A bottle of wine here, a luxury ballpoint pen there – Christmas is the time for gift-giving, both privately and as a means of expressing thanks to customers and business partners. This year, VOCO has decided to promote sustainability and donate €20,000 to the child welfare organisation UNICEF instead of sending material gifts.
The decision to participate in the “Donations instead of presents” campaign was made for a good reason. “We are involved with a range of charitable causes all year around. Going without presents at Christmas and making a contribution to the well-being of children in desperate need instead is the perfect expression of our understanding of care. Furthermore, we are convinced that our customers and business partners will also be happy to support this perspective,” explained Ines Plaumann-Sauerbier and Olaf Sauerbier (VOCO Management).
Elke Schmidt (Stade), a voluntary worker at UNICEF, accepted the generous donation intended for the “Children in Crisis Regions” project on behalf of the aid organisation. “Among other things, we ensure children have warm clothing, blankets, heating fuels, clean drinking water and medicine as well as trying to ensure safe accommodation is available,” said Elke Schmidt. She was delighted by VOCO’s involvement. “For many people, a Christmas present is a nice gesture, but by no means essential to their survival. This donation, however, will offer children in the direst of need the possibility of a better future.”