Funding thanks deadline extended

The Coca-Cola Thanks You Fund has extended its application deadline until July 20 at midnight.

The initiative is making £103K/€125K available to community and voluntary groups promoting active lifestyles.

Supported by the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) and the Wheel applications are being accepted online at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou.

Maire Campbell, Public Affairs and Communications Director, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: “Today we’re announcing that there is more time available for people to enter this year’s ‘Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’.

“We’ve had a huge level of interest in the Fund and having taken this on board we’ve decided to extend the application date by two weeks until the 20th of July. The ‘Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’ is a great resource for non-profit organisations throughout this country.

“I’d encourage all non-profit organisations to log onto the website, www.coca-cola.ie and share their great ideas.”

Of the £103K/€125K ten projects will receive £8,200/€10,000 grants and one outstanding overall winner being awarded £20,500/€25,000. The project selected will represent best practice and will be a creative, innovative initiative capable of being replicated in other communities.

After the closing date of July 20 a judging panel consisting of Coca‑Cola, The Wheel and the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action will create a shortlist of 45 organisations which will be published on the Coca-Cola website on September 1st, 2012.

Public vote will then account for 50 per cent of the final decision and a vote by an expert judging panel will account for the remaining 50 per cent. The winners will be announced by November 2012.

Full details on ‘The Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’ can be found at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou.