THE FOUNDATION

For the founder of a foundation, Wednesday, July 14, 2010, marked a dream start for the Schwenningen-based entrepreneur Joachim Spitz: Federal Minister for Family Affairs Kristina Schröder herself presented him with the foundation charter. This was fitting, as the good deeds Spitz will undertake under the umbrella of the ProKids Foundation fall within her purview: ProKids raises funds for projects that benefit underprivileged children. Under the "ProKids" brand, Joachim Spitz has established two local aid initiatives in recent years – in Villingen-Schwenningen and Rottweil – which will now operate under the foundation's umbrella. His vision, he said yesterday, is to initiate "as many local initiatives as possible" that operate independently and provide regionally focused assistance. "With our foundation," the founder stated, "we want to help as many children as possible." Spitz revealed that specific projects in Villingen-Schwenningen are already in the planning stages.

ProKids intends to continue funding school meals for children from disadvantaged families as before. This, however, entails considerable expense; approximately €25,000 in donations are needed annually.



Member of Parliament Siegfried Kauder, who presented the foundation charter together with Federal Family Minister Schröder, praised the work of ProKids and described Joachim Spitz as a doer who takes action instead of just talking. "It's easy to talk about volunteering, but he paid for the baby hatch," Kauder dryly remarked, referring to a major social project that had only recently been completed: ProKids had gone to great lengths to install such a hatch in Schwenningen.