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The design of our site conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 (WCAG10). We encourage others to help give the disabled full access to the power of the World Wide Web.
(Please note that all the photos from the trips of both the Ireland Team and American Team will remain on the site until 30-September 2008, at which point the collections will be trimmed back to about 25 pictures for each day of the trips.)
Our heartfelt thanks to Jim Barry and Declan O'Connor who organized this very successful fund raising event -- a golf outing at the prestigious Irish Open Course, followed by a Gala Dinner at Adare Manor, Limerick. Special thanks to Tom and Judy Kane, owners of Adare Manor, for their wonderful hospitality and generosity in support of the Physically Challenged Irish and American Youth Team. And, of course, the evening could never have been the success it was without the contributions of distinguished Irish composer, performer and musical ambassador, Phil Coulter, his wife Geraldine, and our friends from New York City's Broadway. And a final tip of the hat to Master of Ceremonies David McWilliams who is now an official member of the Physically Challenged Irish and American Youth Team family. Bill Broderick salutes everybody involved in this event.
Our Eighth Annual Joseph M. Hughes Golf Classic, was held on Monday, May 19, 2008, at Plandome Country Club. By all accounts, it was our best outing ever. Our thanks to all who participated, and to the staff of Plandome who, as always, did a remarkable job for us.
The charity would like to express its appreciation for the efforts of long-time volunteers Kathy and Jimmy Hines, Jeannie and Fred Benckwit, and many others, for organizing this event. Please see their web page for information on the event. Selected photos from the event here.
Pictures from the successful fundraising event in Wexford, Ireland!
Please visit our "Events Page" to see some selected photos from our most recent Annual Dinner honoring Tim O'Connor.
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE:
If you would like to help our organization continue to help children with special medical needs (see our "Medical" page), please consider making a contribution by sending a check (payable to "P.C. Team") to the Physically Challenged Irish & American Youth Team, 7 Dey Street, Suite 700, New York, NY, 10007. If you want to pay by credit card (or PayPal), you may use the "Make a Donation" button in the right-hand column of this page.CONTINUING PRESS COVERAGE OF LINA DEMAREST'S OPERATION:
Please visit our "Press" page.The Physically Challenged Irish and American Youth Team (the "Team") was founded in 1987 with the intention of promoting recreational, leisure, and sporting activities for physically challenged young people. Since then we have widened our mission to include (through scholarships and other programs) educational and career development for physically challenged children, and, where possible, medical assistance and medical equipment for the most needy of these children.
In May and July 2007, the Team brought twenty-four Irish children to the United States to compete in the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged. In July and August, we sent twenty-five children from the United States to Ireland for two weeks to compete in games in Dublin and to enjoy the warmth and beauty of Ireland.
NOTE: One of our 2005 American Team members, Kieran McGovern, wrote a poem on the last night of the group's visit to Ireland. It's called "Celtic Bonds", a reflection on his two week adventure. You can read "Celtic Bonds" here.
This year's Irish Youth Team was made up of children from the north, south, east, and west of the country. Their disabilities ranged from spina bifida, cerebral palsy, hearing and sight impairments, cystic fibrosis, burns, amputations, and spinal injuries. The events included competitions in track and field, swimming, horseback riding, table tennis, etc.
By participating in the games, by striving for and achieving their personal bests, the children develop confidence, positive attitudes, and strong self-images. All participants are winners and each child's life is enhanced by the sense of independence and accomplishment they earn through their own efforts.
The Team also provides financial support to those families of children, both in Ireland and the United States, who are in the most difficult of circumstances.
Our program assists children in Ireland with special medical needs, and helps bring them to the United States for treatment and care sponsored by both the Team and various doctors in the U.S. We have obtained electric wheelchairs, prosthetic devices, etc. for the most needy of these children.
In the United States, the Team presently has fifteen children attending college on scholarships sponsored by the Team. We are most proud of this program.
On both sides of the ocean, great work is being done for these wonderful children and their families. Thanks to our many volunteers (approximately 75 in Ireland and about the same number in the United States), and to all who have given so generously, we are changing the world one disabled child at a time.
The Physically Challenged Irish And American Youth Team is a New York not-for-profit corporation exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3).
