Boston Scientific in Galway and Galway Simon Community have launched a major new collaboration that will see staff based in the Ballybrit Business Park aim to raise over €150,000 for the charity.
Money raised through fundraising activities over the next two years will go towards Galway Simon’s Health and Wellbeing Services and the further development of the charity’s Social Integration Programme.
Through these Services, Galway Simon Community helps people to recover from trauma, mental health and addiction issues.
Clients are also supported to participate in community activities and take up training, education and employment opportunities.
As well as organising fundraising initiatives, Boston Scientific employees will also be offering support and expertise in the areas of project management, job training, skills development and professional volunteering.
James Lyons, Vice President of Operations of the Boston Scientific Galway campus, said that caring is one of their core values at Boston Scientific, and they are proud of their employees’ long track record of fund-raising for a variety of important community causes
“We’re delighted to partner with Galway Simon Community to improve the wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” he said.
Karen Golden, Galway Simon’s CEO, said the charity believes that everyone can play a role in combatting homelessness within our communities.
“It’s fantastic that these views are shared by Boston Scientific in Galway. The innovative nature of the work this project will help fund, will have transformational impact on the health and wellbeing of people we support. It will no doubt leave a lasting legacy in the West.
“We’re deeply grateful to the team at Boston Scientific for working with us through this collaboration.”
Since the establishment of a base in Galway in 1994, Boston Scientific has grown its workforce to over 4,500 people, manufacturing and exporting more than four million medical devices such as heart stents and valves, vascular balloons and esophageal stents annually.
Galway Simon Community was established by a group of volunteers from University College Galway (UCG) in 1979.
Initially set up as a soup run, its services now focus on three key areas: homelessness prevention, housing and health & wellbeing.
From January to December 2022, Galway Simon Community supported 810 households, including 225 families. This consisted of 925 adults and 476 children — a total of 1,401 individuals.
