DHE BEGINS
In 2008, the Schwenningen businessman Joachim Spitz took the initiative: with ProKids-VS he started to finance school meals for needy children. Now this initiative has new structures: Spitz has founded the ProKids Foundation.
Child poverty is not a new issue. Spitz, however, recognized the problem by chance. During a visit to the Deutenberg secondary school, he noticed that there are a number of children who come from socially disadvantaged families and are unable to pay for the school meals offered - for whatever reason. "That can't be true," said the entrepreneur, driven by the desire to change something here.
Joachim Spitz, managing director of Schwenninger Spitzdruck GmbH, took action: after many discussions and thorough preparation, the ProKids-VS initiative was launched in February 2008. At a symbolic launch event together with Mayor Dr. Rupert Kubon, whom he had managed to win over as patron, he cooked spaghetti for the children in the Schwenninger St. Elisabeth kindergarten. The initiative was underway.
From then on, the man from Schwenningen didn't let up. Supported by unexpectedly large support from the population, Joachim Spitz collected many thousands of euros for poor children.
The creator quickly realized, however, that it is not so easy to help in this country. After some bureaucratic hassle, a pragmatic solution was finally found: the donations collected by the ProKids-VS initiative were paid out via the community foundation. This gave teachers the opportunity to claim a meal subsidy for poor children in their classes without making a big fuss.
The activities were well received not only by private individuals, but also by the regional economy. People appreciated that their donations did not go elsewhere, but stayed in the city. Spitz and his colleague Nándor Forgács also made an effort to raise money for the good cause. Forgács took the photos, Spitz printed them: the result was a magnificent annual calendar that sold well. They also produced a calendar for the State Garden Show, which brought in income for ProKids. The baby hatch project also received a great response. Shocked by a dead baby found near Singen, Spitz threw himself into it and, with the help of sponsors, ensured that a baby hatch was installed in the Franziskusheim at the beginning of the year, where desperate young mothers can put their newborns in if necessary, instead of abandoning them and leaving them to certain death. "If we save just one life with this hatch, it will have been worth it," says Spitz.
In order to be able to carry out this social commitment more sustainably and with greater efficiency, the Schweninger has been looking for new organizational structures for some time. At first he wanted to set up an association, but ultimately he decided on a foundation that would finance and implement various aid projects for children in the future. "My goal," says Joachim Spitz, "is to help as many children as possible with this new organizational form. In this region, and if necessary also beyond." The need in this segment, he says, is huge.
In addition to Joachim Spitz, the Schwenningen entrepreneurs Bernd Schaible and Jürgen Müller sit on the foundation's board of directors, while Gerhard Waldmann, Guido Neuberger and the brothers Frank and Wolfgang Leuthe form the foundation's board of directors.
The start for ProKids could not be better: During her visit today in Schwenningen at the business forum of the Oberzentrum trade association, none other than Federal Minister for Family Affairs Kristina Schröder Spitz will hand over the foundation certificate.
"That's great, of course," says the Schwenningen resident, who will briefly introduce the new foundation on this occasion: It is intended to be above the local initiatives ProKids-VS and ProKids-RW (Rottweil) and to support and coordinate their commitment. The founders can now imagine launching further local initiatives, provided that there are volunteers on site who want to get involved.
