Toy Show raises €40k for Kidare charity
Clinical Service Manager Dana Katz Murphy, pictured with her client Conn, at the Child Development Centre in Kildare town
The Kildare town based social enterprise and charity, Sensational Kids, has been awarded €40,000 from the RTÉ Toy Show’s Appeal Fund by Community Foundation Ireland, which has raised over €26 million for children’s charities across the island of Ireland to date.
This grant will fund a number of therapy programmes for disadvantaged children, delivering intervention at a critical developmental stage.
This will help to change children’s lives for good. The therapy programmes will be facilitated across Sensational Kids’ Child Development Centres in Kildare, Cork, Mayo and Monaghan.
“This funding will provide life-changing early intervention therapy for children with additional needs, helping them develop essential skills, build resilience and improve their mental and physical wellbeing," said Newbridge native Karen Leigh, founder and CEO of Sensational Kids.
“Without timely support, these children face lifelong barriers to communication, learning and independence, increasing family stress and reliance on public services. Early intervention prevents challenges from escalating, empowering children to reach their full potential.
“We are very grateful that the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal and Community Foundation Ireland have confidence in us to deliver for families and children across many communities in Ireland."
The 1,579 sqm (17,000 sq ft) National Child Development Centre is under construction on Grey Abbey Road by Sensational Kids, a charity established 18 years ago in Kildare Town Business Park by Ms Leigh, following her research into therapeutic aids for her son in the US.
Sensational Kids has directly supported over 10,000 children from all over Ireland through their Child Development Centres. Sensational Kids’ mission is to ensure that no child is left waiting for life-changing therapeutic support.
