Archbishop Michael Neary, Ms Celene Peurye, Director Baxter Foundation. Photo: Joy Heverin.

The Baxter International Foundation announced a grant of US$120,000 to the Family Centre, Castlebar, Co Mayo, Ireland, in December 2006.

The Family Centre was established by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tuam in 1994 to provide Family Life Services to people living in the Archdiocese, which covers parts of Counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon. Although it is supported by the Catholic Church, the services of the Centre are available to all individuals irrespective of creed or social distinction. The Centre provides a range of support services to families and individuals through counselling, education and training to help deal with problems of modern society in a professional and confidential way.

Archbishop Michael Neary of the Archdiocese of Tuam stated �Consultation with the local community indicated very clearly that families in Ireland today are going through a period of profound social, economic, cultural and religious change which has affected the quality and stability of family life. This is the reason that the Family Centre was established and its range of services has expanded over the years�.

Fr. Pat Farragher, Director of the Family Centre stated �The Centre through its programmes and services is committed to providing help and support for those in crisis and also for those wishing to enhance their relationship skills as individuals, partners and parents. We are delighted to receive this grant from the Baxter Foundation and look forward to enhancing and expanding the range of services we can offer at the Centre�.

The Baxter International Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc., helps organizations expand access to healthcare around the world. The Foundation, established in 1981, began in recent years to focus exclusively on increasing access to healthcare in communities where Baxter employees live and work. �I cannot think of anything more important than providing support to people in difficulty and enabling them to become more fulfilled in their lives. The Family Centre in Castlebar is most deserving of the Foundation�s support,� said Ms Celene Peurye, Director Baxter Foundation.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Ms Maureen O�Malley, Human Resources Director of Baxter Healthcare Ireland, said �We are delighted that the Foundation has made this grant to the Family Centre in Castlebar. It is true recognition of the excellent level of services that the staff at the Centre provide to the community and we wish them continued success�.

In 1994, the Foundation made a grant to the Paul Newman �Hole in the Wall� Barretstown Gang Camp in Co. Kildare for terminally ill children and continues to support the project.

Other former recipients of a grant from the Foundation in Ireland include Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, Mayo Women�s Refuge Centre, and the Mayo General Hospital/Belfast Royal Victoria Hospital Trust.

This year Baxter celebrates its 75th anniversary. Since its founding in 1931, the Company has remained committed to applying innovative science to help save and sustain lives worldwide The Company, with headquarters in Chicago, USA, employs approximately 47,000 employees worldwide, and has been in Ireland since 1972..Today there are over 1,200 employees at manufacturing sites in Castlebar and Swinford in Co. Mayo and at Sales and Marketing and European Financial Centre Offices in Dublin and Belfast.

Fr Pat Farragher, Director Family Centre, Archbishop Michael Neary, Ms Celene Peurye, Director Baxter Foundation, Maureen O’Malley, Baxter, Michael Burke, Family Centre, Archbishop Michael Neary. Photo: Joy Heverin.

Back: L: Fr Pat Farragher, Director Family Centre, R: Maureen O’Malley, Baxter. Front: L-R: Councillor Brendan Heneghan, Mayor of Castlebar, Ms Celene Peurye, Director Baxter Foundation, Archbishop Michael Neary. Photo: Joy Heverin.

Front Row: L-R: Archbishop Michael Neary, Nuala Bourke, Family Centre, Ms Celene Peurye, Director Baxter Foundation, Mary Ryan, Family Centre,. Back Row: L-R: Pearce O’Malley, Family Centre, Maureen O’Malley, Baxter, Canon Paddy Curran, Tom Walshe, Family Centre, Ann Leonard, Family Centre, Fr Pat Farragher, Director Family Centre. Photo: Joy Heverin.

Back: L: Tom Canavan, Baxter. R: Maureen O’Malley, Baxter. Front Row: L-R: John Doherty Baxter, Bernardine McGlade, Baxter, Ms Celene Peurye, Director Baxter Foundation, Jerry Kneafsey, Baxter. Photo: Joy Heverin.