Limerick Entrepreneur Jennifer Kelly publishes book for Cliona’s Foundation

Jennifer Kelly, Strategy Box & Co-Author (centre) pictured above with Chris Slevin, General Manager ZAGG Brands, and Brendan Ring, Co-Founder Cliona’s Foundation. Picture: Keith Wiseman

Limerick Entrepreneur Jennifer Kelly publishes book for Cliona’s Foundation charity

With over 20 years in large global international industries, Limerick-born Jennifer Kelly set up Strategy Box Consulting in 2020, offering a suite of services and software solutions to enable CEOs and Business Leaders to deliver their vision by aligning people, process, and technology.

In September of 2020, she had the opportunity to learn about Cliona’s Foundation through the Midwest Mentoring Network and it struck such a personal chord with her, that she was determined to make something happen that would raise funds for the Charity.

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Cliona’s Foundation is a national charity with their office in Limerick that provides financial assistance directly to parents of children with life-limiting or chronic complex care needs across Ireland to help with the non-medical expenses related to caring for their child. Unfortunately, many families who find themselves in these circumstances may experience unemployment and this was the reason Ben and Cathal decided to fundraise for the charity.

“When I heard about Cliona’s Foundation, I just thought that Brendan and Terry were amazing, and it brought back to me the very same heartbreak that my parents had experienced over 25 years ago with my own sister Sandra,” said Jennifer. “They spent everything they had to get her well. Like many other parents with seriously ill children traveling to and from hospitals for treatment, they carried an enormous weight emotionally and financially.  It was a nightmare for them trying to balance it all, making sure Sandra was getting the best treatment while juggling all the additional costs and bills that were mounting while also looking after the rest of their children also at home. We were too young to have any real concept at the time and while we were emotionally shattered through her illness and by her death, I never fully realised the financial hardships associated with caring for her. Listening to Brendan speak really brought it all home for me and I was determined to do something to raise funds but also to remember Sandra and honour my Mam and Dad.”

The book “Work Life Blend” – a compilation of strategies from over 30 business professionals, to enhance your life went from being a concept to a quality finished product all in the space of 6 weeks thanks to the commitment, drive & determination of Limerick-born Jennifer Kelly, Managing Director of Strategy Box, her co-author Suzanne D’Arcy, designer Donal O Keefe and Cube Irish. Jennifer said, “I just want to thank the business community from Limerick and Shannon especially, who rallied around this project and made such meaningful contributions to the book. This will help so many people who are working from home physically, mentally, and practically. And it has the added bonus of benefitting those families who have a seriously sick child at home through Cliona’s Foundation, which is dear to my heart.”

“We were just blown away by the energy, and commitment of Jennifer in making this happen,” commented Brendan Ring of Cliona’s Foundation. “Virtually singlehandedly she drove this project from getting the support of all the contributors, to securing sponsorship from many corporates and its continuous promotion. She was passionate about making it happen every time we spoke about it, driven by her own personal experience and we are just delighted to have worked with her but also to be the beneficiary of the sales. As there were no costs involved, every cent raised through sponsorship and sale comes to Cliona’s Foundation, which is just fantastic,” said Brendan. “We are receiving applications on a daily basis from families of seriously sick children that are struggling with the non-medical costs of caring for their child. In the absence of State support projects like this is a lifeline to us and these families”

The book is a must for every household and home or work office.  Particularly in the current environments when we are all juggling work, home & life in a very different environment.

“It would make a wonderful tool for companies to gift to all their employees and already many companies have purchased the book for that purpose” commented Jennifer. “It would also make a perfect gift for birthdays, or any other occasion. Mother’s Day is coming up and I am sure all those mothers out there (professional or not) would love to receive a copy and know that they have helped a great charity also.”

“I have to acknowledge the wonderful support received from so many in making this happen but in particular to Gavin Slevin and his team at ZAGG Brands for coming on board as the main sponsor”, added Jennifer.

The book is priced at €19.50 and can be purchased online from Cliona’s Foundation on their website, Eason’s in the Parkway Shopping Centre Limerick, or by calling 061 – 331333.

The most important thing is that all of the purchase prices go to Cliona’s Foundation so every purchase is making a real difference.

To find out more about Cliona’s Foundation go HERE 

To find out more about Strategy Box go HERE 

For more stories on Cliona’s Foundation go HERE