The flyer for the upcoming Celtic Cruise
By Irish Echo Staff
With the Statue of Liberty as its backdrop, the Emerald Isle Immigration Center will celebrate its nearly three decades of service to the Irish and immigrant communities with a Celtic Cruise around Manhattan this coming Wednesday, June 14.
The Celtic Cruise has grown over the past five years to be one of the immigration center’s biggest fundraisers, and in tandem with Division 7 Ancient Order of Hibernians, raises critical awareness needed to support the non-profit organization’s efforts to provide information, education, employment and social services to newcomers to the United States.
“We’re helping the next generation of immigrants to our city,” said Siobhan Dennehy, EIIC Executive Director.
“We answer immigration questions, questions about citizenship, about renewals of green cards, staying in status, being sponsored and much, much more. We serve seventy plus different nationalities with all kinds of immigration services. The need is there.”
"This is Division Seven’s fifth cruise to benefit the Emerald Isle Immigration Center,” said John Tully, Division 7 event chair.
“We are proud to do what we can to benefit such a worthy charity. Now more than ever our Irish immigrant community needs the broad range of support provided by the Emerald Isle and we are happy to work on such a grand event for such a great cause.”
With offices in Queens and the Bronx, EIIC has grown far beyond its original mission to provide immigration aid to only Irish immigrants.
Today, said a release, it provides meals to the homebound, insurance enrollments, employment information, educational programs and English language classes to immigrants from dozens and dozens of different countries.
Added the release: “However, the challenges presented to us today are bigger than ever before. We have witnessed a tremendous upsurge in demand for our legal services.
“We are currently already booked with appointments until September 2017. Clients express their concerns to us daily about their lack of immigration status.
“Furthermore, more funding is needed for our ESL/Citizenship classes to ensure that we will continue to provide the necessary language skills to our students as well as to inform them about their rights.”
The cruise aboard the three-story “Spirit of New York” includes dinner, drinks and entertainment from sought-after Irish bands including Celtic Cross, Padraig Allen & McLean Avenue Band, the Shay Mack Band and Celtic Blend, along with some surprise guest artists and musicians.
Tickets to the cruise are $125 and can be purchased at: www.celticcharity.com or the EIIC website at www.eiic.org offering general admission (no assigned seating).
A limited number of VIP table reservations for eight guests are available for $1,200 and are selling fast.
Tickets prices will rise on the day to $135. Sponsorship package pricing begins at $2,500. For more information contact: Siobhan Dennehy, 718-478-5502, Ext. 206 or info@eiic.org.
