UCD AgSoc gifts €15,000 to charity despite COVID-19 restrictions hampering fundraising drive

Two charities have received €15,000 following fundraising efforts by UCD’s (opens in a new window)Agricultural Science Society (AgSoc).

Despite significant challenges posed by COVID-19 restrictions, which has kept most people off campus for much of the academic year, members of the society presented two cheques totalling €7,500 each to representatives from Strange Boat and Embrace Farm.

Each year AgSoc hosts a number of events to help raise money as part of its annual fundraising drive but due to the pandemic these activities were held online, including its well regarded AgWeek- which normally runs the first month of the second semester.

 “It was a challenging year... Everything was done online and we did our best to raise all the money we could,” outgoing AgSoc auditor Diarmuid Lee told (opens in a new window)Agriland.

He said that the charities chosen were selected in recognition of their work; Embrace Farm for its support to those who have lost loved ones as a result of farm tragedies, and for Strange Boat, whose organ transplant work had helped many.

First established in 1923, AgSoc is one of the largest societies at University College Dublin and has a long history of donating substantial sums to worthy causes.

Since 2017, AgSoc has society raised almost €200,000 for charities and good causes.

By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations