Below you can find a selection of the projects and initiatives the KAEFER FOUNDATION has been and is supporting.
Welcome to the KAEFER FOUNDATION
Below you can find a selection of the projects and initiatives the KAEFER FOUNDATION has been and is supporting.
Venuslauf charity event (2022)
Every year in September it is time again for “Venuslauf” – a charity event to raise funds for the fight against cancer. In 2022, more than 2,600 participants from 28 countries joined and covered a total of 31,101 kilometres. The distance has been converted into donations from the KAEFER FOUNDATION to designated cancer charities worldwide.
CEO Sleepout (2022)
The Vinnies CEO Sleepout is a one-night event on one of the longest and coldest nights of the year in Australia. Hundreds of leaders in business, community and government sleep outdoors to support homeless people in Australia or those at risk of homelessness. For the first time, KAEFER colleagues were there, too!
Victor Bogos, Managing Director of KAEFER Integrated Services, and Trent Northover, Chief Operating Officer, joined forces to raise funds for these people. This initiative was also supported by the KAEFER FOUNDATION who provided financial support.
KAEFER Running Team (2022)
In March and April, the KAEFEER Running Team in Bremen took part in the Winter Run Series covering a total of 170 km. For every kilometre, KAEFER donated EUR 1 to the KAEFER FOUNDATION!
Ukraine donation campaign (2022)
In response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the KAEFER FOUNDATION organised an emergency fundraising campaign to support displaced people from across the country and region. Thanks to the amazing contribution of KAEFER colleagues worldwide, a large sum was sent to the UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency) who work with the authorities in Ukraine and neighbouring countries to help organise emergency relief items and shelter to people forced to flee. Additionally, funds were also donated to the SOS Children’s Villages to assist in taking care of children in need in the Ukraine.
Help for the city of Minas Gerais (2022)
In early January, Minas Gerais was again hit with very heavy rainfall which caused severe damage and affected many KAEFER employees at RIP. Through cooperation with the local governments in Itabira and Itabirito in Brazil, the KAEFER FOUNDATION and RIP provided mattresses, water, food baskets as well as general assistance to families which were affected.
“Böllerfrei” initiative (2021)
The KAEFER FOUNDATION supported the ‘Böllerfrei’ initiative from the Deutsche Umwelthilfe (Environmental Action Germany) which aimed to minimise the use of firecrackers especially on New Years Eve. The purpose of the campaign is to reduce the side effects of the explosives on the health of communities, animals and on the environment.
Venuslauf (2021)
From 17th to 19th September KAEFER colleagues worldwide joined this virtual charity event by running, walking, skating, swimming or cycling for the good cause! In doing so, we raised money for designated cancer charities in Canada, Germany, France, UK & Ireland and Sweden.
Flooding in Germany (2021)
In response to the severe flooding in Germany in July 2021, KAEFER FOUNDATION supported Aktion Deutschland Hilft e.V., an alliance of German aid organisations and initiated a fundraising campaign to support people in need.
Insect garden in Bremen (2021)
KAEFER FOUNDATION is delighted to support BUND e.V. in creating an 800 m² insect garden in the city of Bremen as a place to meet and learn. The aim is to raise awareness about preserving native biodiversity and understanding the role of insects in ecosystems.
World Environment Day (2021)
In line with this year’s theme “Reimagine, recreate, restore our planet”, the KAEFER FOUNDATION invited all KAEFER colleagues to submit initiatives and projects addressing these topics. As a result. very diverse and interesting ideas have been handed in which are presented here. Based on these, the KAEFER FOUNDATION will support three non-profit organisations in the following sectors: Biodiversity, Recycling and Waste Collection & Cleaning.
Emergency financial assistance for students (2021)
Bremen welcomes more than 5,000 international students every year. Many of them live at the lower income limit as they usually do not receive any financial support from their families, but work along the way. They can quickly find themselves in financial distress through no fault of their own, especially in these difficult times of a pandemic. Therefore, the KAEFER FOUNDATION decided to support XENOS e.V., a charitable organisation that helps those students in need with the aim to enable them to complete their studies quickly and successfully.
Floods in Brazil (2021)
In February, the area around Santa Maria de Itabira in Minas Gerais, Brazil was severely affected by floodings and landslides caused by heavy rainfall. Supported by the KAEFER FOUNDATION, 58 Brazilian colleagues teamed up to distribute drinking water, stoves and washing machines to local families in need.
