16 April 2019

Celebrity chef Rachel Allen was on hand to bring these key ingredients together today as she announced the details of the 2019 HB Fundays campaign. At the very first HB Fundays party of the year, Rachel called on the public to raise vital funds for Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI) by hosting a party with HB Hazelbrook Farm ice cream.

This year, DSI and HB Hazelbrook Farm hope to raise in excess of €300,000 from the HB Fundays campaign, with funds raised this year going towards increased support for families of children with Down syndrome. The money raised will really help to accelerate funding for two specific DSI programmes – See and Learn, which promotes speech and language development and aids communication in children with Down syndrome and Parent-Link, a support service provided by parent volunteers for new parents of babies with Down syndrome.

At the first HB Fundays party of the year today, Rachel Allen encouraged the public to host their own HB Fundays party over the coming weeks:

“This is my second year as HB Fundays campaign ambassador and I am delighted to be involved with the initiative once again. I have several friends who have children with Down syndrome and have witnessed first-hand, the invaluable services that Down Syndrome Ireland provides to families nationwide. By organising your own HB Fundays party, you can not only raise much needed funds for Down Syndrome Ireland but share a little magic with others too. Launching the campaign again today was incredibly special and I am looking forward to hosting my own HB Fundays party this year.’’

Commenting on the HB Fundays Campaign and its importance in raising vital funds, Eimear Collins, National Early Development Officer with Down Syndrome Ireland said:

‘’The HB Fundays campaign is hugely important to Down Syndrome Ireland as the funds raised are so vital to the organisation and this year is especially important as the funds will be going to two specific areas. ‘See and Learn’ is a specialised teaching programme to support the learning needs of young children with Down syndrome in small, manageable steps while ‘Parent-Link’ is a support service provided by parent volunteers and involves the parent of an older child with Down syndrome speaking with a new parent to offer support and answer any questions they may have.’’

Elaine Prendergast, Brand Manager, Unilever Ireland added;

‘’We are proud to be partnering with Down Syndrome Ireland on HB Fundays for the 18th year running. I’d like to extend my thanks to Rachel Allen yet again for lending her support to this year’s campaign.

Hosting a HB Fundays party is all about bringing people together and enjoying some delicious HB Hazelbrook Farm ice cream in the process. We hope the public will bring their love of ice cream and supporting a good cause together by hosting their own HB Fundays party and supporting the invaluable work of DSI.’’

Down Syndrome Ireland and HB Hazelbrook Farm have been in partnership for 18 years and the HB Fundays campaign has raised a staggering €3.5 million to date. HB Fundays is about having fun and taking time out with family, friends, colleagues, to support an important cause while enjoying Ireland’s favourite ice cream. Each HB Fundays party makes a real and lasting difference to families who have children with Down syndrome throughout Ireland. The campaign is an integral source of funding for the development of Down Syndrome Ireland’s nationwide support services.

This year’s campaign hopes to build on the huge success of last year which saw 692 parties registered and a wonderful €275,348 raised for Down Syndrome Ireland. Community spirit is at the heart of HB Fundays and this year the hope is to once again have communities come together and host plenty of ice cream parties.

For more information about this year’s HB Fundays campaign, or to register your own HB Fundays party please visit ​www.downsyndrome.ie ​call 1890 37 37 37 or email ​alisonk@downsyndrome.ie​. You will receive our ​HB Ice Cream Fundays party pack, which includes vouchers for free pint blocks of HB Hazelbrook Farm ice cream. Join the conversation online using the hashtag #DSIHBFundays.