Saturday November 9, 2024

The Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation, the founding organization of the Irish Cultural Center and McClelland Library, is coming up on our major charity event of the year, the Anam Cara (Soul Friend) Gala to be held on Saturday November 9th beginning at 7pm with cocktail hour at 6pm.

We’re looking forward to having you attend this fundraising effort, which supports our mission and goals. Join for what promises to be a great night of dinner, live music and entertainment to showcase what we’re all about, a silent auction, laughter and craic, and a gathering of friends old and new!

There will be two ticket types:
– ICLF Member Ticket – $150
– ICLF Non-Members – $200 (Save $50 on your ticket price by becoming a member HERE)
No physical tickets will be provided, names of all attendees will be added to a list.
NO REFUNDS will be given. Ticket sales END NOVEMBER 1st at 11:55pm.
Attire is formal or cocktail appropriate clothing.

Corporate and Community sponsorship opportunities under awardee information

Your tax-deductible donation to the Irish Cultural Center and McClelland Library will improve access to dynamic Irish culture, arts, and education for people of all ages and backgrounds and will ensure the survival of our beloved Center for many years to come.

See 2024 photo album

HERE

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Introducing our two 2024 Anam Cara Awardees

Michael J. Bidwill

Michael represents his family’s third generation of franchise leadership as the continued ownership of the Arizona Cardinals by the Bidwill family. Beginning with this grandfather, Hall of Famer Charles Bidwill, in 1933. It then passed to Michael’s father Bill Bidwill after the passing of Charles. Michael took ownership in 2019 after the passing of Bill and 13 seasons of being the teams president (2007-2019).

Since taking over as team president in 2007, Bidwill’s leadership has transformed the Cardinals both on and off the field. Of the franchise’s seven all-time postseason wins, five have come with Michael leading the organization. Arizona has played in nine postseason contests over the last 14 seasons, after having appeared in just seven total playoff games prior. Arizona has appeared in the NFC Championship Game twice since 2008 including a victory in the 2008 conference title game that led to the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl appearance (Super Bowl XLIII).

Among Bidwill’s most substantial accomplishments with the Cardinals is the creation of State Farm Stadium. The world-class venue has proved a critical turning point for the franchise, an economic engine for the state of Arizona, and most recently, a crucial resource in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Since State Farm Stadium opened in 2006 it has hosted three Super Bowls and the Cardinals have sold out 144 games at the venue (which is every non-pandemic game played there).

He oversaw the team’s appearance in the ground-breaking Amazon Original series All or Nothing: A Season with the Arizona Cardinals. Produced by NFL Films, the eight-episode series was awarded the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Serialized Sports Documentary in May of 2017.
In January of 2018, Michael was one of five owners named to the NFL’s Player-Owner Committee focused on social and racial justice initiatives. In December of 2014, Commissioner Roger Goodell tapped Bidwill to chair the league’s Conduct Committee. The committee reviews the league’s Personal Conduct Policy at least annually and recommends appropriate changes with advice from outside experts.

In January of 2016, the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame inducted Bidwill and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey into the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame.

Michael Bidwill practiced law for six years as a federal prosecutor but in 1996 returned to the team for which he had once been a ball boy. He served as the Phoenix St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire Grand Marshall in 2016.

Glenda Arnold Walker was born many years ago in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. After graduating from West Virginia Wesleyan College she moved to Phoenix to join her family.

An active member in local and national politics, Glenda’s first political campaign was for her father’s election as County Treasurer in Pennsylvania when she was 10 years old. She became involved in Arizona politics with President Jimmy Carter’s campaign in 1976. She was a Precinct committee person for 44 years and volunteered in over 40 campaigns including those of Governor Bruce Babbitt and Governor Janet Napolitano and several mayors. She was thrilled to be on the rules committee of the 1980 Democrat National Convention for Ted Kennedy and also again as a delegate for the 1992 Convention. The highlight of her political ventures was attending both of President Bill Clinton’s inaugurations.

Glenda Walker

Glenda’s love of Ireland began when she saw the movie The Quiet Man in 1952. She finally took her first of 18 trips there in 1995. She has visited every County and made many friends along the way. Galway, which is her ancestral home, is her favorite place. In fact her license plate even reads Galway 1. After her first trip she attended a Halfway to St Patrick’s Day event at Turf Paradise where she met in McMorrow family. Soon after she became involved in the Irish Foundation of Arizona. She served as Secretary and President and with the help of Jimmy O’Connor the group raised the funds for the Irish Foundation of Arizona gate, designed by Pat McMorrow, here at the Center. She was on the committee for the An Gorta Mor Memorial and remembers when this facility was just a dusty vacant field. She has also served on the ICLF Board. Glenda was also the founding president of The Friends of St Patrick- Arizona Chapter where she served for 5 years. She has visited the Friends of St Patrick facility in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland several times. She delights in taking Director Dr. Tim Campbell to antique shops throughout Arizona when he visits here.

A week after Glenda’s professional retirement, she came to the Center to start a 16-year stent as a docent. It was so much fun meeting people from all over the country and especially visitors from Ireland who were amazed to find a bit of the Emerald Isle in the middle of the desert. Having donated dozens of books to the children’s section of the McClelland Library, she hopes to honor her mother who started the library in her home town in the 1940s.

Glenda was honored to be named Irish Person of the Year in 2020. Due to Covid she also held that title in 2021 and finally got to ride in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in 2022.

Glenda values all the lasting friendships she has made here at The Irish Cultural Center and is pleased to accept this very special honor.

The evenings entertainment by The Black Donnellys

We are delighted to announce that The Black Donnelly’s will be performing LIVE and IN PERSON again this year! They are hot off the press after just having won the 2021 Emmy for Best Documentary for their documentary ”An Irish Story, This Is My Home”. It will be another performance not to be missed!

The Black Donnellys are a highly-regarded and Guinness World Record-breaking band from Dublin. Currently based in Las Vegas, The Black Donnellys are resident musicians at Rí Rá Irish Pub at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, located on the infamous Las Vegas Strip. The Band consist of award winning Singer/Songwriter Dave Rooney And Guinness World Record Breaking Guitarist Dave Browne