Award was ‘a great Christmas present’
Well known Mullingar native Brian Fagan says he is deeply honoured to have won a prestigious national award for his charity work.
The founder of Brian’s Treasure Chest charity shop and long time fundraiser for organisations such as Midlands Simon, Concern and GOAL, won the Social Inclusion and Community category at the awards, in Limerick earlier this month.
Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Brian, who also worked overseas for a number of charities, including Concern and GOAL, said “it was a great honour to even be nominated and to win was really good”.
“It was nice that someone thought I was worthy of being nominated. I think over 500 people were nominated, so it was great to be shortlisted and even better to win. It was a wonderful Christmas present.”
Brian said he has been deeply touched by the number of messages and congratulations he has received since he won.
On its website, Volunteer Ireland outlined why Brian was a worthy winner of the award. “Brian Fagan is no stranger to volunteering, being active for more than 40 years both at home and abroad. He set up Brian’s Treasure Chest, a charity shop, in 2011, to support local charities and community groups in north Westmeath, and in situations of crisis, charities overseas. He served for 21 years as a member of the FCA (now the Reserve Defence Force) and is now a member of the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women.
“To date, Brian has raised over €1.3 million for charities, and Brian’s Treasure Chest has contributed over €150,000 of that. He started the Sleep Out fundraiser for Midlands Simon and has been recognised personally by the CEO for his €200,000 in donations to Concern Worldwide.
“Beyond Mullingar, Brian has volunteered abroad countless times often with GOAL, including in Haiti, Ukraine, Afghanistan, several countries in Africa, and even in 1996, parachuting to the North Pole to raise funds for the Bubblegum Club, which provided holidays and weekend breaks for terminally ill children. He is a trusted expert in the human side of charity work, and the business and logistics sides of an operation, and when the community sees him stand for a cause, they feel confident in its importance.”
When it comes to fundraising, Christmas is an important time for charities and Brian and his fellow local volunteers will be busy over the coming days.
“Our main fundraising efforts at the minute are for Simon Community and the Christmas Food Appeal. If anyone would like to make a donation come in to the shop or if you see us collecting, come over.”