Children’s eyes should shine again

The ProKids Foundation is once again fulfilling Christmas wishes and has received the largest donation since its founding from the Schwenningen company Diener Rapp. This is particularly important in times of pandemic.

If Santa Claus can't do what he should, someone has to help out. For many years, that has been the ProKids Foundation, which has made children's eyes shine with its Christmas wish campaign. When even small Christmas wishes are too big for some people's wallets, the foundation steps in and provides presents that bring great joy to little people.

The principle is very simple: children can draw their wish - a toy or piece of clothing that should not cost more than 20 euros - on a numbered wish card. This card is hung up with others on "wish trees" that are located at several locations in Villingen and Schwenningen. Whoever takes a card buys the present listed on it and then returns it to where they got the card from.

200 cards designed

"It is important to write the card number clearly on the gift," explains Jürgen Müller, a member of the board of trustees at ProKids VS. Only then can the present be easily assigned to the right recipient. The current Christmas wish campaign, the twelfth so far, mainly involves children who were chosen through the church welfare organizations Caritas and Diakonie in Villingen and Schwenningen. They were allowed to design 200 cards that hang on wish trees in the Volksbanken Schwenningen and Villingen. Other trees of this kind can be found at SBS Burger in Schönwald, at the Sonnenklar travel agency, at the senior citizens' residence at Germanswald and at the Villingen building cooperative.

You can pick up a wish card anywhere here and make a child happy. Because the foundation already has a lot of routine, the timing is well coordinated. Now that the cards are ready, the presents should be handed in to the card distribution points by Friday, December 17th, where they will be picked up by foundation employees. This guarantees that every child's present will be under the right Christmas tree on December 24th.

Poverty is increasing

At ProKids, the focus is on ensuring that the gifts only benefit children from families in need. As poverty in society is increasing, the need and demand for such social actions is unbroken, explains foundation board member Jürgen Müller, assuring that every child who draws a wish will have it fulfilled.

Christmas presents have a long tradition. Even if

The Christian story is no longer the main focus when giving gifts, but gifts are still associated with solidarity. "In order to find a suitable present, the giver must know the person at least a little," says Jürgen Müller. "With our cards, we compensate for the fact that you don't know the child you are giving the gift to; you know what they would be happy about." This is guaranteed to work - ProKids has proven it hundreds of times over the past few years.

And so, before Christmas, it is actually up to Joachim Spitz, the chairman of the board of trustees of the ProKids Foundation, to make others happy, with projects such as the Christmas wish campaign for children. But this year Spitz also feels richly blessed. Because he has now been able to record the largest monetary donation since the foundation was founded.

The Schwenningen company Diener Rapp is supporting the foundation with 20,000 euros. Spitz couldn't believe it when he realized the donation amount. Then the joy set in. "I am very happy and proud that my work for the ProKids Foundation is being honored in this way," says the entrepreneur, who devotes a large part of his time to volunteer work for children in need.

With a large number of successful local projects, he has been able to help many children and young people. One successful model that has an impact far beyond the city limits is the foundation's baby hatch, which the Schwenningen resident initiated years ago. Four newborns have already been found in it; ProKids was able to save four young lives in this way and also alleviate the suffering of children from predominantly needy families in other areas. To do this, the foundation is more dependent than ever on the help of donors during the Corona period. Due to the restrictions, it has had to forego lucrative benefit and sponsorship events since the outbreak of the pandemic, with which it has largely financed its work in the past. "I am happy about every donation, as our benefit event planned for spring cannot take place again and we can therefore put the money to good use," says Joachim Spitz. "We also notice that the need for help is increasing during the pandemic."

This assessment is confirmed by studies such as the Unicef report on the situation of children in Germany in 2021. The report entitled "Children - our future!" warns of serious consequences of the Covid19 pandemic for children's well-being. The pandemic is exacerbating existing problems and also presents parents with major challenges in supporting their children as best as possible. However, these challenges often prove to be too great because short-time work or unemployment exacerbate the precarious situation of families. External help must then take effect. The ProKids Foundation is involved in this area in the region.

Money comes at just the right time

The generous donation from Diener Rapp comes at just the right time. The record donation gives the foundation more leeway at the right time to continue to help where help is needed. Peter Rapp and Karin Engler-Rapp did not hesitate to sign the large donation check because they are absolutely convinced of the foundation's good work. Their children, managing director Daniel Miklosch and the entire team at the anodizing company are fully behind the donation and are happy that the money is giving the ProKids Foundation a boost in difficult times. Diener Rapp has over 40 years of experience in aluminum finishing and is therefore in great demand. The company's business consists of refining the surfaces of aluminum workpieces with a hard, corrosion-free layer in an electrochemical process; this is called "anodizing". This requires a lot of know-how, as does chromating, where a soft, conductive layer is applied to aluminum products.



