In a year filled with deadlines, digital transformation, and nonstop innovation, HPE’s Galway team closed out 2025 with something even more meaningful: a celebration of generosity.
The company’s annual end of year charity raffle held in support of its Charity of the Year, Down Syndrome Galway brought together staff from HPE, onsite colleagues, and partner organisations across the shared campus. With dozens of prizes on offer, the spotlight shone brightest on three top-tier laptops generously donated by HPE.
One laptop was won by a delighted HPE employee. Another went to a staff member from Boston Scientific, whose son is a member of Down Syndrome Galway, making the moment especially heartfelt. But it was the third winning ticket that sparked the story everyone is still talking about.
The name on the ticket belonged to eight-year-old Pippa Devereux, who has Down Syndrome. Pippa lives in Wexford and is a member for the Wexford branch of Down Syndrome Ireland.
Her mother, Gillian Devereux, works for Aviva, one of the companies sharing office space with HPE. Gillian was visiting the Galway office during the run up to the raffle and she decided to enter using Pippa’s name.
When Gillian told Pippa she had won a brand-new laptop, she asked a simple question about what she would like to do with it.
“Can I give it to my Special Needs Assistant?”
At Pippa’s school, support staff often have to borrow devices from other classrooms to help children with additional needs. Pippa wanted her SNA and by extension, the other pupils who rely on that support to have the tools they need right at their fingertips.
For Gillian, the moment was overwhelming.
“This will hugely impact not just Pippa’s learning, but others too,” she shared with the Charity of the Year team. “We’re so grateful for the kindness that made this possible.”
What began as an office raffle ended as a reminder of what community really means. The collaboration between companies, the generosity of employees, and the instinctive kindness of an eight-year-old girl created a ripple effect far beyond the walls of a shared workplace.
As we close the year, Pippa’s choice offers a message worth carrying into the next:
Small acts of generosity whether donating a prize, buying a ticket, or choosing to give rather than receive have the power to make a lasting difference. When communities come together, even the simplest moments can spark something extraordinary.
While not all the money has been counted Hewlett Packard Galway has raised over €55,000 in aid of Down Syndrome Galway this year, €6707 of which came from the end of year raffle. A sincere thank you to anyone and everyone who has contributed through any of our events and especially to the local businesses who provided prizes for our raffle.
