Rugby fans are being challenged to stand shoulder to shoulder and put their fingers to the test to set a new benchmark for simultaneous donations to charity.
Rugby fans are being challenged to stand shoulder to shoulder and put their fingers to the test to set a new benchmark for simultaneous donations to charity. The "Text & Donate" campaign at Aviva Stadium, where 100% of funds raised will go directly to charity, will be active at some of the biggest sporting events in the country and will support Focus Ireland, Movember, 1Life Suicide Helpline and Headstrong.
The IRFU Charitable Trust will also benefit from the campaign. The charities will partner with Aviva to bring the initiative to fans and the organisers are also investigating if the unusual fundraiser will qualify for a world record attempt for simultaneous donations at a sporting event.
Beginning with this Saturday’s Ireland Vs South Africa clash, fans in the 50,000+ capacity Aviva Stadium will be invited to support Focus Ireland at half time by simultaneously texting the word "DONATE" to 57727.
The fundraising element gives sports fans in Aviva Stadium the opportunity to donate €3 via text to the selected charity at each event. Ireland’s leading insurer, Aviva, is also supporting each charity with a complete branding and awareness-raising package at each event including press and radio advertising, pitch side advertising, a page of advertising in match programmes and big-screen announcements in Aviva Stadium.
Uniquely in Ireland, the Aviva Charity of the Day campaign involves all four mobile phone operators (O2, Vodafone, Meteor and 3) and has also been given a VAT waiver from the Revenue Commissioners to ensure that all proceeds raised will go directly to the charities selected.
Speaking about the launch today, Paul Gurhy, general insurance and brand marketing director of Aviva Ireland said: “Achievements in sport, and in most areas of life, are almost always the result of teams of committed people working toward the achievement of something special. Our involvement in the Charity of the Day initiative offers Aviva a unique chance to be part of a team that gives opportunity and support to the amazing work of the charities involved and we’ll certainly be putting our shoulder into it.”
“With an all seated capacity of over 50,000 in Aviva Stadium, even a small percentage of fans choosing to text and donate will make a huge difference to the fund raising activities of the selected charities,” added Mr Gurhy.
This campaign will result in the four main charities, along with the IRFU Charitable Trust, raising much needed funds to assist them in their work on some of the most pressing social needs being faced in Ireland. As well as the four selected charities, the IRFU Charitable Trust will also benefit from the initiative with 30c from each text going to the Trust.
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Details of the charities being supported:
Focus Ireland works to advance the rights of people-out-of-home and will be Aviva Charity of the Day on 6 November for Ireland vs South Africa at Aviva Stadium. Text lines open from 8am on 1 November to 6pm on 9 November.
Movember Ireland works to raise funds and promote prostate cancer awareness and will be Aviva Charity of the Day on 13 November for Ireland vs Samoa at Aviva Stadium. Text lines open from 8am on 10 November to 6pm on 16 November.
1LifeSuicide Helpline is Ireland’s only 24 hour suicide intervention helpline and will be Aviva Charity of the Day on - 21 November Ireland vs New Zealand at Aviva Stadium. Text lines open from 8am on 17 November to 6pm on 25 November.
Headstrong promotes mental wellbeing for youths in Ireland and will be Aviva Charity of the Day on - 28 November, Ireland vs Argentina at Aviva Stadium. Text lines open from 12pm on 26 November to 6pm on 2 December.