Former Republic of Ireland football star Niall Quinn has reached his target of £1 million for charity following his charity testimonial match in Sunderland last May.
The infectious disease department at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, will receive a grant of £450,000 from the funds raised. The same amount will be donated to Sunderland Royal Hospital, with the remaining funds going to GOAL, which is running a charity for street children in Calcutta.
Quinn presented the cheques at half-time at the Sunderland-Spurs match yesterday as he also announced his retirement.
"To be able to announce that the target of raising £1million for charity has been reached as a result of bringing together the supporters of my club and country is a marvellous feeling," he said yesterday.
A spokesman for Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children thanked Quinn for his "exceptional kindness and generosity of spirit".
"With Niall Quinn's generous support, we can immediately set about fulfilling an ambition to provide a physical base for an enhanced ambulatory service to include extra clinics, clinical assessments rooms and a parent and child education centre".
The infectious diseases department at Crumlin provides a service for children with a wide range of specific infections such as hepatitis, HIV and TB and for children who are less able to fight infection.
Sunderland Royal Hospital will use the funds to build a new children's outpatient unit.
Dr Jeff Lawson, clinical director at the hospital, said: "Niall's generosity has been well documented, but what this gift means for local children and their families - many of whom are fans of Niall and the club - cannot be overstated."
The chief executive of GOAL, Mr John O'Shea, has encouraged other footballers use their profile in a similar way.
"Niall's generosity should serve as an example to other top-class football stars so the benefits which will accrue from this action will be many."
GOAL will donate the funds to street projects in Calcutta.
"Niall's gesture will enable many children to live a meaningful life, children who otherwise would have to live a precarious existence in slums and dumps in Calcutta will now be given an opportunity to live like human beings," Mr O'Shea said.