The Association Femmes d'Europe (Women of Europe Association) is a Brussels based, non-political, philanthropic organisation founded in 1976.
With a membership of around 1,000 women, mostly from the European Union, but some from other countries, who work as volunteers to raise funds for humanitarian projects in Europe and the developing world. The Honorary President is the wife of the President of the European Commission.
Last year, at the suggestion of one of it's members, Mrs Anne McClintock, originally from the city but now living Brussels suggested the Association chose the Foyle Hospice as its national project. A sum of €10,000 was donated for the redecoration of two of the family apartments in the Hospice.
This was the first time the group has chosen a project in Northern Ireland, much to the delight of two other members with local connections. Gillie Hinds, a native of Raphoe and former President of the Association and Patricia O'Loughlin, formerly of Waterloo Street who is a member of the Projects Committee.
The Association supports small individual projects which receive little or no government aid, run by people living or working in the local area. In 2007 the funds raised and distributed amounted to almost €355,000. All funds raised are devoted entirely to the causes supported.