In the year since March 2002 when Tesco Ireland chose down syndrome Ireland, a non government funded organisation, to be their 'Charity of the Year' for the Sep 2002 to Aug 2003 period, we have gained a confidence that encourages us to change positively and this is creating a direct impact on the positive futures of people with Down syndrome.

Being chosen as Tesco Ireland's 'Charity of the Year' made us realise that we would have to match their efforts with a response that would support those efforts and enable us to benefit from the immense opportunities Tesco Ireland are delivering.

The most important aspects are the promotion of real Independence support through employment, character and self-esteem building and not least their fundraising.

With this great effort driven unceasingly by Tesco Ireland's Kathleen Fitzsimons, we have seen a platform created for us that a dedicated PR / Advertising campaign could never have achieved in terms of public awareness and a commitment from their staff nationwide to consistently go above and beyond the level of expectation in them as employees.

They have embraced willingly and without question a commitment to support people with Down syndrome,

• By constantly telling their customers they genuinely support people with a disability, Tesco Ireland give a kind and humane endorsement that cannot be measured or valued in terms of belief, support and acceptance.



• By accepting people with Down syndrome and other disabilities as equals, working alongside their peers, Tesco Ireland demonstrate a genuine welcome of confidence, equality and inclusiveness.



• By including people with Down syndrome and other disabilities in their staff's lives as they work with them, they give them real friends as well as workmates, something everyone of us wants from our time in employment.



• By teaching, training and rewarding them fairly on performance, Tesco Ireland helps to develop their abilities and self-esteem and gives them the confidence to expand the horizons of their own lives.



• By contributing to the content of our Path to Independence video that highlights people with Down syndrome working in their stores, a medium we will use to show hundreds of other employers just how 'Can Do' people with Down syndrome are.



• By using their #1 Irish retailer branches for their 15,000+ staff to show their unconditional support for people with Down syndrome,



• By giving genuine support to our Boyne Valley 'Honey Days' and HB Ice Cream Sunday campaigns
• By running their own fundraising events they get their customers to buy into
• By running charity balls, balloon bursts and even jumping out of airplanes to raise funds, collecting in excess of €500,000 for Down Syndrome in the last 9 months

For this commitment, friendship and support to people with Down syndrome we express our deep gratitude and appreciation to all Tesco Ireland staff members.

Tesco Ireland has given Down Syndrome Ireland a national awareness platform we will build on and the confidence to say to Government and the public - look at the belief and care 15,000+ Tesco staff have and see what they're delivering - can you do the same please?

Tesco Ireland's efforts will give Down Syndrome Ireland our largest ever piece of funding and it will enable us to create a solid foundation for supporting the lives of our people through the 21st century. With this new confidence and funds to be provided we have created a real centre of excellence with the launch of our National Resource Centre.

We will continue to demonstrate to those whose obligation and duty it is how they must match the honesty, generosity and social awareness of Tesco Ireland, The Boyne Valley Honey Company and Unilever Bestfoods Ireland and who do great things willingly that in reality they are not obliged to do.

www.tesco.ie