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| 3 Oct 2025 | |
| Charity Sector News |
Last night The Round Room, at Dublin’s Mansion House, was lit up by the best of the best in the Irish charity and not for profit sector. The 2025 Charity Excellence Awards, hosted by Charities Institute Ireland (Cii) and proudly sponsored by Ecclesiastical Insurance, took place highlighting the outstanding achievements within Ireland's charity sector at their annual awards event.
Irish Cancer Society was announced as ‘Charity of the Year 2025’. They are a community of patients, survivors, volunteers, supporters, health and social care professionals and researchers who are working towards a future where nobody in Ireland will die from cancer. Irish Cancer Society offers a range of supports providing free information and care to patients and families, funding cancer research to find better treatments that will save more lives and working to keep cancer on the Government’s agenda, making sure the Irish healthcare system functions as well as possible to help cancer patients and their loved ones through their diagnosis.
Averil Power, CEO of Irish Cancer Society said: “Cancer is one of the toughest challenges anyone can face. Thanks to the Irish Cancer Society staff, volunteers and donors, no-one has to go through it alone. We’ve all been affected by cancer. So we put our hearts into everything we do - our life saving research, our vital free services and our change-making advocacy. It’s great to have this recognition of the difference we’re making. It is also so inspiring to celebrate the collective effort of the charity sector which is transforming lives in every community in Ireland.”
The Charity Excellence Awards bring together representatives from leading charities and community groups to celebrate the invaluable contributions of the charity sector to Irish society over the past year. It’s a night dedicated to recognising achievements, rewarding excellence, and shining a spotlight on the impact of remarkable organisations and individuals.
Jimmy Fearon of Debra, was awarded the Excellence in Charity Leadership Award for exemplifying the very best of leadership in the sector, combining agility, empathy, resilience, and the ability to build vital connections with strong governance, mentoring, fundraising expertise, and an unwavering focus on mission. Under his leadership, Debra has grown from a small charity with limited reserves into a stable and widely recognised organisation, ensuring those it represents receive the highest standard of care and support. Above all, Jimmy embodies the deeply human qualities that define true excellence in charity leadership.
David Lane, Managing Director of headline sponsor Ecclesiastical Insurance, spoke about the 2025 Awards, saying: “As proud sponsors of this year’s Charity Excellence Awards, we’re honoured to celebrate the incredible dedication and impact of those working across Ireland’s charity sector. We extend our warmest congratulations to the Irish Cancer Society, this year’s Charity of the Year, for their unwavering dedication to supporting individuals and families affected by cancer nationwide. Their commitment to improving lives through patient support, research, and advocacy is truly inspiring. It’s a powerful testament to the strength of their community, made up of patients, survivors, volunteers, and dedicated health and social care professionals. Congratulations to the Irish Cancer Society and to all the 2025 winners for their outstanding contributions in building a more compassionate and resilient society.”
Commenting on the awards, Áine Myler, CEO of Charities Institute Ireland, said:
“The Charity Excellence Awards are about shining a light on the incredible work happening across Ireland’s charity sector. This year we had 206 entries in 12 categories, which shows just how much dedication and creativity is out there. Every nominee and winner show us what’s best about this sector - compassion, integrity, and that determination to make life better for people and communities across the country.
We’re especially proud to announce the Irish Cancer Society as Charity of the Year 2025. The impact they have, through patient support, research, and advocacy, touches thousands of lives, families and communities, and their commitment is truly inspiring.
And finally, a huge congratulations to all this year’s winners. The work you do makes a real difference every day, and it lifts us all up".
Winners on the night:
