Our Supporters
More than 8,600 children throughout the developing world are sponsored through Plan Ireland by kind hearted people and companies. In addition, many very well known and influential people in Irish society are supporting our work, which we really appreciate.
John Hume
Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume and his wife Pat sponsor a boy called Juan in El Salvador. John has been a loyal patron of Plan Ireland since its foundation in 2003.
"At first glance, it would appear Mitchelstown and a rural village in Uganda would not have a lot in common. Yet both communities share dreams for their children."
Read more about our Patron John Hume here
Bláthnaíd Ní Chofaigh
TV personality Blathnaíd Ní Chofaigh is Plan Ireland's "Ambassador for Girls" and has used her public profile to great effect in boosting Plan Ireland's Because I am a Girl campaign. She sponsors a little girl named Anna in Togo.
Blathnaid is particularily motivated by issues facing girls in the developing world such as lack of education, female genital cutting and equal rights.
At the moment she is also a big part of Plan Ireland's campaign "Do Something Wonderful".
Malcolm O'Kelly
Irish Rugby legend Malcolm O’Kelly and his wife, Stephanie, sponsor three children with Plan Ireland and he has supported several of Plan Ireland's events.
"Child sponsorship is personal. Stephanie is great at writing to the the kids. We hear how they are getting on. I know I'm making a difference."
At the moment he is the face of Plan Ireland's big campaign "Do Something Wonderful" which is a call for people to sponsor children in the developing world.
Colin Murphy
Comedian Colin Murphy, is a valued and keen supporter of Plan Ireland. Not only does he sponsor 11-year Beamlak in India but he also took time out to travel to Uganda with Plan Ireland in 2007 where he made a film in the RTE's Storybook series about Plan's work there.
Colin have also done several voice-overs for Plan Ireland. Last year he did a TV advert for Haiti and this year he is doing "... Something Wonderful" in Plan Ireland's newest campaign, where he has done a TV voice-over.
Bibi Baskin
Broadcaster Bibi Baskin, who now lives in India, is one of Plan Ireland's newest supporters. She sponsors a girl, called Suman, in India and has been on RTE's Four Live to talk about girls rights when the latest report in the Because I am a Girl campaign was launched.
At the moment Bibi is a part of Plan's big "Do Something Wonderful" campaign, for which she has made a radio advert. Listen to Bibi's radio ad.
Sponsor a child like Bibi
Laura Whitmore
The young MTV presenter Laura Whitmore is a long time supporter of Plan and our work with girls. For the same reason she didn't hesitate to do a photoshoot and interviews for Plan Ireland when the newest report in the campaign Because I am a Girl was launched.
"Plan's work with girls is so inspiring and vitally important. I have no hesitation in supporting their work and urging others to do likewise."
Clodagh McKenna
Celebrity chef Clodagh McKenna supported Plan Ireland's 'Girls Night In' fundraising campaign. She donated recipes for people who organised their own events and also cooked a special meal for the winner.
Clodagh McKenna was delighted when we asked her to get involved with Plan Ireland:
"As a woman who grew up in Ireland I appreciate all of the opportunities that I have been given in life. The "Because I am a Girl" campaign will help girls who don’t have those opportunities."
Diarmuid Gavin
Gardener and TV presenter Diarmuid Gavin is one of Plan Ireland's oldest sponsors. Diarmuid was at hand way back in 2003 to launch Plan Ireland's opening in Ireland.
Along with follow TV personality, Ryan Tubridy, Diarmuid has long campaigned for Plan and our work with children.
Diarmuid sponsors 12-year old Bertukan in Ethiopia.
David McWilliams
Economic Analyst David McWilliams sponsors a girl in Sri Lanka.
President Mary McAleese
Former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, sent a message of support for Plan Ireland's "Because I am a Girl" campaign in September 2009:
"... I welcome and commend Plan Ireland's Flagship campaign 'Because I am a girl'. At the heart of this campaign is an urgent call to take the distinctive needs of girls and young women into account. The challenge will be to formulate policy or allocate resources to development in a way that makes an essential difference to the lives of girls. It is important too that civil society organisations, in turn, are concentrating their energies on advocacy to remove the obstacles that threaten girls' survival and potential. It is only through profound changes that the lives of millions of girls worldwide will be transformed".
