Finn Harps are deeply honoured to announce that the Bluestack Foundation will be the club’s official charity partner for the 2024 season.
The partnership will help increase awareness of the invaluable supports and services offered by the foundation, and supporters will be invited to participate in what promise to be hugely enjoyable joint events planned for the coming year.
The Bluestack Special Needs Foundation was established to provide direct supports to people with additional needs themselves and direct supports to their families and carers.
Recently Harps folks spent a great evening with the famous Bluestack choir who produced a rousing rendition of the Finn Harps anthem which can be seen on social media and YouTube.
Ian Harkin chairman of Finn Harps says the collaboration is another exciting development for the club’s community programme
“Everyone at Finn Park is looking forward to making this partnership a huge success. To be honest it was not until we visited the Bluestack building in Donegal town and met with their fantastic staff and members that we fully appreciated the wide range of supports and services the foundation offers.
Both the Bluestack Foundation and Finn Harps are dedicated to creating environments where people from different backgrounds can reach their full potential, so we are very enthusiastic about working together. “
Wendy McCarry CEO of Bluestack says the association with Donegal’s senior club can bring tangible benefits to foundation members.
“As a small charity, we are highly dependent on the good will of our community, while we receive some government funding all our programmes rely on fundraised income. The connection between ourselves and Finn Harps is hugely appreciated and valued, not just for the potential fundraising but also for the exposure, networking and profile of the organisation. We are very proud to have been selected as the Charity Partner for 2024 and beyond excited to see how that connection helps our families. Thank you all so much” she said.
About the Bluestack Foundation
Who we are: Founded in 2002 by the McBrearty family, the Foundation started off as a fundraising challenge, walking the Bluestack Mountains, fundraising to improve services available to children with additional needs. In 2006 the Bluestack Challenge committee decided to establish a charity and company limited by guarantee to address the lack of service provision for families caring for children and adults with additional needs. In 2008, the Foundation purchased their first building in Donegal Town.
We currently offer a range of services to 500 families across county Donegal. We provide the following:
- Day time Respite
- Clubs and Programmes in three locations to include Saturday Clubs, Teen Clubs, Choir, Guitar Lessons, Parent Support Network Meetings, After School, Summer Camps, Sensory and Messy Play, Annual Purple tie Gala Ball, Social Evenings
- Adult Training and Progression Programme
- The Bluestack Shack Coffee Dock
- Disability Equality Training
- Directory of Disability Services (published annually)
- Listening Ear
- Access to low cost psychotherapy, play therapy and Behaviour therapy.
Uniquely, the Bluestack Foundation is not disability specific, but works with all families pre and post diagnosis.