Fulfilling Christmas wishes (2020)
In 2020, the KAEFER FOUNDATION supported the WK Weihnachtshilfe, an initiative in Bremen, Germany that aims to fulfill Christmas wishes of children from families that are facing financially difficult times. Thanks to the donation from the foundation as well as from other generous donors, the organization was able to make all wishes come true.
Christmas calendar for the good cause
In December, KAEFER’s Headquarters in Bremen again turn into a giant advent calendar. Each day, a local charity receives a donation by the KAEFER FOUNDATION in order to support their efforts and work. The full list of organisations that are part of this year’s calendar can be found on our LinkedIn page.
Supporting charities in the UK & Ireland (2020)
On the occasion of “giving Tuesday”, KAEFER in the UK & Ireland and the KAEFER FOUNDATION supported 12 charities in December 2020. Among others, the Irish Cancer Society, the Down’s Syndrome Association and Mind (supporting people’s mental health) all received donations.
World AIDS Day (since 2010)
Each year, KAEFER shows its support for World AIDS Day on 1 December. Stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV or suffering from AIDS is still a strong reality. We at KAEFER commit a policy of zero discrimination. Therefore, we want to take the opportunity during World AIDS Day to remind everyone at KAEFER that we should fight prejudice!
“Venuslauf” goes global (2020)
Walking, running and biking the extra mile. On 20 September 2020, hundreds of KAEFER employees around the world joined the so-called “Venuslauf”, a charity run raising funds in the fight against cancer. On our own, but close together, fantastic 11,971 km were covered resulting in donations totalling about 20,000 EUR for different cancer charities around the world.
Donating food baskets in Brazil (2020)
In order to help people in need, especially due to the impacts of COVID-19, the KAEFER FOUNDATION supported the initiative of RIP Serviços Industriais in Brazil to donate food baskets in September 2020. In total, 3,000 of these boxes were distributed to 30 different charities in 10 federal states with the aim to minimise hunger within the communities.
Bremer Suppenengel – Part 2 (2020)
During the cooperation with the “Bremer Suppenengel” mid 2020, it turned out that at in their new location, some required kitchen equipment was still missing. The KAEFER FOUNDATION was more than happy to finance these absolutely necessary small professional kitchen aids. The new bread slicer, kitchen scale as well as the vegetable slicer were very well received as they save a lot of time when preparing food for the people in need. During their visit on site, the representatives of the KAEFER FOUNDATION were happy to see that these devices were already widely used in the day-to-day activities of the “Bremer Suppenengel”.
Bremer Suppenengel – Part 1 (2020)
In the second quarter 2020 the Corona lockdown had an impact on some sites of KAEFER Industrie GmbH in Bremen, leaving a transporter standing unused in the company yard. The colleagues had the idea of making the transporter available to a local non-profit organisation. The idea was rapidly put into action by the apprentices of the Corporate Responsibility and Communication department. An association was quickly found: the “Bremer Suppenengel”. The apprentices startet using the transporter to collect food from various traders in Bremen and driving them to the Bremen central station, where the “Bremer Suppenengel” are based. There the food and donations are prepared, sorted and then distributed to people in need. It was a great experience for our apprentices to be able to support this good cause in a concrete and tangible way.
Treedom (2020)
The KAEFER FOUNDATION forest is another proof of our commitment to environmental and climate protection. The first donations were collected through an internal KAEFER flea market for a good cause. This took place at the beginning of 2020 and offered KAEFER employees in Bremen the opportunity to purchase old promotional materials and product samples in return for a donation. With the raised money 24 cacao trees were planted in Camerun to support local farmers.
German Bone Marrow Donor Center registration event in Bremen (2019)
In November 2019 the Deutsche Knochenmark Spenderdatei (DKMS) or German Bone Marrow Donor Center registration event supported by the KAEFER FOUNDATION took place in the HQ and branch office in Bremen. It was a great success – 56 colleagues have registered as potential stem cell donors.
