Holiday season activities support social projects

December 2011 │ around the globe

Deutschbankers’ social commitment reaches its peak at the end of the year. With various Christmas and winter campaigns, bank employees are dedicating themselves to needy people worldwide.

Traditionally, the Christimas trees at Deutsche Bank branches and offices have a special function. Wish lists are hung on them that were written by needy people in children’s or senior citizen homes, or in facilities for the homeless. Individually or in a team, Deutschbankers meet these wishes and grant joy to people they don’t even know.

The ‘Give a child a smile’ campaign in the UK is based on the same principle, but in digital form. Children growing up in difficult circumstances make wishes on the internet and Deutsche Bank staff comply with them them by clicking on online sellers. Children receive a gift who would otherwise not get any presents.

In the ‘Sponsor a light for Eve’ campaign, Deutschbankers bought lights and coloured ribbons for decorating a Christmas tree in London, thus making a contribution to The Eve Appeal, a Deutsche Bank Charity of the Year in the UK. Eve Appeal devotes itself to improved research and early recognition of gynaecological illnesses.

The other Charity of the Year supported by bank employees is War Child, an organization that helps children in war and crisis areas, for example in Afghanistan. As the winters are extremely cold in Afghanistan, War Child asked for additional support to buy warm clothing and heat energy – and received it. All year round, Deutschbankers support War Child, which helps children, who have no access to education, learn to read and write.

Gifts and clothes for the needy, as well as money for social purposes and charity organisations, are also collected at other Deutsche Bank sites. In Spain, for example, employees donate toys and food. In cooperation with the Cooperación Internacional foundation, the presents are brought to orphanages and women’s shelters, bringing joy to the people there.

The Christmas bazaars in Singapore and Hong Kong, two large Deutsche Bank sites, adhere to a different principle. Deutsche Bank staff there can acquire gifts for themselves and their families that are made by hand by volunteer organisations, which produce goods such as handbags, decorative items and toys, in large part from recycled materials. In Singapore alone, the sale of these products brought in 33,000 Singapore Dollars (approx. 20,000 euros), almost twice as much as in the previous year.

In January, so-called winter feedings (Winterspeisung) take place in Frankfurt churches. For the third time, Deutschbankers are supporting parishes in their efforts to provide hot meals and packed lunches to needy and homeless people. Everyone can support this campaign with a mouse click. For every friend that is told on Facebook, Deutsche Bank is providing one euro of additional support for the winter feedings until January 13. Sharing means helping.

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