Successful financial year

Customers are companies from industry and trade, including from sectors such as mechanical and precision engineering, medical technology, the furniture industry and even automotive suppliers. It was possible to hand over such a large donation because Diener Rapp had a very successful business year and now explicitly decided not to give customers presents at Christmas. ? eb

The ProKids Foundation looks after children in a variety of ways - from meetings to clothing donations and school meals to the integration project "Fight For Your Life". The BW-Bank Villingen-Schwenningen is supporting this with 3,000 euros.

"From the region, for the region," that is the basic idea, explains BW Banker Anatoli Rutz, responsible for the private customer business in Villingen-Schwenningen. "That's why we are very happy to support ProKids in their social commitment. In all of its commitment, the foundation keeps a keen eye on the social needs here in the region and responds to them with good projects and campaigns.

Together with Markus Thoma, Head of Private Banking, and Patrick Greuter, Head of Corporate Clients, Rutz presented the donation check to Joachim Spitz, Managing Director of the ProKids Foundation. Everyone in the management trio contributed to the St. Nicholas donation. In addition, another part comes from the BW Bank's premium savings scheme, so that ProKids will receive a total of 3,000 euros from this pot.

BW-Bank has a long-standing partnership with ProKids and has already supported the foundation financially on several occasions. For example, a few years ago the "Workout Park" was built in Villingen-Schwenningen. The fitness equipment is popular with young and old alike.

PS savers take part in a monthly drawing and also in the annual special drawing. 25 percent of the drawing fund is not distributed but goes to social causes. For example, BW Bank premium savings raised around 248,000 euros for charitable projects last year. eb

History The ProKids Foundation is producing a film about Schwenningen's past. There will be a public premiere in November and the DVD will serve as learning material for schoolchildren.

But one shoot at Orca, and then all the sequences are in the can. For two years, the film service provider Aromadeck filmed in Schwenningen on behalf of the ProKids Foundation. The result is a city portrait that depicts the district's eventful industrial history in the here and now. Consequently, the cameramen began their work on July 6, 2019, when Schwenningen celebrated the 200th birthday of its industrial pioneer Johannes Bürk - the man who at the time ensured the connection to the railway network.
and thus triggered the economic boom during the Gründerzeit 150 years ago. Joachim Spitz, chairman of the foundation board and creator of ProKids, is behind the film project. He wants to make a contribution to the history education of primary school students. "I want to bring Schwenningen's history into the classroom," he says. The target group is 12 to 15 year olds. He got the idea when he read in the newspaper that the Schwenningen local history museum can only be visited in small groups for fire safety reasons.

Started pondering

This got him thinking and eventually gave him the idea of producing a film about the past that could be distributed free of charge to schools and used in lessons. Because history is also a part of identity, which we lose when there are fewer contemporary witnesses.

Joachim Spitz was met with open arms by the mayor; Jürgen Roth was in favor of the idea and secured municipal support in the person of freelance cultural scientist Dr. Sabine Dietzig-Schicht. She accompanied the film project on behalf of the municipality and took part in numerous meetings with local history experts who also contributed their knowledge - first and foremost Dr. Annemarie-Conradt-Mach and Siegfried Heinzmann from the Schwenningen local history association.

"I would like Schwenningen History in the Classroom bring."

And of course Dr. Michael Hütt, the director of the Watch Industry Museum, was also at the table. City guide Michael Kopp also contributed to the historical city portrait, which consists of two parts of 35 minutes each. He reports competently about the founding period and what happened in Schwenningen at that time.

One of the settings for an interview with Kopp is the bathhouse of the Kienzle villa, which the manufacturer Jakob Kienzle had built for his daughters around 100 years ago. Joachim Spitz is enthusiastic: "Although I was born in Schwenningen, I didn't know much of what Michael Kopp says in the film."

Film is pressed on DVD
The filmmakers from Aromadeck are currently reviewing the material and adding the final sequences. The film will then be edited over the summer. Selected scenes from the production will also be used for an image clip that the city wants to publish on the internet for Schwenningen. This was a particular concern of the mayor. The main work is not available online, however. It will be pressed onto DVD and later distributed to interested Schwenningen residents in return for a donation - the schools, however, will receive the data carriers free of charge. A public premiere is planned for mid-November either in the "Capitol" or in the Neckarhalle - with NECKARQUELLE as media partner. Before the film is shown on the big screen, there will be a round table discussion with those involved: Mayor Jürgen Roth, Joachim Spitz, Siegfried Heinzmann and Michael Kopp will talk about the development of the industrial city of Schwenningen.

