Derek O’Neill is known by his friends, family and colleagues as one of the most humble and genuine people you will ever meet. Yet his extraordinary accomplishments are being acknowledged at the level of the most widely recognized celebrities in the world, including Simon Cowell, Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn, Bob Hope, Sammy Davis Jr, Jerry Lewis and Sir Winston Churchill. How does a humble man from Tallaght, Ireland skyrocket to the level of celebrity, seemingly out of nowhere? Through staunch dedication to work that brings genuine and much needed harmony to our world, just when we need it the most.
On May 6th, 2012 Variety International, the largest children’s charity in the world with 43 chapters across 13 countries, awarded Derek O’Neill with the prestigious Humanitarian Award at the World Conference in Dublin, Ireland. X-Factor judge Louis Walsh celebrated Derek by presenting him with the award, while Derek’s acceptance speech resonated deeply among the 500 attendees, many calling it a “world call to charity”. His speech continues to reverberate through the web as more people see the recording of it online. It was when Derek’s accomplishments were brought to the attention of Monty Hall, television host and Chairman of Variety International in Los Angeles, that it was decided by Variety to bring worldwide attention to his extraordinary work and philosophies.
Derek’s charitable projects extend through 11 countries around the world and continue to grow every day. He also travels the world to host workshops for thousands of people looking to better their lives, and consults with prominent politicians, celebrities, and successful business leaders, helping them overcome their personal struggles and leading them to live a more balanced life. As if that weren’t enough, he is now authoring a new series of books, and motivates thousands of people every week through his highly acclaimed radio talk show, “The Way with Derek O’Neill” which broadcasts live on Mondays at 9am PST on the VoiceAmerica Variety Channel.
Derek O’Neill has been a well-kept secret until now. It is time the world hears what he has to say, and thanks to organizations like Variety International, and other opportunities for Derek to reach and inspire an even wider audience, we can all expect to see a lot more from Derek in the coming months and years.
Enjoy Derek’s moving acceptance speech below.
