Marking its 200th anniversary, Koenig & Bauer requested guests instead of bringing gifts to make a donation to the global aid organisation Doctors Without Borders / Ärzte ohne Grenzen e.V. The donation sum was then doubled by the printing press builder so that the Nobel Peace Prize holder, honoured for its emergency medical aid, was presented with a donation of EUR 60,300.
The cheque was ceremoniously presented on 29 November at the company’s parent plant in Würzburg. Claus Bolza-Schünemann, President & CEO, Koenig & Bauer AG, and Dagmar Ringel, Head Corporate Communications & Marketing, Koenig & Bauer, presented the cheque to Carmen Heeg, a seasoned volunteer for Doctors Without Borders who has worked in countries like Malawi and Nigeria. She emphasised the exceptional nature of a donation of this scale and thanked Koenig & Bauer profusely: “Many, many thanks for your generous donation which will enable us continue helping people in need across the globe.”
Doctors Without Borders provides medical aid in crisis and war zones, and in the wake of natural disasters. Founded in 1971, the international organisation provides fast, efficient aid without any red tape to people irrespective of their origin, religion or political convictions. Around 35,000 doctors, psychologists, nurses, care workers, midwives and logistics experts work for the organisation on a voluntary basis in some 70 countries.
Koenig & Bauer hopes that its donation will help the volunteers at Doctors Without Borders in their fight against diseases like tuberculosis, treating malnutrition, running vaccination campaigns and providing local medical and logistic aid to people in need.