On July 6, 2019, the NECKARQUELLE celebrated the connection of Schwenningen to the railway network and thus the beginning of industrialization with the ride of the historic steam train. On this day, filming began for the ProKids Foundation's film about the more recent history of Schwenningen.
Photo: NQ Archive

Thank you again for your support of the ProKids Foundation’s aid package campaign.

The distribution is now running smoothly, in Schwenningen by the Schwenningen local association and in Villingen by the Villingen local association. Coordinated by the rescue service management of the SBK.

We have now distributed 400 aid packages, each package is calculated to feed a family of four for 14 days. Donated by my fellow donors, so that the money does not have to be taken from the current foundation pot. Thank you for that. Some of it also contains baby food. Another 200 packages have now been packed, and these will be made available over the course of the week.

We also deliver individual packages if people are not mobile for whatever reason.

Unfortunately, the campaign was shamelessly exploited. That made me very sad and angry, as the requirements were clearly communicated. At times, people were impudent, unreasonable and cheeky. That's why we took action.

No welfare recipients, no Hartz 4 recipients and no housing benefit recipients. We only want to help families and single parents who have found themselves in difficult situations due to Corona.

For example, bus drivers who have not been allowed to drive for six months, catering staff who have not been allowed to work since November, all those who have been on short-time work or who have lost their job due to Corona. Of course, short-time work benefits do not count as state aid.

We are not trying to relieve the state of its burden, but rather to provide unbureaucratic help.

Unfortunately, this is not so easy. The people affected must now contact us by email atinfo@prokids-stiftung.dereport, then we will decide whether you belong to the group of people we want to address or not.

When you receive the confirmation email from us, the new pick-up times will also be stated.

The names are then sent to the DRK so that the employees there know exactly who is entitled. Without this procedure, NO more aid packages will be distributed.

We will send away everyone who has not received a confirmation email. It makes me very sad, but there is no other way to resolve this.

I ask you again to support us and take this with you.

Many many thanks.

Stay healthy!

Best regards

Joachim Spitz

Picture (from right to left):

Schwenningen issuing office with the responsible persons:

Mr. Rainer Kühl, Head of Emergency Services, Mr. Sven Maurer, DRK Emergency Services, Isabell Sapski, Head of Office, DRK Local Association Schwenningen eV, Tim Arnold, Emergency Services

Joachim Spitz, ProKids Foundation

Aid packages for changed opening hours

The ProKids Foundation's parcel campaign for families and single parents who have fallen into need due to Corona has been a complete success. Since mid-February, families in need have been able to pick up free food parcels from the foundation at the Red Cross in Villingen and Schwenningen.

With extra money that comes 100 percent from the co-founders and therefore does not burden the foundation's coffers, ProKids put together 500 supply packages in mid-February that are designed to meet the needs of a family for two weeks. There is a range for families with babies and toddlers and a range of food for families with older children. The offer has been met with a great response - around 100 packages were picked up from the DRK in Villingen and in Schwenningen within the first two weeks. "That works out to 20 packages per working day," says Joachim Spitz, the chairman of the foundation's board of directors. The co-founders and the campaign's patron, Mayor Jürgen Roth, are also delighted with the unexpectedly positive response.

"Families who are in need because of Corona should not hesitate. Those who are on the losing side should also get help. There is no shame in getting help in a difficult situation that is not your fault," Spitz appealed to the target group at the start of the campaign. Parents who are affected by short-time work or unemployment as a result of the pandemic are to be given targeted relief in this difficult situation through the packages. And efficiently and unbureaucratically - no Hartz 4 or housing benefit recipients are supported. The packages are therefore handed over anonymously via the DRK. Organized by the district association of the DRK for the SBK, distributed by the emergency services. Those collecting them can simply report to the DRK buildings in Villingen and Schwenningen and receive a package. With immediate effect, however, the Red Cross has changed its opening hours.

Now the families can each receive their package Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. pick up.

Joachim Spitz makes it clear that the package collection does not have to be a one-off event. "Families and single parents who are in financial distress due to Corona are allowed to come back and of course pick up another package after two weeks - as long as their shortage lasts." The package campaign is a supplement to the hot school meals that the foundation has always financed for children from needy families. "The number of families in need has increased significantly over the course of the pandemic," says Joachim Spitz.

