“Sofantastic” – on top of the world with new charity partnership

DFS and Gaisce announce a Gold Partnership enabling them to increase the participation in their programme to hundreds more young people in Ireland.

GAA hero and Gaisce Board Member, Donal Óg Cusack and TV3’s Lisa Cannon, (“Presenter turned Power lifter”), are two people who are not afraid to take on a challenge! Both were delighted to help launch the DFS/ Gaisce Gold Partnership at Ticknock in the Dublin Mountains.

Announcing the charity partnership Andrew Stephenson, DFS HR Director said “As Europe’s largest sofa specialist, DFS is delighted to partner with Gaisce, the President’s Award in Ireland. DFS is a company with a strong Corporate Responsibility ethos – we partner with the Duke of Edinburgh Award, the British Heart Foundation and Children in Need in the UK. It is only fitting that we extend our philanthropic tradition to Ireland.  As a Gaisce Gold partner we look forward to working closely with the charity to help young people have a better chance in life.”

Gaisce CEO Anna Coyle said “This partnership will make a real and genuine difference to the lives of hundreds of young Irish people. We are thrilled to have DFS as a Gold Partner and look forward to working together.”

Gaisce’s aim is to help young people recognise their full potential, some of that involves taking people out of their comfort zone.  Gaisce representatives were the first to demonstrate their adventurous spirit – present at the top of the mountain from Gaisce were, Anna Coyle, CEO, Marion Irwin-Gowran, Project Manager , Peadar Ó Lamhna, Gaisce Gold Award Leader and Dawn Lonergan, Gaisce Gold Award Participant.

DFS’ mission is about making life more comfortable, so representing DFS and most importantly, ensuring people had somewhere comfortable to sit were store manager, Grant Tucker and Lisa Hetherston from the Blanchardstown Store.Grant Tucker commented “This event really proves the ability of DFS to deliver a sofa with care to anywhere a customer might want one. The top of a mountain is a new one for me!”

DFS has been making furniture for almost 45 years. With every sofa handmade to order, and a design to suit every home, DFS is Europe’s largest sofa experts. DFS has stores in Blanchardstown Retail Park and City Gate, Cork and deliver nationwide. Full details on www.dfs.ie

Gaisce’s goal is to contribute to the development of all young people through the achievement of personal challenges. Currently there are over 20,000 new applicants to the Award programme each year. In the past 27 years over 300,000 young people have benefitted from the Award.

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