Swiss fundraising charity breaks donation record
Switzerland's charity, the Solidarity Chain, raked in a record SFr86.2 million ($50 million) in donations in the year 2000. The organisation's efforts attracted SFr72 million for victims of last autumn's floods and landslides in Switzerland.
The new total, revealed in the charity’s annual report, surpassed 1999’s figure of SFr80.3 million.
In 2000, the organisation, which is now in its 54th year, launched four national campaigns – three of which were aimed at helping victims of floods and famine in Africa and Asia.
However, its fourth major campaign for the year focused on families hit by last year’s flooding in cantons Ticino and Valais. The Solidarity Chain was able to respond to over two-thirds of 3,500 requests for financial assistance from the area, with funds of SFr 2.5 million.
According to the Chain’s new report, SFr65 million went to projects led by partner organisations – in addition to the funds it has given to children’s projects abroad. Most of these projects are relevant to long-term programmes of education, food and medical care.
The Solidarity Chain is part of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation and organises fund-raising campaigns for charities.
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