O'Reilly Foundation
Encyclopedia
The O'Reilly Foundation is a personal charitable trust set up in 1998 by media magnate, and former CEO of Heinz
, Sir Anthony "Tony" O'Reilly
. Its function is the funding of educational projects; the two main work areas are capital developments at Irish colleges and an annual post-graduate scholarship programme for young people normally resident in Ireland
, with the aim of "supporting charitable endeavours for the betterment of Ireland
and to promote excellence, global vision, community responsibility and leadership."
, Lady O'Reilly as chairperson, plus his six children from his first marriage: Susan Wildman, Cameron O'Reilly
, Justine O'Reilly, Gavin O'Reilly
, Caroline Dempsey, and Tony O'Reilly, Junior
The oversight of the postgraduate scholarship scheme, is vested in the Scholarship Board, first chaired by the economist T. K. Whitaker
, and subsequently by former Registrar of University College Dublin
, Professor Emeritus John Kelly
.
The Foundation has just one staff member, an executive secretary.
, later named "The John and Aileen O'Reilly Library" in honour of Dr. O'Reilly's parents.
" .
The scholarships are stated to be chiefly aimed at Ph.D. candidates but have in fact been awarded for a wide range of types of student. Certain disciplines are noted as preferences, namely Business Studies and Marketing, Science and Technology, Arts, Media Studies and Law.
H. J. Heinz Company
The H. J. Heinz Company , commonly known as Heinz and famous for its "57 Varieties" slogan and its ketchup, is an American food company with world headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Perhaps best known for its ketchup, the H.J...
, Sir Anthony "Tony" O'Reilly
Tony O'Reilly
Sir Anthony Joseph Francis O'Reilly is an Irish businessman and former international rugby union player. He is known for his involvement the Independent News & Media Group, which he led from 1973 to 2009, and as former CEO and Chairman of the H.J. Heinz Company. He was the leading shareholder of...
. Its function is the funding of educational projects; the two main work areas are capital developments at Irish colleges and an annual post-graduate scholarship programme for young people normally resident in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, with the aim of "supporting charitable endeavours for the betterment of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and to promote excellence, global vision, community responsibility and leadership."
Governance and staffing
General authority is vested in a Board of Trustees including, from the beginning, O'Reilly's current wife Chryss GoulandrisChryss Goulandris
Chryss Goulandris, Lady O'Reilly , also known as Christina or Chryssanthie, is one of the richest women associated with Ireland, and holds both USA and Greek citizenship, she owns a major horse breeding operation located in Ireland, France and other countries and has been Chairperson of the Irish...
, Lady O'Reilly as chairperson, plus his six children from his first marriage: Susan Wildman, Cameron O'Reilly
Cameron O'Reilly
Anthony Cameron O'Reilly, generally known as Cameron O'Reilly, is a Dublin-born businessman with Irish and Australian citizenship, the son of Irish media magnate Tony O'Reilly and Australian Susan Cameron...
, Justine O'Reilly, Gavin O'Reilly
Gavin O'Reilly
Gavin Karl O'Reilly is a Dublin-born businessman with Irish and Australian citizenship, the second son and fourth child of Irish media magnate Tony O'Reilly and Australian Susan Cameron...
, Caroline Dempsey, and Tony O'Reilly, Junior
Tony O'Reilly, Junior
St. John Anthony O'Reilly, generally Tony O'Reilly, Junior is a businessman with Irish and Australian citizenship, the third son and sixth child of Irish media magnate Tony O'Reilly and Australian Susan Cameron. He is currently CEO of the Irish mineral exploration company Providence Resources...
The oversight of the postgraduate scholarship scheme, is vested in the Scholarship Board, first chaired by the economist T. K. Whitaker
T. K. Whitaker
T.K. "Ken" Whitaker is an Irish economist and former public servant, credited with a pivotal role in the economic development of Ireland...
, and subsequently by former Registrar of University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
, Professor Emeritus John Kelly
John Kelly (engineer)
John Kelly, PhD, is an Irish professor of engineering. He was formerly Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at, University College Dublin John Kelly, PhD, is an Irish professor of engineering. He was formerly Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at, University College Dublin John Kelly, PhD,...
.
The Foundation has just one staff member, an executive secretary.
Capital projects
The Foundation has made a major contribution in May 2000 to complete funding of the 50% privately-funded €22.2 million new library building for Dublin City UniversityDublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
, later named "The John and Aileen O'Reilly Library" in honour of Dr. O'Reilly's parents.
Sponsorship
The programme, which began in 1999, provides awards of around 25,400 euro annually. In most years, two Scholars are nominated, for two years each, but in some years, there are three Scholars, and in some years, there will be a Scholar with a one-year award. The Foundation sponsors scholars who have an excellent academic record (First Class Honours - in the Irish / British systems - preferred) and who "have demonstrated leadership qualities", as well as the "potential and desire to make a significant contribution to the future of IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
" .
The scholarships are stated to be chiefly aimed at Ph.D. candidates but have in fact been awarded for a wide range of types of student. Certain disciplines are noted as preferences, namely Business Studies and Marketing, Science and Technology, Arts, Media Studies and Law.
Notable alumni
Over the first eleven years, or as the programme site calls them, "cycles" of the programme, there were 26 awards made. Amongthem are included:- Dr. Anita SandsAnita SandsDr. Anita M. Sands is an Irish businesswoman, academic and speaker, resident in the United States. Appointed in 2007 as the youngest ever senior vice-president at the Royal Bank of Canada, she moved in September 2008 to Citibank in New York as a Managing Director and Head of Transformation...
, 2nd cycle, commencing 2000, Masters in Public Policy and Management, Carnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.... - Ruth GilliganRuth GilliganRuth Gilligan is an Irish writer and actress, born in Dublin, Ireland.-Life:Gilligan's father is an accountant and her mother a speech therapist, her brother David is ten years her senior, and the family live in Blackrock.-Career:...
, 11th cycle, commencing 2009, BA in English Literature at Cambridge University, to be followed by a Masters in Creative Writing at a US university