A New Zealand charity founded in memory of a Raphoe man has presented cancer researchers with a cheque for $1 million.
The sum, paid to the Gillies McIndoe Research Centre in Wellington, is the largest single donation ever made by the Hugo Green Charitable Trust.
The Trust has just published its fifth annual report, detailing payments totalling $2,214,750 that have been made to a range of good causes over the past 12 months.
It brings to over $14 million the total paid out since the charity was set up by Maryanne Green, Hugh Green’s eldest daughter, in 2017.
Born in Raphoe in 1931, Hugh Green was the fifth of eight children.
He endured great hardship through his early life before moving to New Zealand as a young man.
Through hard graft and a solid nose for business he went on to earn hundreds of millions of dollars, money he used to establish a pattern of philanthropy, giving to those less fortunate than himself.
Following his death in 2012 at the age of 80 his daughter went on to establish the Hugo Green Trust to continue his generous giving and to celebrate his values.
Speaking following the publication of the charity’s latest annual report, Chief Executive and Trustee Aoibheann Monaghan said, “An exciting milestone this year was our largest single donation of $1 million to the Gillies McIndoe Research Centre in Wellington where Doctor Swee Tan is doing ground-breaking research into the treatment of cancer using lowcost, off-the-shelf repurposed drugs.
The Gillies McIndoe Research Institute has become the recipient of the largest ever donation from the Hugo Trust.
“The Hugo team are inspired by Swee’s passion and we are eager to see the results of his trials that could lead to a paradigm shift in the treatment of cancer and other diseases.”
A second beneficiary over the past year was the Surgical and Translational Research Centre (STaR) at Auckland University. It received $250,000, taking the total donated by the Hugo Trust to $1 million towards research in the field of pancreatic cancer.
Outlining others that are better off thanks to the Trust, its Chairman Mark Owens said, “We have also made a donation of $250,000 to the Auckland Medical Research Fund, taking their total to $1m likewise and also tagged for research into pancreatic cancer.
“We are hoping that our young scientists can bring the world’s best practices for the treatment of this disease to New Zealand. These and other donations have taken our total to medical research this year to $1,296,900.
“A donation that has been a huge success in a different way is the Hugo Bridge linking Clyde to Cromwell on the Dunstan Bike Trail. The business case to build the trail relied on 7,000 riders per year, but the reality is that since opening over 72,000 Kiwis and visitors have ridden the 55km trail.”
Hugh Green left his native Raphoe with barely a penny in his pocket. He became a self-made multi-millionaire and his money continues to change lives to this day.
Over the years large sums of Hugh Green’s money have flowed back to Ireland.
In 2020 and 2021 the organisation chose the St Eunan’s Cathedral Restoration Fund and Letterkenny Youth and Community Club as two of its beneficiaries.
In September 2020 Dean Arthur Barrett was presented with a cheque for €10,000 for the renovation of St Eunan’s Cathedral while last year €20,000 was presented to the Letterkenny youth club as part of its plans to redevelop the old Devlin Hall building.
Two organisations in the Tyrone village of Augher – St McCartan’s chapel and St Patrick’s Primary School Aughadarragh – split evenly a donation of €60,000.
Chief Executive Aoibheann Monaghan said Hugh Green’s legacy will live on in the good work being done by the Trust and by those who support it.
“Thank you to our Hugo Friends and Hugh’s family and friends for referring many great charities to us throughout the year.
“If you know of a needy cause and you think we might be able to help please don’t hesitate to reach out,” Ms Monaghan added.
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