Tony and William awarded for April
April’s Cork Person of the Month award has gone to two people who have empowered people with disabilities and enhanced the lives of children with additional needs.
Tony O’Donovan and William O’Brien are the latest winners of the award. Motivated by his son Kian, who is autistic, Tony has dedicated himself to enhancing the educational experience for many children.
An organised, dedicated and effective philanthropist, Tony begins his campaigning efforts in January of each year. He puts a particular focus on the month of April, as 2 April is World Autism Day. On this day each year Tony holds a draw with the help of donated spot prizes to raise vital funds to support this cause.
Tony also walks 100 miles every March to raise funds and much-needed awareness of the barriers faced by children with additional needs and/or autism.
Through these fundraising efforts Tony has raised close to €60,000. These have funded the provision of crucial supports to special education units, schools, and classrooms. His near decade-long commitment has facilitated the purchase of sensory equipment, the renovation of sensory rooms, and funding for school transport and community social outings.
Tony’s advocacy extends beyond fundraising. He has been actively involved in initiatives such as the SuperValu Autism Friendly shopping hours and the development of the Autism Life-skill Friend Trolley.
Awards organiser Manus O’Callaghan said: “Tony’s commitment to supporting children with additional needs is truly inspiring. His dedication and compassion exemplify the spirit of community service that we celebrate with the Cork Person of the Month award.”
William is celebrated for his pioneering work in founding the social enterprise See My Skills, dedicated to providing employment supports to people with disabilities. Recognising the disproportionately high unemployment rates among individuals with disabilities in Ireland, William established See My Skills with a vision to create a more inclusive global workspace.
He said: “At See My Skills, we aim to equip people with disabilities with workplace skills and experiences from an early age. Through initiatives such as the Accelerator Schools Programme, which recently commenced across ten schools, See My Skills offers vital training in life and career skills, including goal setting, CV writing, and mock interviews, among others.”
Manus added: “William’s dedication to the betterment of Cork, as exemplified through his leadership in See My Skills, goes far beyond business success.
“By addressing an area of critical need in Ireland, See My Skills acts as a beacon of hope and change in the Cork community.”