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“I leaned over the edge to let anyone see and touch the medal that Northern Ireland had brought away from the Olympics. It wasn’t mine, it was ours.”
The Irish American Partnership is proud to stand alongside the Mary Peters Trust, Northern Ireland’s leading charity for aspiring young athletes.
Since its founding in 1975 by Northern Ireland’s first Olympic gold medalist Lady Mary Peters, the Mary Peters Trust has provided vital financial assistance and personal development support to promising athletes across a wide range of sporting disciplines. For 50 years, the Trust has served as a launch pad for future champions, helping young people pursue excellence while building confidence, discipline, and leadership skills.
At the heart of the Mary Peters Trust is a simple but powerful belief: talent deserves opportunity. The Trust works to remove financial barriers that often prevent young athletes from reaching their full potential. By offering support for coaching, equipment, and competition fees, the Trust empowers young people to pursue their goals and grow into leaders within their communities.
The Trust’s origins are deeply personal, born out of Mary Peters’ own appreciation of the generosity of others which helped lead to her success. Having been a scholarship recipient herself, Lady Mary understood the importance of having external support, both financially and symbolically. She also understood the power of sport in raising the profile of Northern Ireland.
Lady Mary Peters founded the organization after winning gold in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Reflecting on her win, Lady Mary shared: “By Munich I was 33, and we were going through the worst years of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Over 500 people died that year. I didn’t have a track to run on – it was full of potholes. But I went to Munich believing I could win. For the first time in my life, I really, really wanted to win to raise the profile of Northern Ireland as a positive place.” That moment of triumph during the darkest days of the Troubles planted the seeds for the Trust: a beacon of hope and excellence born out of gratitude and resilience.
“Established to create an on-going and meaningful commemoration of my Gold Medal win in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, we are Northern Ireland’s leading sporting charity. We help young people, both disabled and able-bodied, achieve their sporting dreams and ambitions.”
That same spirit of resilience and leadership was celebrated earlier this year when Lady Mary Peters was honored at the Partnership’s Nollaig na mBan Women’s Leadership Celebration in Washington, D.C. Lady Mary received a warm and enthusiastic reception as she shared the remarkable story of her Olympic victory—one that not only reflected her personal courage but also became a symbol of hope for a divided Northern Ireland.
In recognition of her extraordinary impact and commitment to youth development, the Partnership was proud to award a $10,000 grant to the Mary Peters Trust, helping to further its mission of supporting young athletes throughout Northern Ireland. With continued investment from donors like you, the Trust is able to ensure that future generations have the tools, mentorship, and support they need to succeed—not only in sport, but in life.
