It has been announced that over a million children and their families will benefit from donations to the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal.
169 grants, totalling €5 million, will be distributed following the generosity of Late Late Toy Show viewers last December.
The grants will support the work of registered charities and community groups across the island of Ireland.
The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal began in 2020 and was inspired by the story of the late Saoirse Ruane from Kiltullagh, Co Galway, who won the hearts of the nation when she appeared on The Late Late Toy Show.
Since its inception, the Toy Show Appeal has raised over €26 million.
Announcing the grants, RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst said: "The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal is one of RTÉ's most important initiatives - we are humbled by and grateful for the generosity of our Late Late Toy Show audience.
"Your continued support has ensured that the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal will continue to make a positive difference to the lives of thousands of children and their families, across the island, north and south.
"The memory of Saoirse Ruane lives on with every annual RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, as thousands of young lives are transformed year after year."
The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, in partnership with Community Foundation Ireland, has also announced that four charities - Exchange House, The Crann Centre CLG, The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation, and Women's Aid - are to receive transformative grants of between €95,000 and €140,000 each.
The remainder of the donations will be split amongst 165 charities across the island of Ireland by charity partner Community Foundation Ireland who manage the grant process on behalf of RTÉ and its viewers.
Other recipients include Pieta House, The Saoirse Foundation (Bumbleance), Oscar's Kids Ireland, Nasc the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre, and the Irish Aerial Creation Centre.
Over £325,000 has been awarded to 20 charities and organisations in Northern Ireland including Rainbow Child and Family Centre, The Cedar Foundation, In Your Space Circus, Lightyear Foundation, and Sticky Fingers.
Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland, said: "Turning the huge generosity of The Late Late Show viewers into actions that support children and families in every county is a huge honour and one which all of us at Community Foundation Ireland are immensely proud.
"Once again, we have used both our expertise as a grant-making philanthropic hub of 25 years as well as insights from communities, advocates, and researchers to deliver grants that deliver positive impacts and results.
"Those insights allow us to respond to both long-standing and emerging challenges. Congratulations to all who have been successful. Your work with families will ensure that the magic of the Toy Show will continue to happen every day in our communities."
