News
Maxol Group corporate partnership announced
News
06 Nov, 2023
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Maxol has announced the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind as its newly appointed charity partner.
In selecting the charity, CEO of the Maxol Group, Brian Donaldson explained that it wasn’t until he met and spoke to a Guide Dog owner that he fully appreciated the life-changing impact these highly trained and intuitive dogs can have giving a person not only confidence but independence too.
Over the course of the two-year partnership, Maxol, which is Ireland’s leading family-owned forecourt and convenience retailer, aims to support the charity by increasing awareness and impact of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind’s work but also commits to funding the training of at least six Assistance Dogs. In total, it costs approximately €53,000 to breed, train, and care for each of these special dogs over the course of their working lives.
Brian Donaldson said: “With so many charities in need of urgent funding selecting just one to which we will commit our resources is hugely challenging. But when we looked not only at the work of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind but the positive and tangible impact the charity can have on so many people’s lives - children, adults, and their families - we saw a really compelling case. This is a national organisation but with a strong and widespread community presence, much like our own business, and together with our local retailers we are looking forward to getting behind their work and ensuring Maxol makes a difference.”
Maxol will leverage its nationwide retailer network of more than 240 Maxol service stations and also hopes to garner the support of communities around the country to raise much-needed funds to help transform a person’s life.
Tim O’Mahony, Chief Executive Officer of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind said: ”We are delighted to be chosen as Maxol’s charity partner. Their support will have a huge impact; ensuring that we can deliver more Guide Dogs and Assistance Dogs over the next two years – essentially bringing independence and mobility to the lives of our clients and many families. The partnership will have a life-changing impact across communities as we develop links with our nationwide volunteer Branches and their local service stations.“
An all-Ireland partnership, Maxol and its retailers are planning for a host of exciting fundraising and retail initiatives. The company has committed to supporting Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and in Northern Ireland, Guide Dogs NI with direct funding that will ensure more people will be matched with trained dogs over the coming months and years.