Nesta, a Dublin-based self-storage operator, won the Charity Initiative of the Year award on Oct. 6 during the Federation of European Self Storage Associations (FEDESSA) conference and tradeshow in Barcelona, Spain. The operator was recognized for its “Ball of Life” event, a gala that raised €27,570 to benefit LauraLynn Children's Hospice, Ireland's only facility dedicated to children with life-limiting conditions and offering residential care for young adults with disabilities, according to a company press release.

Held last November at the Hilton Hotel, Charlemont Dublin, the event featured a three-course meal with wine, along with a charity auction, live entertainment, photo booth, prizes and other festivities. Individual tickets were €100, and corporate sponsorships were available for €1,500. The gala drew 270 attendees, the release stated.

"Part of what makes our work so rewarding is how it enables us to work so closely with people and groups in our community," said Brian Hefferon, managing director for Nesta. "Last year's charity ball and auction for LauraLynn Children's Hospice was a tremendous success, and we were truly honored to be able to help out a group that means so much to us.”

Nesta has plans to make “Ball of Life” an annual event, in addition to other charitable endeavors. On Feb. 11, it will host a Valentine’s Day ball at Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin to raise money for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, an organization that works to provide children with protection from violence. “All this [positive attention] deepens our commitment to contributing back to the community and country that are so generous to us,” Hefferon said. “We think our upcoming Valentine's Day ball is going to be another great success."

Founded in 1989, Nesta operates four self-storage locations in Deansgrange, Kylemore, Sandyford and Santry, Ireland. The company changed its name from Need More Space in 2015. It’s part of the Kefron Group, which specializes in secure document- and information-management solutions.

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