Baumer hhs is a leading global manufacturer of innovative adhesive application systems. The applications for these systems can be found everywhere in our everyday lives. For example, they are used to seal supermarket pizza boxes and folding cartons for medicines.
Baumer hhs has been working in close partnership with the ‘Villa Sonnenschein’ parents' home, which is run by the support association on Lutherplatz, for five years now. It offers families whose children are being treated for cancer at the Helios Clinic in Krefeld a temporary retreat - with seven modern parents' rooms, two kitchens and lovingly furnished living rooms.
As money is always needed, for example to keep the facilities up to date or to open up new play opportunities for children, the support association is delighted with the commitment of the global player from Krefeld.
The idea: training in return for donations
Percy Dengler, Managing Director of Baumer hhs, emphasised why social commitment is an important pillar of the company: ‘We see it as a social obligation to give something back to the city, where we find great conditions for innovation and growth.’ After a brainstorming session among the workforce, the choice fell on Villa Sonnenschein, which an employee had learnt about through an acquaintance. ‘It's important for us to know where the money is going. When we got to know the people who run the family home and saw the shining eyes of the children playing in the garden, we knew we were in the right place,’ says Dengler.
Since then, donations have been made to Villa Sonnenschein throughout the year. For example, disused office furniture or tools are given to employees in return for a voluntary donation. The prize money for the ‘family-friendly company’ award was also transferred to the parents' home. Two years ago, the management then had the idea of organising training courses in return for donations. Service technicians from Baumer hhs' international subsidiaries regularly visit the training centre in Krefeld. ‘We don't charge the attendance fee, but we expect a donation for Villa Sonnenschein,’ says Marketing Manager Andreas Brandt.
Interesting insights from both sides
During his visit, which included a tour of the training and technology centre and the company, the chairman of the association, Jens Schmitz, was impressed by the company's innovative strength and sustainability concept. Conversely, the Managing Director and Head of Marketing learnt more details about the work of the support association in aid of children with cancer. Jens Schmitz explained that cancer research is also supported by donations. For example, a doctoral student at the Helios Clinic is currently investigating the physical and psychological effects of sport on children with cancer following intensive therapy. She has already achieved good results. And a senior physician has conducted an internationally significant study on Fanconi anaemia. This is a genetic defect that causes malformations, bone marrow failure and an increased risk of developing leukaemia. She and her team were able to prove that swabs taken from patients using special brushes can reliably detect oral mucosal cancer in good time. This spares them a biopsy in most cases. Jens Schmitz, who lost his own son to cancer many years ago, emphasised that the chances of curing cancer have developed very positively in recent years thanks to new forms of therapy. ‘All the more reason to continue to support the work of the support association,’ summarised those responsible at Baumer hhs.
Source: krebskinder-krefeld.de