Mediolanum expands Philanthropic Collective and generates €1 million to fund inner-city Dublin community initiatives.
Annual Mediolanum Philanthropic Collective event celebrates €1 million milestone and announces new community initiative in Dublin’s south-west inner city. Building on the success of the past two years, the Mediolanum Philanthropic Collective has secured further funding for Coolmine Therapeutic Community and Belvedere Youth Club initiatives.
5 November 2025 - The Mediolanum Philanthropic Collective celebrates a major milestone at its third annual event in Dublin’s City Hall, announcing that it has raised over €1 million for community initiatives across Dublin, thanks to Mediolanum International Funds Limited’s (MIFL) business partners and Fondazione Mediolanum.
This achievement also marks the beginning of a new partnership with the Liberties Community Project and Sporting Liberties. With full funding from Fondazione Mediolanum, the initiative will deliver a programme focused on creating a safe and inclusive environment for recreation and personal development for young people, alongside the construction of a much-needed sports facility at St James’s Primary School on Basin Lane, the area’s first public green space for organised sport in Dublin’s south-west inner city.
Liberties, Dublin 8, is an area facing some of Ireland’s toughest challenges around youth vulnerability. The project will not only deliver the area’s first multi-purpose playing pitch for organised sport, but also create long-term opportunities for children and teenagers through access to sport, mentoring and community engagement, fostering stability and reducing risks linked to social exclusion.
Fondazione Mediolanum will also continue to financially support Coolmine Therapeutic Community and Belvedere Youth Club, helping to expand Coolmine’s residential and community programmes for women and children in recovery from addiction, as well as Belvedere Youth Club early-intervention and youth development programmes in Dublin’s north inner city.
Furio Pietribiasi, CEO of Mediolanum International Funds Limited:
“For over 27 years, Ireland has been our home, and we are deeply committed to giving back to the communities that have supported our growth. Our long-standing partnerships with organisations like Coolmine and Belvedere Youth Club have demonstrated the power of sustained collaboration. This new initiative goes far beyond fundraising or sport. It represents a holistic, partnership-driven model of community development, one that brings together local leadership and business engagement to create real opportunities for young people.
We are especially grateful to all our business partners, not only for their generous contributions, but for their unwavering commitment. By opening the doors of their businesses and engaging directly with these communities, they send a powerful message: ‘You are not alone. Many believe in you, stand ready to support you, and want to help you build a better future.’”
Tom Magee, Sporting Liberties:
“MIFL and its partners are investing in a movement with us that is the first of its kind in the south-west inner city. The impact that this will have on our community will be felt for generations. The importance of Sport and Recreation to a person's life is often taken for granted. Through this initiative MIFL is taking a huge step to help us to bring the values of teamwork and connection to the people of the Liberties.”
Jack Chambers, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation:
“Our country faces complex challenges but is home to remarkable people and remarkable organisations fueled by care and compassion who are driving real change. The Mediolanum Philanthropic Collective shows what can be achieved when communities, charities and businesses come together with a shared purpose, creating inclusive spaces and opportunities that strengthen communities through sport, education and local leadership.”
Pauline McKeown, CEO, Coolmine Therapeutic Community:
“Over 2,000 women in the Mid-West have sought addiction recovery support in the past five years, many with young children. At Coolmine, we believe no mother should have to choose between recovery and her children. For over 30 years, Ashleigh House has been Ireland’s only residential treatment centre for mothers and children. With demand growing, our goal is to establish a second permanent home to support a minimum of 70 women and 50 children annually.”
Jenny Courtney, CEO of Belvedere Youth Club:
“Belvedere Youth Club creates access to opportunities through programmes that empower children and young people to reach their full potential. Social inequalities persist in Ireland, and education is key to breaking cycles of poverty and oppression.
With the support of our philanthropic partners, we design and deliver initiatives rooted in our model of Transformative Informal Education, helping young people grow as individuals and as agents of positive social change. Together, we’re creating lasting impact and ensuring every child has a fair chance to thrive.”