Heraeus Precious Metals, the precious metals division of the Heraeus Group, is donating a total of 10,500 euros to people in need and charitable projects in Hanau. The Tafel (food bank) in Hanau, the Hanau Environmental Center and the bumblebee project of the voluntary association "Menschen in Hanau" will each receive 3,500 euros.
The donation money comes from two awards that Heraeus Precious Metals received last year. Among others, the company received the "Green Controlling Award" for its sustainable transformation process. The prize of 10,000 euros awarded by the Péter Horváth Foundation and the International Controller Association (ICV) recognizes the most innovative and sustainable controlling solution. In addition, Heraeus Precious Metals won the Sustainability Award of the City of Hanau for its project to protect biodiversity in the Kinzigauen meadows.
"As part of a global family business headquartered in Hanau, we have a special responsibility to the city and its residents. For us, it was therefore quickly decided that we wanted to use the prize money to support social and sustainable projects in our immediate vicinity," explains André Christl, CEO of Heraeus Precious Metals.
Together with three colleagues, he handed over the donation checks to the three organizations, which were visibly pleased with the support. Thanks to the donation, a barrier-free nature trail about the life of bumblebees on Hanau's green spaces can be created, among other things.
Butterfly Paradise for the Insect of the Year 2023
The Hanau Environmental Center offers a wide range of educational programs on the topics of nature, gardens, and sustainability. In addition to courses for school classes and daycare centers, there is also a wide range of activities for adults and families. Heraeus Precious Metals and the environmental center are using the donation money to launch a cooperative project to protect butterfly diversity. The decline of pollinating insects, which are necessary for our food production, has been in full swing for many years. The reasons for this include pesticides, a lack of plants, but also climate change with excessively dry summers and lack of rain. "With the money we want to accompany garden owners in creating a butterfly paradise in their own garden. We advise, help with the selection of suitable plants, and support the purchase," explains Gabriele Schaar-von Römer, head of the environmental center.
The Hanau Tafel (Hanau food bank)
The Hanauer Tafel (Hanau food bank) is a part of LICHTBLICK, the foundation of the Evangelische Marienkirchengemeinde zu Hanau (Marienkirche Protestant Parish Hanau). Since 1999, it has been handing out food several times a week to around 2,300 people in need in Hanau. Volunteers collect and distribute products that supermarkets can no longer sell. The collected foods are flawless goods that - for example, due to overproduction, or a short minimum durability date - can no longer be sold in supermarkets. "We are experiencing rising demand due to the Ukraine war, an increasing number of refugees, but also due to exploding energy costs and inflation," explains Annette Geier-Neugebauer, who runs the Hanauer Tafel together with Gordana Herzberger-Kapetanic. "With the money, we will be able to subsidize the upcoming operating costs."
Habitat for bumblebees from "Menschen in Hanau e.V."
The association "Menschen in Hanau e.V." (People in Hanau) emerged from a project of the state of Hesse and the city of Hanau as part of the model region of inclusion. It is committed to actively living diversity in Hanau. The goal: bringing people together - regardless of age, origin, religion or culture. One of the association's projects is the bumblebee project, which creates flowering spaces and additional food sources for bumblebees and bees in Lindenaupark in Großauheim. Together with Großauheim stakeholders, the Lindenau School and Hanau Green Spaces, many special places are being created, including a heap of sand, a Benjes hedge or, this year, a lizard mound. "From the beginning on, there was also the desire for a barrier-free nature trail," says Anina Holzberg, head of the bumblebee project. "Everyone should be able to learn interesting facts about the life of bumblebees and much more. Thanks to the donation from Heraeus Precious Metals, this wish will now come true."
About Heraeus Precious Metals
Heraeus Precious Metals is globally leading in the precious metals industry. The company is part of the Heraeus Group and covers the value chain from trading to precious metals products to recycling. It has extensive expertise in all platinum group metals as well as gold and silver.
With about 3,000 employees at 15 sites worldwide, Heraeus Precious Metals offers a broad portfolio of products that are essential for many industries such as the automotive, chemicals, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, hydrogen and jewelry industry.
By 2025 Heraeus Precious Metals will be the first company in the industry that operates carbon neutral.
About Heraeus
The Heraeus Group is a broadly diversified and globally leading family-owned technology company, headquartered in Hanau, Germany. The company’s roots go back to a family pharmacy started in 1660. Today, the Heraeus Group includes businesses in the environmental, electronics, health and industrial applications sectors. Customers benefit from innovative technologies and solutions based on broad materials expertise and technological leadership.
In the 2021 financial year, the FORTUNE Global 500 listed group generated revenues of €29.5 billion (US$34.9 billion) with approximately 16,200 employees in 40 countries. Heraeus is one of the top 10 family-owned companies in Germany and holds a leading position in its global markets.