German Maritime Search and Rescue Association (2018)
The Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger (DGzRS) or German Maritime Search and Rescue Association, is one of the most modern sea rescue services in the world. Their work is financed exclusively through donations and voluntary contributions. As a search and rescue (SAR) service, they are on call around the clock in the North Sea and Baltic Sea in all kinds of weather – with a fleet of 60 SAR cruisers and boats. As part of KAEFER’s centenary celebrations, the KAEFER FOUNDATION supported this Organisation.
Bremer Krebsgesellschaft e.V. (2018)
The Bremer Krebsgesellschaft e.V. is a cancer society in Bremen that promotes the improvement of care and rehabilitation for people suffering from cancer. Being part of the German Cancer Society, the organisation offers courses, seminars, counselling and self-aid groups for patients and their relatives. Furthermore, training sessions for the professional audience are also available. As part of KAEFER’s centenary celebrations, the KAEFER FOUNDATION supported this Organisation.
Löwenherz Children’s and Youth Hospice (2018)
The Löwenherz Children’s and Youth Hospice accommodates children, adolescents and young adults suffering from incurable and deadly diseases that cannot be cured by state of the art medical treatment. Approximately 250 families can visit the hospice every year. The Löwenherz ambulant children’s hospice service in Bremen and Braunschweig supports children with fatal diseases and their families. As part of KAEFER’s centenary celebrations, the KAEFER FOUNDATION supported this organisation.
Floods in Kerala (2018)
In July 2018, unusually heavy rainfall led to severe floods and landslides in Kerala in the south of India. It was the worst flooding that occurred in this area in the last 100 years. According to the local government, one-sixth of the over 33 million Kerala inhabitants had been directly affected. In the Middle East more than 2,000 people from Kerala are employed at KAEFER. In order to help those in need, the KAEFER FOUNDATION as well as a local KAEFER charity fund enabled immediate financial support to the affected KAEFER employees.
Football with Refugees (since 2017)
Doing sports in a team can gather people together – no matter from which country, cultural or social background. Supported by KAEFER colleagues from Bremen, the KAEFER FOUNDATION is bringing people together through football. Since February 2017, a group of refugees that is supervised by a local youth welfare organisation has the opportunity to do sports together with KAEFER People.
Supporting Refugees (since 2016)
During the last years a large number of people decided to leave their countries due to civil wars, economic crisis and terrorism. Many of them came to Germany. Supported by KAEFER emloyees, the KAEFER FOUNDATION was able for instance to donate much needed socks and painting materials for children to an emergency shelter. Moreover, sports clothing, school materials and Christmas presents have been donated to a local youth welfare organisation that takes care of nearly 40 unaccompanied minors from different countries.
CARE Refugee Aid (2015)
CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere) is a leading humanitarian organisation fighting global poverty, which is currently working to help refugees. CARE-packages have been distributed to those in need since the end of the Second World War and a simple bar of chocolate, which has since become a symbol of the CARE-package. In 2015, the annual Christmas gifts to KAEFER employees in Bremen contained a small CARE-package including the symbolic bar of chocolate and a donation was made by the KAEFER FOUNDATION in order to support their refugee aid Projects.
Nepal Earthquake Relief (2015)
Over 200 of our Nepalese colleagues were directly affected by the 7.8 and 7.3 earthquakes which hit Nepal in April 2015. The immediate action taken included free calls to families in Nepal and covering the cost of plane tickets for employees with urgent cases. Financial support was also distributed to 184 selected employees. With the assistance of Prayas Nepal, a local non-profit organisation, a KAEFER team helped to build 21 shelters in Sindhupalchowk, followed by enough shelters to house 128 families in the Ramechhap district.
Scipio (2014)
The Scipio team, short for Scientific Purification Indicator, consists of five electrical engineers from the University of Bremen, Germany, who have invented an innovative tool that is capable of determining if water is drinkable or not, when placed in a PVC bottle of water under direct equatorial sunlight. The financial support by the KAEFER FOUNDATION helped the students, to take part in COSIMA 2014 (Competition of Students in Microsystems Application) in Munich and 2015 at International Contest of Applications in Nano-Micro Technologies (iCan) held in Anchorage, Alaska – winning first place both times.
Charity Postcards (since 2010)
Entries of the biannual KAEFER International Photo Competition are used to produce postcards that are sold internally, raising funds for the KAEFER FOUNDATION. Among other locations, they are available at the Headquarters reception in Germany.
To contact the KAEFER FOUNDATION please use Foundation@kaefer.com