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Smurfit MBA Graduate wins Social Entrepreneurs Award 2009

Date: 28 Oct 2009

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland on October 19th announced their 2009 Award Winners at a special ceremony. Guest of Honour was President McAleese. Thirty one social entrepreneurs from throughout the country received Awards ranging from €80,000 each for Level 2 Awardees to €6,000 each for Level 1 Awards winners.

Mary Desmond Vasseghi who this year completed her MBA at UCD Smurfit School received a level 2 award. She will receive support of €40,000 a year for 2 years to help establish and grow her organisation to introduce proactive screening among the young to reduce Sudden Cardiac Death. She will also have access to a personal Advisory Group who will help her with key strategic challenges over the next 2 years.

In May 2005 Mary’s son Darius Vasseghi, aged 18, died from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. He appeared to be a fit and healthy young man, had undergone annual checkups but no specific heart check. Mary discovered that, on average, two young people under the age of 35 die every week in Ireland from Sudden Cardiac Death, causing immeasurable devastation to families and communities. However, she also discovered that many conditions leading to Sudden Cardiac Death can be diagnosed and treated.

Mary set up the Sudden Cardiac Death in the Young support group in 2006 to support affected families and effect change. Support is provided through an informal network offering information on Sudden Cardiac Death, as well as providing direction to formal bereavement support and family screening centres.

Through her work on this issue, Mary realised more could be done and committed to reducing the risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in the young by developing a high quality, affordable Heart Check system in Ireland. Based on international models, where screening has reduced Sudden Cardiac Death by 89%, she now aims to expand the support group to facilitate preventive screening and is advocating for defibrillator placement and specialist CPR training nationwide.

Speaking at the Awards, Sean Coughlan, Chief Executive, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, called on the Government to consider innovation in relation to society as well as business. “Over recent times innovation has emerged as a key driver of our growth and prosperity, with the Irish government believing it will be critical in helping Ireland develop as a smart economy. Social Entrepreneurs Ireland believes that not only does Ireland need a smart economy, it needs a just society. And, like the government, we agree innovation will play a key role in achieving this goal. However we believe it is essential that when looking at innovation we look at it not just in a commercial context but also in a broader societal context.” he said.

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, established in 2004, is a privately funded, not-for-profit organisation that believes that innovation and social change in Ireland will be driven by exceptional people with exceptional ideas. They have developed a support model that helps these social entrepreneurs grow their ideas from concept to reality. For more information about Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, visit http://www.socialentrepreneurs.ie/

 

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