Irish Charities Benefit as Ecclesiastical Insurance Champions ‘Pay It Forward’ Giving Movement

Pic: Scott Hayes (left) from Ecclesiastical Insurance with “Cracker” and Martin from Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland

Two Cork-based charities are at the heart of a new giving movement promoted in Ireland by Ecclesiastical Insurance. Today, on Global Pay It Forward Day, BEAR’s Paw It Forward becomes the second Irish organisation to receive a £2,000 (euro equivalent) donation as part of the Pay It Forward campaign, thanks to a nomination by fellow Cork charity, Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland.

The initiative, developed by Ecclesiastical’s parent company Benefact Group, empowers charities to pass on donations to other causes they believe in. Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland was announced as the first Irish recipient earlier this month, and today marks the next step in the chain of kindness, as they pay it forward to Bear’s Paw It Forward – an organisation supporting animal rescues and homeless individuals with pets across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

How it works: Pay It Forward is a new pilot initiative that puts the power of giving in the hands of charities themselves. The campaign began with five organisations across Ireland and the UK, each receiving a £2,000 donation. In turn, they each nominate another charity to receive the next donation, creating a ripple effect of kindness. In total, 25 charities will benefit from the £50,000 fund. The third five winning charities will be publicly announced on Monday 12th May.

Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland (AADI), based in Cork city, was one of five charities across Ireland and the UK selected to kick off the initiative. AADI trains highly skilled assistance dogs to support children with autism, helping them manage invisible yet life-altering challenges such as sensory overload, anxiety and difficulty processing danger. Accredited by Assistance Dogs International, AADI is Ireland’s first programme to meet global training standards.

AADI then chose to pay it forward to another Cork-based charity – Bear’s Paw It Forward. This grassroots organisation supports animal shelters and homeless individuals with pets across Ireland and Northern Ireland by providing essential food and supplies. Like many small charities, the charity operates entirely without government funding, relying solely on the generosity of the public.

Speaking on the Pay it Forward movement, David McCarthy, Head of Fundraising and Communication at Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland (AADI), said: “We’re thrilled to have been chosen as one of the first charities in the Pay It Forward initiative and so grateful for the support from the Benefact Group. We’re equally delighted to pass it on to Bear’s Paw It Forward – a small but mighty charity doing incredible work to rescue and support dogs across Ireland. We know €2,000 will go a long way in helping them continue their life-saving work”.

On their acceptance of the donation, Mrs Rose Burns, Founder of Bear’s Paw It Forward said, “Your kind donation will make the day for a pet that thought it had been thrown away”.

“We’re proud to promote the Pay It Forward initiative here in Ireland on behalf of our parent company, Benefact Group,” said David Lane, Managing Director at Ecclesiastical Insurance. “It’s incredibly heartening to see two Cork-based charities: Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland and Bear’s Paw It Forward, at the heart of this growing chain of kindness.”

“At Ecclesiastical, we’re passionate about supporting initiatives that empower charities to uplift one another. We look forward to seeing how this community-led giving journey continues to unfold across Ireland.”

To follow the Pay It Forward journey, visit: https://benefactgroup.com/payitforward