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From an auction to a fundraising campaign
"Going once, going twice, sold!" – This phrase is usually correctly associated with auctions. At thyssenkrupp Materials Services, however, it was the culmination of a carefully planned fundraising campaign. In 2023, the materials distribution and service provider auctioned off several pictures and paintings that had been in the company's possession for decades. Not without reason: the proceeds from the auctions of around €70,000 went to various charities in Ukraine and the Ruhr area.
What might sound simple was, in fact, a lengthy process that was handled by a dedicated project team. In addition to identifying and collecting the stored images, the team had to determine a realistic value for the pieces. First, they spoke with several art experts. This formed the basis for the next step, which was to contact various auction houses about the auctions.
Behind Ricarda Reker-Nass, Natascha Chajka, Sylvia Oertker and Tim Chajka of the organization "Aktion Kleiner Prinz" are well-packed relief supplies and toys for children in the Ukraine.
Real added value
Real added value
The project team collected around €70,000 at various auctions, which was donated to a number of carefully selected charitable organizations. Dr. Marc Schlette, CHRO of thyssenkrupp Materials Services, explains: "Two things were particularly important to us: Firstly, that as many of the donations as possible reach those in need. Secondly, that we also support aid organizations from our region. As Materials Services, we have our origins in Dortmund and our headquarter in Essen. I am therefore very pleased that we were able to help here as well."
In addition to three aid projects for the Ukraine run by Kindernothilfe (German for "Supporting children in need"), Aktion Kleiner Prinz German for “Little Prince Campaign”) and Cap Anamur/Deutsche Not-Ärzte e. V. (German for “German Emergency Doctors”), the donations also went to the Tafel (German for “food bank”) in Essen and Dortmund, Germany.
Social projects as an integral part of the sustainability strategy
Fundraising campaigns are nothing unusual at thyssenkrupp Materials Services. In 2021, for example, the materials distribution and service provider launched a global initiative to support children's homes in all the countries in which the company was represented – around 40 in total. The sustainability strategy "BEYOND" is based on internationally recognized ESG criteria, but goes beyond legal requirements and standards – hence the name "BEYOND".