Supported by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises since 2012, the non-profit German foundation “Stiftunglife” raised 1.2 million EUR in 2013, of that amount 450,000 EUR came from Hapag-Loyd Cruises. More than 110,000 EUR was granted to emergency aid in the Philippines. The remaining goes to supporting “Swimming Doctors,” the “Antarctic Heritage Trust” and other non-profit projects.
“I am absolutely delighted by the tremendous support received from our guests and employees,” said Karl J. Pojer, Chief Executive of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The traditional auctioning of nautical charts at the end of each cruise, plus donations from guests, raised almost 450,000 EUR in 2013. Ninety percent of the total funds given for emergency aid to the Philippines came from donations made by employees and guests of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
“Within ten days after the typhoon, we were able to provide emergency financial aid for affected Filipino families. We then visited the families of crew members, made notes of the damages, and provided further financial support. We are using the remaining sum to rebuild a school,” says Jürgen Gessner, who founded Stiftunglife in 1989.
The co-operation between Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Stiftunglife concentrates on three areas: “Protecting the Environment,” “Helping Helpers” and “Promoting Young People.” All proceeds benefit Stiftunglife projects, since the foundation’s administrative costs are funded privately, 100 percent of all donations flow directly into the project work. The foundation is fully transparent, with accounts published on the internet. Donations to Stiftunglife are used to support projects such as “Swimming Doctors,” which make it possible to provide regular medical care, in particular for pregnant women and children in the hard-to-reach Myanmar delta. Starting in Spring 2014 a new (swimming doctors) ship will guarantee transport for medics and therefore guarantees medical treatment for the inhabitants in the delta. The “Antarctic Heritage Trust” has set itself the goal of conserving the unique natural heritage of the Antarctic and is supported in its work by Stiftunglife and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
