Irish American Gala raises $4.5m for cancer aid

HOLLYWOOD film star and philanthropist Paul Newman last night accepted a donation of $1 million (€738,000) to be spent on Irish children with cancer.

The money was presented at the America Ireland Fund’s 32nd Annual New York Gala, at which 1,500 of Irish America’s most influential business and community leaders gathered to honour Irish President Mary McAleese.

The gala raised a record $4.15m for causes in Ireland, including two key projects that are part of the Fund’s Hope through Youth programme. For the first time ever, the fund attracted over $500,000 from Ireland itself, which the organisers said reflected the growth in philanthropy from the Celtic Tiger economy.