STEPHEN-GATELY.ORG
"I'm glad I've helped to inspire people
and I hope I can carry on doing that.."
CHARITY
It's no secret that Stephen's heart was even bigger than his smile. From teaching dance to younger kids at his community center in Dublin in his youth to becoming an ambassador for Caudwell Children, Stephen had always wanted to help others from a very young age. On this page you will find just a few of the charity events he's attended over the years, some of the charities he's helped and the ones closest to his heart.
WITH BOYZONE
BBC Children in Need is the BBC's UK charity. It focuses on helping disadvantaged children and young people in the UK and "support small and large organisations which empower children and extend their life choices". The first broadcast of the show took place in November 1980 when over 1 million pounds was raised. If you want to donate, click here.
1995
1995
1996
1997
1998
1998
2007
2007
2008
2008
Boyzone attended many of the BBC Children in Need fundraising appeals since the early days of the band, performing during the annual show in November and helping to raise money for the charity. In 1997, Boyzone featured on the official Children in Need charity single for that year, Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day', appearing in the video and performing the song live on the appeal show.
WITH BOYZONE & ON HIS OWN
Childline is a telephone line for children and young adults under 19 in the UK providing help and counsel to those who need it. Counsellors can be reached 24/7 and help deal with issues such as bullying, parents divorce, child abuse or mental illness and many others. While the helpline itself was launched in 1986, the Childline charity concerts, during which pop music acts help raise money for charity, only began to take place in Dublin from 1997.
1998
2006
1999
2007
2001
2008
Boyzone attended the Childline concert for the first time in 1998 for the 10th birthday celebration night where they performed a few of their songs and Stephen got to perform 'Shooting Star'. In 1999, Stephen co-hosted the show with Denise Van Outen. Stephen then attended the 2001 concert and performed his own songs, 'New Beginning', 'I Believe' and 'Stay'. In 2006 and 2007, Stephen co-hosted the show again, with his bandmate Keith in 2006 and with Brian McFadden the following year. Along with his hosting duties, Stephen also performed No Matter What with G4 in 2007.
WITH BOYZONE
Comic Relief is a charity based in the UK whose main purpose is to fight poverty in the UK and internationally by funding projects and organisations supporting vulnerable people and communities. Comic Relief was launched in 1985 while its main telethon and appeal program, officially named Red Nose Day, came about in 1988. During one special day in March, people across the UK raise money at home, in school or at work and celebrities get involved in various events to raise awareness and money as well.
1997
1999
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1999
1999
1999
Boyzone's story with Comic Relief began in 1997 when they did a special performance of Elvis Presley's 'Love Me Tender' on Red Nose Day. In 1999, the boys released that year's Comic Relief charity single 'When The Going Gets Tough', a cover version of Billy Ocean's hit from 1986. The record went straight to #1 in the charts, selling over 600,000 copies in the UK and helping to raise money for the charity.
MISC CHARITY EVENTS & PROJECTS
WITH BOYZONE 1990's
Childliners
1995
D.A.R.E
1996
Childliners
1995
Great Ormond Street Hospital Opening
1998
Hand in Hand for Children
1996
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People In Need Telethon
1998
Help A London Child
1996
Pavarotti & Friends for War Child
1999
During his time with Boyzone, Stephen took part in various charity projects and events to raise awareness or funds for important causes, many of them centered around helping children. From singing 'The Gift Of Christmas' as part of the Childliners (the proceeds of the single going to Childline) from singing with Pavarotti in Italy to help raise funds for War Child, Stephen and the boys used their status as one of the biggest pop act in the 90's to do good.
ON HIS OWN
Caudwell Children was founded in 2000 and is one the largest children's charity in Britain today. The charity works on providing assistance to disabled children across the UK by giving them access to treatments and therapies, services or equipment and help them lead an ordinary and active life. To donate, click here.
2007
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2008
2008
2009
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2009
Stephen was an ambassador for Caudwell Children from 2008 to 2009 but was involved with the charity for a few years before that and attended many fundraising events with Andrew and with Boyzone in 2008. As well as being involved in the charity's main annual fundraiser, Stephen also auctioned a private performance at one of the charity's Christmas ball and raised thousands of pounds for it. In October 2009, Stephen's husband Andrew asked fans and well wishers to donate to Caudwell Children in lieu of sending flowers and £30,000 were subsequently pledged within a few weeks after Stephen's passing.
ON HIS OWN
The Elton John AIDS Foundation is one of the largest AIDS charities in the world. Founded by Sir Elton John in 1992, it has raised more than $400 million to support HIV related programs around the world since it was founded. The foundation hosts numerous fundraising events throughout the year, the main ones being The Academy Award Party in the US and the White Tie & Tiara Ball in the UK. To donate, click here.
