● Funds raised at the Horizon Irish Open to benefit Official Charity Make-A-Wish® Ireland
● Title sponsors Horizon have set a €250,000 fundraising target
● Activities during the week include the returning ‘Birdies for Wishes’ on the 18th hole
● Horizon to donate €1 for every person who wears green on site on Saturday
Tournament title sponsors Horizon Therapeutics hope to double last year’s fundraising efforts for the Irish Open’s Official Charity Make-A-Wish Ireland when the event returns to The K Club, from 6-10 September.
A grand total of nearly €121,000 was raised at the 2022 Horizon Irish Open, and the Birdies for Wishes campaign, which helped raise €37,000, will return this year alongside a number of other fundraising initiatives.
Horizon signed a six-year agreement in 2022 to become title sponsors of the island of Ireland’s national open and appointed Make-A-Wish Ireland as the tournament’s Official Charity to raise crucial funds to grant wishes to children living with life-threatening medical conditions.
For this year’s Birdies for Wishes campaign, Horizon have pledged to donate €150 for every birdie and €300 for every eagle across the four tournament rounds on the 18th hole at The K Club. In addition, the company will donate €5,000 if a player makes an albatross on the 18th hole. When the Irish Open was last held at The K Club in 2016, there were a total of 193 birdies and 16 eagles on the closing hole across the week.
Horizon Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Walbert has also pledged to match the amount raised through Birdies for Wishes as he did in 2022 at Mount Juliet Estate.
Horizon Ambassadors Pádraig Harrington, Shane Lowry and Séamus Power will also add to the fundraising efforts after each player pledged to donate €500 for every birdie and €1,000 for every eagle they card across the week.
Harrington, who is also a Make-A-Wish Ireland Ambassador, will wear the charity’s logo on his shirt sleeves during the week, which he will sign and auction after the event to raise further funds for the charity.
“My wife Caroline and I have seen first-hand the incredible work that Make-A-Wish does in providing hope and strength to children with life-threatening conditions,” said Harrington. “Their work is truly inspiring and we are very proud to be able to support the Horizon Irish Open’s Official Charity and hope to help raise a lot of funds for such a worthy cause.”
Additionally, Horizon will donate €1 for every person on site who wears green on Saturday, 9 September as Ireland also kick-off their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign against Romania that same day.
"At Horizon, we believe in creating a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of others,” said Tim Walbert. “We are proud to support Make-A-Wish Ireland, an organisation that brings joy and hope to children facing serious illnesses. We are confident that our fundraising initiatives at this year’s Horizon Irish Open, combined with the world-renowned generosity of the Irish people, can make a meaningful difference in the lives of these incredible children and their families.”
“We hope to see the fairways lined on Saturday with thousands of spectators wearing green and showing their support for Make-A-Wish Ireland,” added Harrington.
There will be other fundraising initiatives on site, including the ever-popular Mega Putt Challenge located in the Championship Village, with representatives from Make-A-Wish Ireland also raising awareness of the important work done by the charity.
“We are truly delighted to embark on the second year of what is proving to be an exceptional partnership between Make-A-Wish Ireland, Horizon Therapeutics and the DP World Tour for the Horizon Irish Open,” said Susan O’Dwyer, CEO, Make-A-Wish Ireland. “As we step into the second of this six-year tenure, the enthusiasm of everyone involved is a testament to our shared dedication to making a positive impact in the lives of our Wish children and their families.
“Horizon's unwavering support, coupled with the efforts of the DP World Tour, has opened up remarkable avenues to amplify our fundraising endeavours. The innovative initiatives on site at the Irish Open both last year and those planned for this year are helping raise public awareness and much needed funds to grant wishes to seriously ill children all over Ireland, giving them solace and optimism through the gift of hope.”
Tickets are still available for the Horizon Irish Open, with world-class entertainment on and off the golf course with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Pádraig Harrington teeing it up at The K Club and Scouting for Girls and The Stunning performing on the Main Stage over the weekend. To secure your place at The K Club click here.
