About Telethon
The People in Need Trust was established in May 1988 with the purpose of raising and distributing money to charitable organisations throughout the country. The main source of funds is the highly successful RTÉ People in Need Telethon, supported by Eircom, which has raised €35 million to date. Grant applications are assessed by advisory committees in each region before final approval by the board of directors of the trust.
The People in Need Telethon is all about bringing out the best in people and their communities.
There is a special emphasis on helping the smaller, lesser known charities who, for whatever reason, are not in a position to raise sufficient funds themselves.The primary focus is on voluntary social service organisations. The main source of funds is the highly successful RTÉ People in Need Telethon which is supported by eircom.
Eight Telethons have been held to date and over €35 million has been distributed in grants, ranging from €150 to €50,000,to thousands of organisations throughout Ireland. Grant applications are assessed by advisory committees in each region before final approval by the Board of Directors of the Trust.
A key condition is that money raised in a particular county must go back in grants to organisations in that county – in this way, the money raised always stays locally. The organisations who benefit are not only spread widely throughout the country but they represent a wide spectrum of social need in Ireland – organisations providing ervices for the handicapped, the homeless, the elderly, deprived childrenand other disadvantaged groups. The support of the People in Need Trust enables many of these organisations to further develop and extend the invaluable work that they carry out in our communities.
^ Members of the Ladies Junior Football All Ireland Champions supporting Telethon
