IBM beat strong competition earlier today (Monday 15th December 2003) to win the overall prize of the 2003 Guinness Living Dublin Awards. The awards ceremony in the Guinness Storehouse rewarded businesses, individuals and groups who work to make Dublin a better place to live, work or visit. IBM also came first in the Business in the Community category.

The winning projects in the Celebrity Dublin Project of the Year initiative were also announced as the National Children’s Hospital & Our Ladies Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin – as nominated by Dustin the Turkey.

IBM are working to target disadvantage and the ‘digital divide’ in Dublin schools. Their Corporate Community Relations programme is largely aimed at enhancing the educational experience in our communities, through such programmes as Kidsmart, Wired for Learning and Mentorplace. 32 Dublin schools participated in these 3 programmes in 2003, engaging 198 teachers and approximately 3,500 students.

Clive Brownlee, President of Dublin Chamber of Commerce and Assistant Managing Director of Diageo Ireland, stated “We are delighted to present this award to IBM for their sterling work as a corporate citizen of Dublin. The issue of corporate social responsibility is of great importance to both Diageo and to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. Guinness of course has a long and historic tradition of giving back to the community, continued today with initiatives such as the Awards themselves. We firmly believe that healthy businesses and healthy communities go hand in hand, and we applaud the measures that IBM are taking to improve Dublin city and county."

2003 marked the tenth birthday of the Guinness Living Dublin Awards. A joint partnership between Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Diageo Ireland and Dublin City Council, the Awards celebrate those individuals, groups and businesses who are working to improve the quality of life in Dublin City and County. The objective of the Awards is to recognise and reward these people, and to encourage others to follow their example. In so doing, it is hoped to increase civic participation in the enhancement of Dublin.

Full List of 2003 Winners

Culture & Tourism Category
Winner: Puca Puppets – Sweet & Sour Songs of Life

Highly Commended:
Viking Splash Tours
Pan Pan International Theatre Symposium
Pipe Works – The Dublin International Organ & Choral Festival

Business in the Community Category
Winner: IBM Innovations Target Disadvantaged and the Digital Divide in Dublin Schools

Highly Commended (in no particular order):
BDO Simpson Xavier
Dublin Bus
Radisson SAS St Helen's Hotel Responsible Business Committee
Citigroup - St Laurence O'Toole Junior Boys School

Community Development Category
Winner: The Irish Blue Cross

Highly Commended (in no particular order):
Aoibhneas Women’s Refuge
Dublin Samaritans
Eddie Fitzgerald / Finglas Senior Citizens Helpline
Sports Against Racism Ireland
Lucan Disability Action Group
Larkin Community College Shelbourne FC Project

Education Category

Primary Section
Winner: Pfizer CTYI Science Bus 

Highly Commended (in no particular order):
Educate Together
Model School For The Deaf

Post Primary Section
Winner: O'Connell School   

Highly Commended (in no particular order):
Larkin Arts Programme
MIC Project

Third Level Section
Winner:
Cultural Awareness programme By Students at the RCSI 

Highly Commended (in no particular order):
Arts Resource & Training Services Ltd
Lucan Disability Action Group 

Overall Education category winner: O'Connell School

Tidy Districts Category
Winner: Beauvale Residents Association
Highly Commended: Thorndale Environment Group