Ingolstadt/Neckarsulm, December 7, 2021 – Audi and employees donated a total of 800,000 euros to victims of severe flooding in 2021. Heavy rains and flooding devastated many regions of Germany in July, including Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony and southern Bavaria. To help those in need, companies and the Works Council are calling for donations.
From July 22 to September 10, 2021, around 4,000 Audi employees in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm responded to the call with a generous donation of a total of 416,178.93 euros. Her employer then increased the donation to six figures: Audi and its employees were thus able to support the flood-hit area with 800,000 euros. In addition, many Audi employees are involved privately – either through financial donations or through on-site human support.
Audi supports more than 20 organizations
Part of the donation goes to non-profit social welfare organizations in crisis areas of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate to support long-term reconstruction projects of social infrastructure on site. These include kindergartens, such as the St. Hildegard daycare centre in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler and the Zauberkiste and Mauseburg daycare centres in Stolberg, which had to renovate their outdoor and indoor facilities. But sports clubs such as the Ahrweiler 1898 e.V. Gymnastics and Sports Club or TSV 1863 Herdecke e.V. also received financial support for the overhaul of the club grounds and the purchase of new sports equipment. Thanks to the donation, the German Lifesaving Association (DLRG) in Euskirchen and Linden-Dahlhausen was able to purchase new rescue equipment, including a new motorized rescue boat. The fire brigade in the Ahrweiler district received assistance with reconstruction and the purchase of important fire brigade equipment. In addition, hospice and civic associations such as Mobil mit Unfall e.V. in Jockgrim have also received some donations from Audi so that they can continue to provide mobility and care services.
Another portion of the donation went to five large aid organizations working for flood victims and reconstruction across the country. The German aid association Aktion Deutschland Hilft e.V., the German Red Cross and the German Caritas Association also received generous donations for emergency aid. Other nonprofits supporting those affected by severe flooding are Evangelical Deacon and Development e.V. and the German Society for Equal Welfare.
“We live social responsibility”
“Our employees’ generosity demonstrates how deep the culture of togetherness is anchored in our company. In addition to emergency relief, we hope our donations will advance the long-term reconstruction efforts in the flood-hit regions and thus make a small contribution to help affected cities and counties overcome the crisis,” emphasizes Sabine Maassen, Member of the Board of Management for Human Resources at AUDI AG.
“The solidarity that our employees demonstrated has again shown how much they believe in standing together and helping one another. We live social responsibility and solidarity, even beyond our factory doors and this donation drive,” says Peter Mosch. The Audi Chairman of the General Works Council also expressed his thanks for the generous donations, emphasizing: “Every euro that you donated is going exactly where it is needed most.”
Audi Brussels also makes generous donation
Audi Brussels also called for donations from employees on site due to the devastating effects of flooding in Belgium. Generous employee and company top-ups donated a total of €25,000. The Belgian Red Cross received the full amount to support its emergency relief efforts.
More social responsibility from the four rings
As an “Excellent Corporate Citizen”, Audi AG has continuously assumed social responsibilities at its production sites for many years. Through volunteer activities such as Audi Volunteer Days and team events, the brand encourages its employees to take social responsibility – for example, by participating in charitable organizations in the Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm regions. Digital, remote projects are also possible. Audi has built an online platform where employees can find projects and register for help. As part of its corporate citizenship strategy, the company regularly supports social institutions through donations and is a regional sports and cultural sponsor.