Already in 2011, the fundraising dinner raised a bit over € 100,000 for the construction of two family houses in Ukraine. This year, the project “Ways out of the Ghetto“ was in the focus of the evening. The project is a cooperation with the Charity’s project partner Caritas Austria. On
6 November 2013 the amount of donations generated in the Festsaal of Haus der Industrie was dedicated to vulnerable Roma children.
“Ways out of the Ghetto“ promotes educational training for socially underprivileged Roma children and adolescents, which in this way have a better chance for their future and can be integrated into society. The four after school care centres in Satu Mare and Baiu Mare are a real support for they will not be driven into social seclusion later. The assisted learning and homework support guarantees that the children understand the teaching material while play time and a programme for their spare time care for the individual development of their personality. A daily meal saturates their empty bellies and supplies them with energy for their school visit. Social workers provide guidance to the children and their families, who are in contact with them on a regular basis.
Round 140 guests added with their presence to a successful evening. The net proceeds of
€ 150,000, which was achieved through the sales of tables and an auction of precious wines and exclusive wine cellar tours conducted by Matthew C. Hagerty from Dorotheum, will fund the existence of these four after school care centres for a further two years. Together with Caritas Austria the H. Stepic CEE Charity has already realised several successful projects and is very pleased about this cooperation.
“This project literally creates ways out of the ghetto for underprivileged Roma children and their families, who are often illiterate. The support, which is given to the children and their families at these four after school care centres is priceless”, said Herbert Stepic, founder and chairman of the H. Stepic CEE Charity. “The children receive help in different ways, but most importantly they get the chance to help themselves. Only in this way they will not be further driven into social seclusion. The support to develop self-help is a key element of our project”, said Stepic.
Michael Landau, President Caritas Austria, was very grateful about the cooperation. “During these difficult times it is particularly important to me to continue the current operation of the centres. I am very pleased that the H. Stepic CEE Charity sustainably supports the Roma children and the work of the local Caritas. This evening helps underprivileged children on their way into a better future. In addition, every contribution shows the children and their families that they are not let alone”.
The acclaimed tenor of the Vienna State Opera Dimitrios Flemoto as well as the violin solo artist Tomoko Mayeda added with their performances to the success of the evening. Numerous prominent persons supported the project with their contributions in order to enable the Roma children to visit the after school care centres daily and secure their future through education and intense support.
The fundraising dinner’s attendees included amongst others (in alphabetical order):
Nematollah Farrokhnia, RENAISSANCE Group
Harald Hagenauer, Post AG
Herbert Koch, kika/Leiner
Michael Landau, President Caritas Austria
Eva Marchart, Raiffeisen Centrobank
Christian Mayer, SMN Investment Services
Karl Mistlberger, VA Intertrading AG
Rainer Polster, Deutsche Bank
Benjamin Schlaff
Hanno Soravia, Soravia Group
Karl-Heinz Strauss, PORR AG
Christian Hoenig and Andreas Theiss, Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte
Michael Sieghart and Klaus Umek, Wiener Privatbank
Photos by www.klimpt.at
