By Chamber Press Office, 08 February 2024
Business Journalists Fundraiser Vital for Dublin Simon Community as Cost of Providing Services Rises
- Over €600,000 raised to date by BJAI event -
The Business Journalists Association of Ireland (BJAI) launched the 21st Corporate Challenge quiz, in aid of Dublin Simon Community as the cost of providing homeless services across Leinster continue to rise. Kindly hosted by An Post, the event will take place on Wednesday 13th March 2024, at the iconic GPO on O’Connell Street, Dublin 1.
Retiring RTÉ legendary newscaster Bryan Dobson will reprise his role as quizmaster and will be joined by a surprise adjudicator. The Reputations Agency is donating event management and public relations services for the ninth year.
The Corporate Challenge is open to all companies interested in helping to raise funds for Dublin Simon Community. Each year the Corporate Challenge Quiz night attracts some of the top names from the world of law, business and public relations. Since the annual event began it has raised over €600,000 for Dublin Simon Community who provide life-saving services and support to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Dublin and the surrounding counties.
The cost for a corporate table of four is €1,250. A journalist will join each corporate table and act as an additional team member for the evening's quiz. Registration by 7pm, with drinks and finger food, before the quiz starts at 7.30pm sharp.
To register your corporate table now – and to fight it out for the glory of being named the 2024 Corporate Challenge Champion (and quite a few prizes too!), simply email info@thereputationsagency.ie to receive a registration form:
Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon Community, said “The BJAI Corporate Challenge has been raising essential funds to support the work of Dublin Simon Community for many years, and with growing numbers of people entering homelessness that help is needed more than ever. Our mission at Dublin Simon Community is to support people to exit homelessness, access and retain homes, and rebuild lives by delivering housing, health and wellbeing services. The cost-of-living crisis means that we are facing increased operating costs combined with a growing demand for our services. We are truly grateful for the support of the business community and the business journalists for both raising funds to enable us to end homelessness for people every day and for helping to share and highlight the stories of people experiencing homelessness in our community.”
Donal O’Donovan, Chair, the Business Journalist Association of Ireland, said "The vital support services that Simon provide have not been immune from the inflationary pressures that have effected everyone over the past year and they have seen a significant rise in the cost of providing vital supports to families and individuals affected by homelessness. To date corporate Ireland has been a great supporter of the BJAI Corporate Challenge and we are calling on them again as their support is needed more now than ever.”
Anna McHugh, Head of Corporate Communications, An Post said, “An Post is delighted to once again host the BJAI Corporate Challenge at the GPO. There was a fantastic turnout last year and we hope to see another packed event on 13th March. It’s a really fun night when companies, sponsors and business journalists compete across all sorts of quiz topics to raise funds for the vital work of Dublin Simon in communities across Leinster.”
David O Síocháin, Director of Communications, The Reputations Agency, said, “The BJAI Corporate Challenge has raised over €600,000 for Dublin Simon Community over the past 20 years. It receives incredible backing from Irish corporates each year including An Post who have again kindly offered to host this year’s event. The investment of these companies through donations and participation contribute greatly to the success of this event and allow the BJAI to continue to make a positive impact in supporting Dublin Simon tackle homelessness.”