This has made the situation worse. Families with a single earner in particular are quickly reaching their limits when faced with ongoing income losses and constant running costs. "We can provide up to 800 food packages," says the foundation's head. "It is important to us that word of our offer of help gets around. Neighbors and acquaintances should talk about it so that the message reaches those who really need help.

However, at ProKids, this does not mean recipients who are already receiving public assistance, but rather families and single parents who otherwise support themselves. At the moment, however, this is only being checked with random samples when parcels are handed over.



Info: The ProKids aid packages are available from the DRK, Schwenningen rescue station, Alleenstraße 3, and the local association building in Villingen, Benediktinerring 9. Anyone who is not mobile and lives far away from a DRK station, for example in a district, can be supplied with an aid package. Interested parties can write an email to info@prokids-stiftung.de.

ProKids Foundation helps families

Demand in Villingen-Schwenningen is great

Social: 200 packages from the ProKids Foundation have already been used in the first two weeks

The ProKids Foundation is helping families or single mothers who are in need due to the Corona crisis with food packages. After just two weeks, 200 aid packages have already been used.

VS-Schwenningen. The ProKids Foundation's parcel campaign for families and single parents who have fallen into need due to Corona has been a complete success, according to those responsible after just two weeks. Since mid-February, families in need have been able to pick up free food parcels from the foundation at the Red Cross in Villingen and Schwenningen.

With extra funds, which come 100 percent from the co-founders and therefore do not burden the foundation's coffers, ProKids put together 500 supply packages in mid-February that are designed to meet the needs of a family for two weeks. There is a range for families with babies and toddlers and a range of food for families with older children (we reported).

The offer has been met with great response - around 100 packages were collected from the DRK in Villingen and Schwenningen within the first two weeks. "That's 20 packages per working day," says Joachim Spitz, the chairman of the foundation board. The co-founders and the patron of the campaign, Mayor Jürgen Roth, are also delighted with the unexpectedly positive response, according to a press release.

"Families who are in need because of Corona should not hesitate. Those who are on the losing side should also get help. There is no shame in getting help in a difficult situation that is not your fault," Spitz appealed to the target group at the start of the campaign. Parents who are affected by short-time work or unemployment as a result of the pandemic are to be given targeted relief in this difficult situation through the packages. And they do so efficiently and unbureaucratically. However, Hartz IV and housing benefit recipients will not be supported.

Not a one-time thing

The packages are handed over anonymously via the German Red Cross – organized by the district association of the German Red Cross for the Black Forest-Baar District, distributed by the emergency services. Those collecting can simply report to the DRK buildings in Villingen and Schwenningen and receive a package. However, the Red Cross has now changed its opening hours. Collection is now possible on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.



The ProKids Foundation provides food parcels to families and single parents who have fallen into need due to Corona. The free food for those affected is financed by "co-donors".

VS-Schwenningen - The Corona pandemic is a major test for Familyn and single parents. As a result of short-time work or job loss, Villingen-Schwenningen some have fallen into financial difficulties. The ProKids Foundation now wants to help: from Wednesday, February 17, there will be free food packages for families in need, the foundation announced in a press release. "The co-founders approached me and explained that they absolutely wanted to provide help in this situation," says Joachim Spitz, chairman of the foundation's board. "They are financing this campaign 100 percent. This means that the funds required will not be taken from the general budget available to our foundation."

Since its inception, the foundation has paid for hot school meals for children from needy families. This offer has always been very well received in the twin cities. The package campaign is now intended as a supplement; ProKids assumes that the number of families in need has expanded significantly during the Corona period. Unpaid electricity bills, rent arrears, a broken refrigerator or washing machine - the list of reasons why families are under pressure in the current situation with reduced income is long.

This is exactly where ProKids VS comes in to help quickly, efficiently and, above all, unbureaucratically. The situation has become particularly acute during the lockdown, when schools are also closed - needy children can no longer enjoy the foundation-funded school meals, and money is even tighter at home than usual. Joachim Spitz knows that it may not be easy for some people who are used to making their own living to resort to the new aid offer. But he says: "Families who are in need because of Corona should not hesitate. Those who are on the losing side should also get help. There is no shame in getting help in a difficult situation that is not your fault."

Pick up at the DRK

He hopes that word gets around about the foundation's offer and appeals to people's respect so that it is not exploited and only those who really need this help use it. This is the only way to make it really unbureaucratic. "It is important that you tell other people about it, such as neighbors or acquaintances, so that they can get help too." However, the foundation emphasizes: "No Hartz IV or housing benefit recipients are supported; they already receive help from the office through the participation package."