2002
2003
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2003
2004
2005
2006
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2006
2007
After Elton John and David Furnish took Stephen under their wings in 2002, the three of them became great friends and Stephen began to attend many of Elton's fundraising events over the years, showing his support for the foundation. He attended all the White Tie & Tiara balls from 2003 to 2007 and other fundraising events such as the Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque party in 2002 and the 'It's A Boy Girl Thing' charity film premiere in 2006, both in aid of the foundation.
The Missing People (formerly the National Missing Persons Helpline) is a british charity helping missing people and/or people who run away and their families. It was founded in 1986 (and registered in 1993) by two sisters, Mary Asprey and Janet Newman. In 1990, they set up a free helpline to offer support to missing people's families. Nowadays, the volunteers help search for missing people and provide specialised support to their loved ones, they help anyone missing try to reconnect with their family and help people who ran away find a safe place to stay.
The charity approached me to be their representative. But my decision to join them was not down to personal experience; I've never been a runaway—although there have been times when I've wanted to disappear…
2007
I'm particularly pleased to be supporting the Runaway Helpline. As part of NMPH, it provides an essential service for vulnerable people in their time of need, and is a vital resource.
2005
Stephen was a patron for the charity. In 2005, he helped to raise awareness during Magic Radio's celebrity show 'Indulgence', an hour long show in which a celebrity was interviewed and played their favourite songs. Stephen's music selection included "Missing" by Everything But The Girl, in recognition of the charity and used his air time to highlight the work of NMPH.
MISC CHARITY EVENTS & PROJECTS
ON HIS OWN
2000
In December 2000, Stephen attended Sargent Christmas Cracker charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of the Sargent Cancer Care for Children, the leading charity providing help and support to children and young people under 25 with cancer. Stephen performed New Beginning & I Believe.
2003
Stephen, Keith and Mikey, amongst other celebrities, became waiters for one evening in December 2003 during a charity dinner at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin where they served food and drinks to VIPs to raise funds for the Grace Nolan Foundation
2002
In July 2002, Stephen attended a charity lunch that benefited the homeless and disadvantaged youth of Ireland.
2005
Stephen attended the Why Not? Charity Auction in November 2005 at the Westbourne Studios in London, in aid of The Aegis Trust's Kimironko Orphan Village Project.
[Not Pictured] Stephen performed Stay at the 'Help A Hallam Child' concert in Manchester in April 2002 in aid of the children's charity Cash For Kids.
2002
In August 2002, Stephen attended Keith's Golf Fundraiser for Autism held at Dublin's City West Hotel in aid of the Irish Autism Alliance. Stephen performed 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' & 'Summertime'.
2006
In April 2006, Stephen was one of the celebrity who contributed artwork to put for auction at the Wave Trauma Centre fundraising event in Belfast. His painting sold for £400.
2002
In September 2002, Stephen attended the Rat Pack Ball in aid of cancer research. Celebrities in attendance, including Mikey Graham, reenacted the original Rat Pack at the Four Season Hotel in Dublin. Stephen starred as Perry Como.
2009
In April 2009, Stephen visited the London zoo to pledge his support to the 21st Century Tiger charity and raise awareness of of the threat of extinction to tigers.
ON HIS OWN
2005
The Marie Keating Foundation was founded in 2001 by Ronan and his siblings after the loss of their mother in 1998 from breast cancer. The charity is the 2nd leading cancer charity in Ireland, providing information and support to people diagnosed with cancer and raising awareness of the disease and the importance of early detection. The foundation regularly holds fundraising events, like the Emeralds & Ivy Ball (in partnership with Cancer Research UK) and partner up with various companies such as Marks & Spencer to campaign for funds. Click here to donate.
2006
2006
2008
Stephen attended the Emeralds & Ivy Ball both in December 2006 and December 2008, showing his support for the foundation. During the fundraising event in 2006, someone pledged to donate £20,000 if Stephen and Ronan sang No Matter What together, which they happily did, making it the first time they sang the song together in 6 years.
WITH BOYZONE
In December 2008, Stephen and the boys attended the annual Masquerade Ball in aid of Irish Autism Action at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, Dublin where they performed of few of their hits. Keith worked closely with Irish Autism Action as one of their patron before he founded his own foundation, the Keith Duffy Foundation. Keith raised over 4 million euros for IAA and helped set up specialized schools around Ireland for kids with autism as well as a diagnostic center. He now helps to raise funds for various children's charities throughout Ireland through his foundation.