Webasto Foundation: The Company Intensifies Social Commitment Worldwide

Stockdorf/Munich – December 8, 2020 – In order to enable the Webasto Group to support charitable projects, associations and institutions, the owners of the global automotive supplier and holding company, Webasto SE, established the Webasto Foundation gGmbH in 2019. “Taking responsibility for good and fair coexistence is part of our corporate culture – both within the company and beyond its boundaries. This is why we have decided to bundle our social commitment centrally and to strengthen it purposefully,” explains Dr. Holger Engelmann, Chairman of the Management Board of Webasto SE.

Supporting charitable activities has been a long-standing tradition at Webasto. Many of the company’s sites have been actively involved in non-profit projects in their regions for many years and numerous of employees are active on a voluntary basis. The aim of the still-young Webasto Foundation is to expand the social and ecological commitment of the Webasto Group and its employees worldwide.

Broad-ranging commitment during corona crisis year
Despite challenging conditions, the Webasto Foundation has kicked-off many initiatives in the year after its establishment and has supported a large number of projects. For example, a donation was made in spring through the “Fondazione Policlinico S. Orsola-Onlus” in Bologna (Italy) to the Polyclinic of Bologna and to smaller hospitals in the province, in order to support them in their battle against coronavirus. In summer, a sports ground for the community center in Nou (Romania) was constructed with funds from the Webasto Foundation.

In fall, among others the following three projects benefited from financial assistance of the Webasto Foundation: the Special Olympics Kentucky (USA), which supports mentallychallenged children and adults; the Mariphil (Philippines) aid project, that supports families facing difficult social circumstances in the Philippines; and the “VKKK Ostbayern e.V.”, an association in Eastern Bavaria which takes care of children and youths with cancer or physical disabilities and their families. Colleagues at Webasto’s site in Schierling were pleased that the charitable association from the neighborhood received this support.

Moreover, the Webasto Foundation started corporate volunteering activities for the first time. In this context, for instance, employees from the German Webasto sites at Stockdorf and Gilching participated voluntarily in a reforestation program run by the “Bergwaldprojekt e.V.” (Mountain Forest Project). In addition, several Webasto employees were able to contribute their know-how to the initiative “startsocial e.V.”, thereby expanding their horizons. Under the patronage of Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel the association networks business and civil society to promote social, voluntary organizations and projects. Further corporate volunteering opportunities are planned for 2021.

Employees contribute ideas and help decide where money is used
Each year, the company makes a certain amount of money available for the work of the Webasto Foundation, based on the respective business development. Webasto employees play a major role in deciding where the donations are spent. They regularly vote on which projects or organizations the Webasto Foundation should help. Moreover, employees can propose charitable projects for being supported by the Webasto Foundation. Eligible for funding are initiatives that promote schooling and vocational education and training of children, youths or adults; that support the public health system and people in need of help; that are involved in fire, labor, disaster and civil protection; or that create social added value in the context of science and research.