Benevolent fund

What is the Benevolent Fund and what does it do?

It was set up 21 years ago by the PPU but operates separately from it for reasons of confidentiality.

Fundraising by the PPU provides about half of its income.  It provides help to Past Pupils or their families as needs arise. It also can help current pupils and projects associated with The College.

Here are some examples of the Fund’s work in the last 10 years:

• Organizing and paying for car repairs to help a Past Pupil with mobility needs to get his car through its NCT.
• Paying for repairs to secure a Past Pupil’s home after a burglary.
• Helping Past Pupils in financial need towards their children’s school fees.
• Giving short term loans to Past Pupils who would have to borrow from moneylenders otherwise.
• Contributing to Medical Expenses of Past Pupils or their family.
• Providing food vouchers to Past Pupils on very limited incomes.
• Financing the Fr Hegarty Foreign Language Bursar at The College Prizegiving.
• Getting a new boiler for a Past Pupil with no heat in his house for months.
• Sometimes people contact us directly and sometimes friends let us know where there is a need and make the contact with us.

Who pays for all of this?

The Benevolent Fund’s activities are funded mainly through raffles and activities organized by the PPU, The Carmelite Charities Golf Classic and donations and bequests. Details of how to donate are on this website.

Typically, about €8,000 is raised every year and about the same passed on to those in need. If more requests for help are received, then there are reserves of about €25,000.

Who makes it happen?

A group of Past Pupils and others associated with The College meet regularly and decide how best to meet the requests for help that have been received. These requests can reach the Fund committee in many ways but usually through the PPU office (new email address available now) or by phone to The College or any of the Committee Members. Sometimes a third-party makes the contact and a committee member then tries to see what can be done,

Frequently, needs arise urgently between meetings and 2 or 3 committee members decide on how to deal with these situations by phone. At the next meeting the rest of the committee and if appropriate the Trustees are updated. All requests are considered in complete confidence so that only those people involved directly know the identity of the party involved.

Who watches over the Benevolent Fund’s activities?

The Fund is registered (Under the name “Terenure Association Trust”) with The Revenue Commissioners (CHY 11621) and Charities Regulator (20032302). It makes an annual report to the Charities Regulator.

An annual financial report is presented at the PPU AGM each year.

Remember you can now make contact through the PPU office just email: benevolentfund@nure.ie

If you prefer to write, the address is PPU Office Terenure College, Templeogue Road, D6W

By Phone :     

• 087 6532202 Karl Ganter                   
• 087 2572645 Paul Ryan                   
• 086 2544634 Larry O’Driscoll