"For as long as I can remember, my dad has been a regular donor with ECOM. He believes that “if you earn money, you can also give something back and do good,” says Julia Deobald (pictured below right), project manager and daughter of company founder Gerhard Ellinger, in conversation with Natalie Schmid (pictured below left), managing director of Sternstunden. Recently, ECOM Electronic Components Trading GmbH donated €20,000 to Sternstunden. During a personal conversation at the check presentation, we got to know the organization better. For 31 years, Sternstunden has been taking responsibility for sick, disabled, and children in need—in Bavaria, throughout Germany, and worldwide—and provides help as quickly and easily as possible. Thanks to the generosity of many people, Sternstunden has raised more than 421 million euros since its founding in 1993 and has used these funds to support 4,066 children’s aid projects.
Warum Sternstunden?
Ms. Schmid was eager to know why we chose Sternstunden. For Ms. Deobald, the answer is simple: "Children are especially close to our hearts, because every child should grow up in a loving and supportive environment—regardless of their social background or their parents’ financial circumstances. We chose Sternstunden because our two locations are in Dachau and Eging am See in Bavaria, and we’d like to help right here in our home region!” And as we learned during our visit, there’s more to do here than you might think. For example, residential facilities that house and continue to support (young) adults with multiple disabilities are supported, enabling them to lead a beautiful and dignified life: “Normally, these young people are discharged from a special needs facility as soon as they reach the age of majority or complete vocational training. Afterward, they are placed in nursing homes, and since they usually do not receive the support they need there, they die on average after only five years—even though they would often have a life expectancy of around 50 years,” explains Natalie Schmid. Another example is the important work of KARO e.V., which is also supported by Sternstunden: The organization carries out comprehensive social work in the border region with the Czech Republic and combats issues such as prostitution and child trafficking. After hearing these shocking details, we leave the conversation with a sense of unease, but at the same time we are all the more grateful to truly make a difference with our donation—the best way to invest!
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