Lifestart staff, past and present, funders and community representatives gathered last Friday in An Grianan Hotel, Burt to celebrate 25 years of providing family support in Donegal.
Based in Newtowncunningham, Lifestart Services CLG is a strengths-based home-visiting organisation delivering child development information, parenting education, parenting support and family support to parents of children from pre-birth up to 12 years of age.
Dolores McGuinness, a founding member of Lifestart spoke and thanked everyone present for their commitment to parents and children in the county and for valuing the importance of the home learning environment.
Phyl O Sullivan and Ann Toner were both honoured at the event and congratulated on their upcoming retirements after 25 and 20 years respectively.
Mary Walker Callaghan, Regional Manager, Lifestart Services, thanked both ladies for their years of hard work and dedication to Lifestart and thanked them for the positive change they made to the lives of so many parents and children.
Several presentations were made to Phyl and Ann from Mary McGowan, Chairperson of Lifestart Services, Nicola Harvey from PPFS, Tusla and from the staff team.
Flowers and gifts were also presented to Mary Walker Callaghan to acknowledge the 25-year Anniversary, from the Lifestart Foundation, Donegal Parenting & Family Support Service and from the Board of Lifestart Services.
It was a lovely event, catching up with old friends and colleagues and reminiscing over the past 25 years.
Thank you to everyone who attended and to the An Grianan Hotel and staff who were so helpful and accommodating and to the chef for an excellent meal and to Paul O Sullivan from Donegal Online for all the photos.