Needs rise as donations fall: Z Zurich Foundation extends helping hand in pandemic

The Z Zurich Foundation (the Foundation) boosted existing charitable contributions and launched initiatives to encourage Zurich employees to help in their communities.

After the outbreak of the pandemic, Z Zurich Foundation, a charitable foundation funded by Zurich Insurance Group, refocused its efforts on helping those who provide urgent medical attention, food supplies, mental health counseling and other support to the most vulnerable. Charities have seen donations slide during the pandemic lockdown, leaving them short of funds to provide care to those in need.

“We have helped hundreds of thousands of people directly and expect to help many times that indirectly,” said Gary Shaughnessy, Chair of the Z Zurich Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “We have acted in every region in which Zurich operates, delivering support to charities and their beneficiaries in Latin America; Europe, Middle East and Africa; Asia Pacific and North America. Thanks to the commitment of Zurich’s people and local charities, we have been able to act rapidly.”

The Foundation has committed CHF 2.5 million to support the organizations it already works with, and to the charities Zurich’s business units globally have been working with for a long time, to enable them to continue providing services to those severely impacted by the pandemic. Another CHF 14 million has been set aside to fund local initiatives, in collaboration with Zurich offices and people, to support countries in responding to their local situation and needs. In addition, the Z Zurich Foundation has offered to match funds raised by Zurich employees to support local charities.

The support is welcome relief in many communities where COVID-19 has made living conditions difficult. In Portugal, for example, the Foundation donated €22,400 to Comunidade Vida e Paz, whose funds dried up as demand for their services to feed the hungry soared by an additional 600 people per day. A separate facility, Centro Padre Alvez Correia, a support center for migrants, received €40,000 to feed families.

Hugo Ventura, chairman of Centro Padre Alvez Correia, said the aid will help the organization provide “a complete and nutritious food basket” to around 325 families in the Lisbon area. “I would like to express our immense gratitude for the financial support,” he said in a letter to the Z Zurich Foundation.

The Isle of Man Foodbank received a GBP 30,000 donation and a promise to match funds raised by Zurich employees. “I am almost at a loss for words to express our thanks for this amazing donation,” said Jane Mellon, Director of the Foodbank.

Donations that will help feed the hungry went to programs in a number of other countries as well, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Italy and New Zealand.

Donations are also being made to groups that help at-risk youth and seriously ill children. In Australia, AUD 30,000 was given to Beyond Empathy, which works with young people from indigenous communities. An organization in Japan called Shine On! Kids received JPY 6 million to support the Beads of Courage® program, a form of arts-in-medicine for children going through cancer treatment. The Children’s Cancer Foundation in Singapore was given SGD 15,000 as financial aids for home-based learning facilities and Al Noor Training Centre, which provides holistic training & rehabilitation services to children with disabilities in United Arab Emirates got AED 120,000 to sustain and continue to provide services to vulnerable young people during the lockdown.

Groups helping the homeless, those who support victims of domestic violence and others that are caring for people who cannot work during pandemic lockdowns are also receiving funds. Hospitals have been beneficiaries of funds to buy ventilators, testing kits, beds for intensive care units and other equipment.

“We are also launching several employee engagement initiatives such as charity games to provide Zurich employees with opportunities to support their communities and charities close to their heart,” said Gary Shaughnessy.

“As we go through this unprecedented situation, we will continue to look at ways to support the most vulnerable in our communities,” he said.