Cork Charity Closes Out ‘Pay It Forward’ Giving Initiative Supported by Ecclesiastical Ireland

Cork-based charity Dog Action Welfare Group (DAWG), has been named the final Irish recipient in the Pay It Forward campaign, a ripple-effect giving initiative by the Benefact Group, supported in Ireland by Ecclesiastical Insurance.

Pay It Forward was designed to empower charities to take the lead in giving, with each recipient nominating another to receive support. Over three months the campaign travelled from Cork to Dublin to Clare, spotlighting a diverse mix of community-led organisations along the way.

DAWG, founded in Cork in 2007, is a volunteer-run charity dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abused, neglected and abandoned dogs across Cork and Munster. With rising demand each year, the donation will support its life-saving work and public education efforts.

Cathriona O’Leary, Fundraiser at Cork’s DAWG said: “Without the existence of Cork DAWG, thousands of unwanted and neglected dogs in Cork & Munster would have little or no hope, many of them would not survive without our intervention. We believe we play a vital role in placing dogs with families where the lives of both humans and dogs are enriched by the presence of each other. We are so grateful to the Benefact Group for this very generous donation and to Rhona Luca from An Cat Dubh for your kind nomination. On behalf of all the dogs in our care, thank you so much!”.

This final nomination marks the close of the Irish strand of the Pay It Forward pilot scheme: an initiative developed by the Benefact Group and proudly promoted in Ireland by Ecclesiastical Insurance. Over the course of the campaign, five Irish charities not only received support but helped shape the journey by nominating the next recipient, in a display of trust and generosity.

Speaking on the final round of funding of the Pay It Forward initiative, David Lane, Managing Director, Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “I am delighted by the uptake and receptiveness of our pilot Pay It Forward scheme. Seeing each and every charity involved in the initiative pass the generosity on to a fellow non-profit, whether it be close to home or not, has been extremely rewarding, and I would like to thank everyone from across the sector who has been involved and supported the team at Ecclesiastical Ireland and the Benefact Group.”