The Enet Group and the Hope Foundation, a Cork-based charity that works to improve the quality of life for street and slum children in India, came together with celebrity chef, Richard Corrigan, to raise funds to support the running of a rehabilitation home in Kolkata.
The event that took place on Valentine’s night, 14th February 2020, with an exclusive private dining experience hosted by celebrity chef Richard Corrigan at his Virginia Park Lodge venue in Virginia, Co. Cavan.
The event was in support of the Punorjibon (‘New Beginnings’) Rehabilitation Home, which caters for solvent-addicted children, many of whom have been victims of daily torture, domestic violence, or been abandoned. In response, the home provides education, healthcare and nutrition services to the boys in its care, as well as vocational training – with the ultimate aim of rehabilitating and then reintegrating the boys into mainstream society.
The collaboration between the Enet Group and the Hope Foundation is part of a two-year partnership, with a number of additional events planned to raise further funds. The partnership which officially commenced in January 2020 aims to raise €70,000 for the charity.
Maureen Forrest, Founder and Honorary Director of The Hope Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to have raised these much needed funds for our protection home, which will help some of Kolkata’s most vulnerable children get back on their feet and realise their full potential. It was a wonderful night of fine dining and we’re looking forward to working closely with Enet into the future.”
The Enet Group comprises of Enet, Ireland’s largest wholesale, open-access network provider, as well as AirSpeed Telecom, a leading provider of high-performance telecommunications products and services to enterprise, public sector and medium sized businesses. The Group employs 130 people across offices in Dublin and Limerick.
Commenting on the funds raised for the new rehabilitation centre, Peter McCarthy, Enet Group CEO, said: “The Hope Foundation does fantastic work in supporting vulnerable children, their families and communities, and in tackling the underlying causes of violence, trafficking and neglect by providing much-needed shelter, education and rehabilitation services. All of the money raised from the evening will go directly to providing the necessary healthcare, education and social services the boys require to rebuild their lives.”
Mr McCarthy continued, “Our support for Maureen Forrest and The Hope Foundation stems from Enet’s desire to make a difference through the support of a passionate and dedicated team that delivers excellent care to these vulnerable children.”
In January, Maureen Forrest was honoured for her contribution to humanity by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the oldest of Bobby and Ethel Kennedy’s children, at an event in New York. The award recognises Maureen’s twenty years of service and the excellent results that The Hope Foundation have achieved over that time.