It was important to the organizers and the patron of the campaign, Mayor Jürgen Roth, to lower the barriers for those collecting the food as much as possible. This is why the recipients can easily receive the food packages from the Red Cross in Villingen and Schwenningen. "Our offer is not aimed at families who are already supported by the office," stresses Joachim Spitz. However, this is not checked; the packages are handed over in good faith.

The packages will be available from Wednesday, February 17, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the German Red Cross (DRK) rescue station in Schwenningen (garage) at Alleenstraße 3, and in the local association building in Villingen (classroom), Benediktinerring 9. The ProKids Foundation still wants to provide for people who are not mobile and live far away from a DRK station, for example in a district. They can also be supplied with an aid package if necessary. "This is the case, for example, if it is a mother without a car and with very small children who she cannot leave alone," says Joachim Spitz. In this case, interested parties can write an email to info@prokids-stiftung.de and ask for a home delivery.

Photo: Fast and unbureaucratic help: Mayor Jürgen Roth (left), patron of the foundation, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Joachim Spitz are working on the aid packages. Photo: ProKids Foundation

Packages are intended to alleviate the worst suffering

The ProKids Foundation provides food to families and single parents who are in need due to Corona. Those affected can pick up the relief supplies from the Red Cross.

The corona pandemic is a major test for families and single parents. As a result of short-time work or job loss, some people in Villingen-Schwenningen have also found themselves in financial distress. The ProKids Foundation now wants to help: From Wednesday, February 17, there will be free food packages for families in need.

Co-donors finance campaign

"The co-founders approached me and explained that they absolutely wanted to help in this situation," says Joachim Spitz, chairman of the foundation's board of directors. "They are financing this campaign 100 percent. This means that the funds required will not be taken from the general budget available to our foundation."

The extra money will initially be used to put together 500 supply packages that are designed to meet the needs of a family for two weeks. There is a range for families with babies and toddlers and a range of food for families with older children. Other donors think the idea is great and have immediately pledged their support.

“It is wonderful to see the great support that the ProKids Foundation receives every time it starts a new project,” enthuses Joachim Spitz, expressing his gratitude.

Efficient and unbureaucratic

Since its inception, the foundation has paid for hot school meals for children from needy families. This offer has always been very well received in the twin cities. The package campaign is now intended as a supplement; ProKids assumes that the number of families in need has expanded significantly during the Corona period. Unpaid electricity bills, rent arrears, broken refrigerators or washing machines - the list of reasons why families are under pressure in the current situation with reduced income is long. This is exactly where ProKids VS comes in, and as always, the aim is to help quickly, efficiently and, above all, unbureaucratically. The situation has become particularly acute during the lockdown, when schools are also closed - poor children can no longer enjoy the foundation-funded school meals, and at home money is even tighter than usual.

Joachim Spitz knows that it may not be easy for some people who are used to making a living themselves to resort to the new aid offer. But he says: "Families who are in need because of Corona should not hesitate. Those who are on the losing side should also get help. There is no shame in getting help in a difficult situation that is not your fault."

He hopes that word gets around about the foundation's offer and appeals to people's dignity so that it is not exploited and only those who really need this help use it. This is the only way to make it really unbureaucratic. "It is important that you tell other people about it, such as neighbors or acquaintances, so that they can get help too." No Hartz 4 or housing benefit recipients are supported; they already receive help from the office through the participation package.

It was important to the organizers and the patron of the campaign, Mayor Jürgen Roth, to lower the barriers for those collecting the food as much as possible. This is why the recipients can easily receive the food packages from the Red Cross in Villingen and Schwenningen.

Good faith

"Our offer is not aimed at families who are already supported by the office," stresses Joachim Spitz. However, this is not checked; the packages are handed over in good faith. The packages are available from Wednesday, February 17, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., "Ash Wednesday," organized by the DRK rescue service Schwarzwald Baar, at the DRK, rescue station Schwenningen (garage) Alleenstraße 3, and the local association building Villingen (classroom) Benediktinerring 9.

If required, delivery

The foundation also wants to provide for people who are not mobile and live far away from a DRK station, for example in a district. They can also be supplied with an aid package if necessary. "This is the case, for example, if it is a mother without a car and with very small children who she cannot leave alone," says Joachim Spitz. In this case, interested parties can write an email to info@prokids-stiftung.de and request home delivery. eb