Achievements

April 2016 – Donated $2,000.00 to the Boxing Club in Southill.

September 25, 2015 – PINCH Foundation Executive Director, Frank Sullivan, said, “We are privileged and honored to present the 2015, Jack Leary Quiet Leadership award to Billy Higgins.

September 2015 – Donated a $5,000.00 check to the Le Cheile National School, JaJonesborough, Ireland.

April 5, 2015 – Donated $5,000.00 to the Mercy Community College

October 2014 – Billy Higgins received the Golden Bridges Award from the Irish Echo

June 13, 2014 – Donated $1,000.00 to the Southill Junior School

March 17th 2014 visit to Southill Junior School. Check presented to Southill Jr School With Boston City Cli. President Bill Linehan. Read More

March 14, 2014 – Donated $2,000.00 to the Southill Junior School

Spring 2014 – Billy Higgins awarded the pretigious Benemerenti medal from Pope Francis through recommendations from parish priest of Southill, Fr Pat Hogan, the Southill community and principal of the Southill Junior, Marie Rigney.

The Benemerenti medal is an honour awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church. Originally established as an award to soldiers in the Papal Army, the medal was later extended to the clergy and the laity for service to the church.

December 9, 2013 – Donated $1,000.00 to the Southill Junior School

December 9, 2013 – Donated $1,500.00 to the Galvone National School

March 7, 2013 – Donated $1,000.00 to the Galvone National School

December 2012 Billy Higgins was at the Southill Junior School to present a cheque for $7,500. The regeneration program has matched the funds to bring the amount to $15,000. [View Article]

Decenber 14, 2012 – Donated $1,000.00 to the South Side Boxing Club

December 12, 2011 – We presented a generous check for $10,000 to help the Southill Junior School in funding after school clubs to help improve the quality of the activities and employ personel with appropriate skills and talents. The clubs run 3 afternoon for the younger kids and 4 afternoons for the 6 to 8 year olds.

July 2008, Holy Trinity Abbey Choir came to Boston to sing at local churches, they helped raise $20,000.00. Half stayed in Boston for the Catholic Schools & $10,000.00 went to Ireland and 4 schools in Adare, and $5,000.00 to the Southill Jr School Limerick Ireland.

Read more about the event at “12 Days in Boston, Special Commemorative Edition“

In 2004, in Ireland, the Southill Jr School continued the golf classic with a tournament in Limerick. We had a good group from Boston fly to Ireland for this event. Read more about the “Irish Golf Classic” events.

In 2002 Senator Jack Hart traveled to Ireland for a golf tournament to help raise money for the Saint Kieran’s Boys National School. It was put together by Principle Kevin Haugh & Keith Wiseman.
This was the beginning of the Limerick-Boston Golf Classic.

From 1992 to 2002 some small amount of money was also sent to the Southill Jr School

In 1991 Mayor Raymond L Flynn who was involved with the program from the very beginning, he traveled to Ireland for a very special fundraiser. With Rays help, we were able to put a computer room in the Southill Jr School. Thank You Ray!

In 1989 we brought a boxing & basketball team to Ireland, they spent ten days in Southill with there new found friends, these young kids were selected from different housing developments all across the city of Boston. They all became the best of friends. Thank you, George Kimball, Ed Kelly, Jim Blanchard, Leo Boucher. And the list goes on.

In 1988 we brought to Limerick two Boston Police officers, who started the Police Athletic League (PAL) in Boston, Cops & kids working together through sports. Now in Ireland called the Grader Athletic Program (GAP). This a great program to help brake down the barriers between cops & kids.

In 1987 we paid $15,000.00 to help start and revive the lost art of Limerick lace and create some much needed jobs for some young adults.

In 1987 we gave money to Holy Family Parish to help fix the roof, paint, and a specal donation to help with the fence around the church.

In 1986 we raised $42,000.00 to help bring 96 children out of Southill to Boston, where they sang in local churches and stayed with host families for three weeks, this was to raise money for the children of Southill.

In 1986 we opened the Boxing club & sent over a lot of Boxing gear.

In 1986 we gave a large some of money to help renovate the now very successful Southill House.

In 1986 we paid for two Police officers and 4 boys ages 15 to 16 years old to come to Boston and run in the Marathon they had a great week and I know that was a great time in there lives. Thank you, Gerry Rigney, John Scanlon.

In 1985 we raised $15,000.00 to help re-build the community center for the children of Southill.
This money was funneled through the Ireland Fund.

In 1985 we brought 10 children to Ireland for 10 days, they stayed with the families in Southill.
At the time (1985), there was 35% unemployment in Limerick, over 2500 children in Southill, and high school graduation was at about 1%. Today we are struggling with an enormous drug & gang problem.

Between 1985 and 1992 we were exchanging children from Boston & Ireland.
Along with Ed Kelly, Jim Blanchard, Leo Boucher, My good friend Det. Henry Berlo, and the list goes on.
With their help, we brought boxing, basketball, and groups of children to Ireland.

We have been raising money since 1985.

We brought one boy from Southill to Harvard University for the summer Wrestling program. One boy went to Boston College for a summer soccer camp, two girls to Salem State Collage for nursing, and one girl to Endicott College and off to Brandies University.

Each year the graduating class receives a golf shirt and is taken on a day trip with a nice dinner.

After my last trip to Southill Limerick Ireland, I realize the need to put this web site together with the hope of making people aware of the enormous problem there is in Southill today. My promise to you is the money raised will be directed towards the children of Southill, mainly towards education.