PRESS RELEASE

22ndNovember 2012

Immediate release.

PEOPLE MOST THANKFUL FOR THEIR PARTNERS

Irish Hospice Foundation Thank You Day Survey Reveals

Today, (22nd November),theIrish Hospice Foundation IHF hopes to get the whole country saying “Thank You” for all that is good in their lives.Now in its third year, the Thank You Daysurveyrevealedthat people would most like to thank their partner or spouse. The previous two years, mothers topped the poll, but this year they slipped to second place. Partners (46.9%) were followed by appreciation for our mothers (28.1%) and our children (7.8%) and friends (7.8%).

The survey captures who people are most grateful to, what famous figure - either living or dead - that they most appreciate and what they are thankful for in their lives.

Famous people to feature in the list include Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Oscar Wilde, Dermot Morgan, Maeve Binchy,Elvis, The Beatles, Bono, Luke Kelly, John Lennon, and Glen Hansard.

People are most grateful for family, loved ones and their health. Some 49.3% of people were grateful to a loved one “for always being there.”

Most people (39.4%) say thank you verbally – in person or on the phone while 20.2% send a text and 18.3% send a Thank You Card, with the remaining (22.1%) sending flowers, a gift or an email.

Sharon Foley, CEO of the IHF, stated; “Thank You Day offers an opportunity for people to simply say ‘Thank You’ - to anyone and for anything. The IHF wants to encourage people all over Ireland to take stock and to reach out to the people in their lives who have made a difference through a significant life event or something as simple as a kind word or act. The IHF itself is very grateful for the public support of our work, and would extend a big thank you to our supporters.”

Scientific research has shown that people who express their gratitude daily are 25% happier and significantly healthier than those who don’t—and doing so takes as little as a minute a day.Being grateful can also add seven years to your life and you can live life with decreased depression, stress, loneliness and anxiety.

The Thank You Day survey has been running for the past week and these are the initial set of results. The survey will remain open for another week and people can visit to take part.

A key aim of Thank You Day is to raise funds for the IHF so there are a range of gifts available for purchase to thank that special person in your life. Full details of those are available from

These gifts include the "The Thank You Book" (a gratitude journal for everything that is positive and great in your life!), Celebrating What Truly Matters: Powers Irish Whiskey Short Story Collection Volume Two a compilation of short stories, and a fantastic range of Thank You Cards.

- Ends -

For more information, please contact:

Kirana Bhagwan, Communications Coordinator, The Irish Hospice Foundation.

Mobile: 087-654 89 15 or

Caroline Lynch, Head of Communications and Advocacy, The Irish Hospice Foundation.

Mobile: 087-123 75 86 or

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