Working Life: One hour of in-home support makes a massive difference to a family

Michaella McMahon, fundraising manager, Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation.

Michaella McMahon, fundraising manager, Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation.

“I had been working in sales and marketing for an engineering company, but I was on the lookout for something more meaningful. I love kids and a children’s charity seemed like a good fit. I started with the Jack and Jill Foundation two years ago. It meant a move from Millstreet in Co Cork to Kildare. I’m loving the role so far.

“As fundraising manager, I am constantly organising campaigns. Probably our most popular and successful is the Incognito art sale. We have a big anniversary this year — it’s our 10th year, and the campaign has raised €1.4m so far.

“The charity funds and provides up to 100 hours of in-home nursing care and respite per month to families caring for children up to the age of seven with severe learning disability, often associated with complex medical needs.

“Every €20 we raise funds one hour of in-home support, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but it makes a massive difference to a family. It gives them a chance to do stuff most of us take for granted: showering, sleeping, spending time with their other kids.

“We’ve more than 1,900 postcard artworks for sale this year, each of which costs €75. We sent plain white postcards out to participating artists a couple of months ago, each of whom creates three pieces. The transformation into a work of art is amazing.

“Some artists are really well known, but the beauty of the sale is you don’t know whose work you are buying until you have actually bought it.

“Among those taking part this year are Ireland’s favourite TV artist, author and environmentalist, Don Conroy, creative director of the Paul Costelloe brand, William Costelloe, contemporary artists Poppy Melia and Marcel Lindsay.

“We have some well-known faces too, like TV cook and author Donal Skehan, singer-songwriter Lyra and fashion designers Simone Rocha and Helen Steele. Then there are long-established artists that regularly lend their support, like Susan Cairns, Tom Climent and many more.

“The collection went live online on April 22 at incognito.ie and the sale takes place on Wednesday, May 20. After that, it’s straight into the next campaign, the Ring of Kerry Cycle. We are asking people taking part to sign up to our charity when they register. It takes place on July 4.”