All proceeds from the 2009 White Christmas Ball contributed to the project LPlus, enabling us to support their entire annual budget. Thanks to this major one-off financing round, this initiative, which was called into action by the «Entrepreneurs’ Association for Competitiveness» (UGW) in Zurich, is countering unemployment of young people in Switzerland based on a voluntary entrepreneurial effort. In the last reported year alone, the initiative has helped to create a total of 140 new apprenticeship positions. In addition, LPLUS is helping prospective employers and employees to achieve a better match of expectations and available skills with the objective of reducing the rate of discontinued apprenticeships.

We will continue to support LPlus in the coming year, albeit at a reduced extent. This is owing to our philosophy that, on the one hand, we want to build sustainable ties to the project, but, on the other hand, based on the premise of offering «help to foster self-help», we would refrain from committing the entire annual budget so that the base for the funding of LPlus will be broadened. You, our distinguished guests, are cordially invited to support LPlus with direct contributions, new apprenticeship positions or in any other suitable way, if you wish.

As a Zurich-based event, we have decided to support the initiative «Zurich Families in Distress» for the first time. We are confident that our support will be used in a sincere and straightforward manner, directly impacting where funds are needed the most. The organization provides relief to families in the greater Zurich area who find themselves in dire straits and are unable to obtain support from the corresponding welfare offices due to formal reasons. In most cases, a small to medium financial contribution is sufficient to alleviate a stressful situation, as a means towards fostering self-help. Examples are the settling of doctors’ bills beyond insurance coverage (e.g., for orthodontic treatment work) or contributions towards activities having a therapeutic effect on psychically challenged children (e.g., nurturing and caring for animals, programs for overweight reduction). In each case, the objective is to alleviate imminent distress and help clear the way for the successful development of children and their families as a whole.

Each request for help is closely reviewed by members on a strictly pro-bono basis. If a request is approved, the corresponding families do not only receive material support, but are often counseled, for example, on how to improve their financial situation. With our engagement we want to make a contribution from Zurich for Zurich. We are convinced that, due to the solid organization, honorary work and comprehensive evaluation process, our support will have a lasting and targeted effect.