Inspiring Generations – College’s main philanthropy campaign run by Trinity Development and Alumni – reached 150,000 volunteer hours today.
A video launched by Trinity Development and Alumni earlier today to celebrate the milestone said that “through online and in person events, our volunteers are sharing their in depth knowledge and expertise by participating in webinars and talks, and contributing articles to our alumni publications”.
“Mentors support new generations of students by advising them on their career paths and employability.”
Volunteers engage in a range of activities, including running alumni affinity groups, helping students studying abroad, contributing to alumni publications and organising reunions.
Speaking in another video, one of the campaign’s mentors Chiara Popplewell said that “anybody who has ever had a helpful hand reached out to them from somebody in a senior position in a career they were interested in or thought they might be interested in finds it incredibly beneficial”.
The video also stated that the 150,000 hours corresponded to 17 years of volunteering.
Inspiring Generations was launched in May 2019, with College saying it was the “largest and most ambitious” campaign of its kind undertaken in Ireland.
The project helps to fund projects across campus, including expansions to the Engineering, Environment and Emerging Technologies (E3) Institute as well as Trinity East.
It also helped to finance the Trinity Business School and the current redevelopment of the Old Library. The Trinity Long Room Hub and Trinity Cancer Institute also draw funds from the philanthropic campaign.
Speaking during the launch in 2019, Provost Patrick Prendergast said that the “ambitious campaign goals” included €400 million in donations and 150,000 volunteer hours, with the latter target achieved today.
Prendergast also emphasised the role of “graduates and friends” in the Inspiring Generations campaign: “We’re building this campaign on the remarkable legacy of graduates like Samuel Beckett, Bill Campbell and Mary Robinson.”
Prendergast said that College “has helped to shape a better-informed and more equal society – in Ireland and around the world”.
“We’ve achieved this by producing exceptional research, delivering a transformative education and inspiring Trinity alumni to make a positive contribution to the world”, he said.
