The Legacy Portal
2026/27 Annual Appeal
Our Center. Our Future.
Help us raise $100,000 to preserve and improve the historic home of Irish culture in Chicago — and the first $25,000 will be matched dollar for dollar.
Donate to the Annual AppealA Letter from Our President
Dear Friends,
It is hard to believe that I am beginning my third year as President of the Irish American Heritage Center Board of Directors. As summer comes to a close and we look ahead to fall and winter, I am reminded of just how important the IAHC is to so many people. It is a place where friends and families gather, where music and culture come to life, where we share a meal or a drink, and where countless memories are made.
We are excited about what lies ahead as we continue to grow and expand the ways we celebrate and share Irish culture through music, theatre, literature, education, and community events.
Over the past year, thanks to the generosity of our members, donors, volunteers, and friends, we have been able to make a number of important improvements throughout the Center. As you walk through the building, you can already see the impact of that support, including:
- Restoring and improving the main entrance and public spaces, particularly the front office
- Refinishing floors throughout several heavily used rooms
- Completing important plumbing, painting, and exterior improvements
- Completing a major technology and Wi-Fi upgrade, while saving thousands of dollars through donated labor
- Beginning work on our outdoor patio, which is progressing quickly
These improvements matter because what happens inside the IAHC matters.
This is where we gather with family and friends, celebrate our heritage, welcome visitors, support Irish arts and culture, share our traditions, and help ensure those traditions continue for generations to come. All of that depends on having a building that is safe, welcoming, comfortable, and prepared to serve our community.
This is our Center, and its future is in our hands.
This Year's Goal
$100,000
To continue investing in the building and spaces that make everything we do possible.
Matching Gift Challenge
Thanks to the generosity of one of our members, the first $25,000 raised will be matched dollar for dollar.
All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Every Gift Matters
Whether your gift is $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $2,500, $5,000, or more, every contribution brings us closer to our $100,000 goal.
Where Your Gift Goes
Projects This Year's Appeal
Will Complete
These projects may not always be the most visible or glamorous, but they are essential. They protect the investment made by the generations who came before us and help ensure that the IAHC remains a strong home for Irish culture and community for generations to come.
Building tuck-pointing to protect and preserve the exterior of our historic facility
Replacement of the Room 109 floor
Refinishing the Fifth Province Pub and Hall floors, among the most heavily used and recognizable spaces in the Center
Sealing our parking lots to extend their useful life and help prevent more costly repairs in the future
New window treatments in designated areas throughout the building
New air-conditioning units in our rental rooms to provide a more comfortable and attractive environment for guests
New tents for outdoor events, helping us expand and improve festivals, concerts, cultural programs, and other community gatherings
Protect Our Home for Future Generations — your support helps ensure the IAHC remains a home for Irish music, culture, literature, education, and community
Give All Year Long
Become a Monthly Donor
You can also support the Center throughout the year by becoming a monthly donor. A recurring gift in any amount provides steady, reliable support that helps us plan ahead and continue investing in the future of the IAHC.
If you have supported the Annual Appeal in the past, thank you. Your generosity has made a real difference, and we hope you will consider renewing your support this year — and increasing your gift if you are able. If you have never made an Annual Appeal gift before, but the Center has been a meaningful place for you and your family, we hope you will consider joining us in preserving it.
The Irish American Heritage Center belongs to all of us. It is more than a building. It is where we celebrate our heritage, hear our music, share our stories, welcome visitors, gather with friends and family, and pass our traditions on to the next generation.
Please join the Board of Directors in supporting this year's Annual Appeal as we work together to raise $100,000 for the future of the Irish American Heritage Center. Every gift, at every level, brings us closer to that goal and helps ensure the Center remains a welcoming and vibrant home for Irish culture and community for generations to come.
Thomas "Tom" Herion
President, IAHC Board of Directors
On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, thank you for your generosity, friendship, and continued commitment to the Irish American Heritage Center. God bless, and Go Irish!
Donate NowPrefer to give by mail? Checks may be made payable to the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Avenue, Chicago, IL 60630. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.