“TRIBUTE TO BAMBI’s mission is to provide children with opportunities. In Germany, one in six children lives in poverty. We want to help these children from disadvantaged backgrounds by facilitating their integration into society,” explained Patricia Riekel. The charity initiative on the eve of the BAMBI gala has long become a personal cause for the BUNTE editor-in-chief. “Our foundation supports private initiatives that take care of children and teenagers and get them off the streets,” said the BAMBI chief coordinator.

The Düsseldorf Children’s Food Bank, the Duisburg Soup Kitchen and the Children and Teenager Center “The Ark” are among these facilities. They offer young people more than healthy meals, namely recreational activities and homework supervision. Donations help to expand these offerings.

Two years ago, the proceeds collected at the charity event went towards building an “Ark Center” in Munich, part of the 2007 donations is used for a new building in Düsseldorf. Verona Pooth is a TRIBUTE TO BAMBI ambassador and has recently visited the organization’s headquarters in Berlin. “Help is crucial. We have to fully integrate children into our society and protect them,” the TV star commented.

The City of Düsseldorf has also pledged support: “We have been looking for a home for ‘The Ark’ and have found a property of 1,500 square meters,” stated Burkhard Hintsche, head of the city’s social services department. Together with Christina Begale, managing director of Düsseldorf Marketing and Tourism Ltd., he announced the municipal commitment: The project will receive € 500,000, a donation which brings the total to € 972,636.

€ 322,636 were collected prior to the charity night: “Our partners helped us raise this amount,” according to Peter Levetzow, managing director of the Burda People Group. Several companies had supported the initiative, among them Peek & Cloppenburg with a special charity line, Smart with three free cars and Silhouette with the sale of glasses cleaning cloth.

Further donations were collected at the event itself: With raffle tickets on offer, many celebrity guests invested into the future of Germany’s children.

Please make your contribution to: TRIBUTE TO BAMBI donation account 3751210121, bank code 70020500 (Bank für Sozialwirtschaft).