retail sector Brown Thomas Limerick continue to support our work with bereaved and grieving children. Their enthusiasm and commitment to helping us is such a welcome gift. We look forward to our partnership with them for the year ahead and thank them for their incredible efforts”.  

Sr Helen Culhane, Limerick Person of the Year 2017, founded the Children’s Grief Centre in 2009 and it has been providing support services for school-aged children and young people affected by loss through death, separation, and divorce in the Midwest Region. The services provided allow children to express themselves through play, art, and offering a listening ear in a safe, and non-judgmental setting.

Sr Helen said, “We see the work we do as very important as we are supporting children who are impacted by loss due to bereavement, separation and divorce. The centre is unique in that it is volunteer-led and to-date two-thirds of which are referrals due to loss by separation or divorce. The remaining one third is referrals due to loss by the death of a family member or close friend for the most part. Thanks so much to Brown Thomas for raising awareness around bereavement and loss and the resultant emotional turmoil experienced by children. We are delighted to be their chosen charity for the second year running. Since the centre’s foundation but we are running at full capacity and need a new building to meet the overwhelming demand from families of bereft children. All funds raised are going to the Children’s Grief Centre Build project which will launch in January 2021.”

For more information on the Children’s Grief Centre, go HERE

For more stories on the Children’s Grief Centre, go HERE