Public votes to give top charity 10,000

THE public has been given the chance to give 10,000 to the best Dublin community project of the past 10 years by voting in the Guinness Living Dublin Awards.

Ten charities have been nominated by Irish celebrities and the winning project will be chosen by public vote and will be awarded 10,000. Projects include the National Children’s Hospital, which was nominated by Dustin the Turkey, and Focus Ireland, chosen by Sr Stanislaus Kennedy.

“They’re almost all local charities with a community feel,” a spokesperson said. “The Guinness Living Dublin Awards started 10 years ago, and they’re about recognising people doing good in the community, be it the local taxi driver getting a pregnant woman to hospital on time or whatever else.”

The awards are divided into five categories: community development, business in the community, culture and tourism, education, and tidy districts. The Dublin Project of the Decade is a once-off award.

The full list of celebrities and their nominations is:

Christina Noble, South West Inner City Network and The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation.

Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, Focus Ireland.

Dustin the Turkey, National Children’s Hospital and Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children.

Louis Copeland, Variety Club of Ireland.

Bill Cullen, The Irish Youth Foundation.

Marian Keyes, Dublin Simon Community.

Damien Dempsey, Bay City Boxing Club and Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children.

Brian O’Driscoll, the Special Olympics.

Kevin Moran, the North Dublin Schoolboys’ League.

David Norris, James Joyce Centre and East Timor Solidarity Campaign.

To vote, call 01 2415308 or text the name of the project or celebrity to 087 2415308 (eg ‘Vote Dustin’ or ‘Vote Children’s Hospital). Lines will close on Friday December 12 at 5pm.