Editorial
The COVID-19 pandemic is everywhere. It has been disrupting our lives and daily routine for too long. The crisis we have experienced since March 2020 has affected us all significantly. It has affected our private lives, our working lives, our hobbies and our dreams. For many of us, everything was brought to a sudden standstill in 2020.
The pandemic has turned everything upside down. Fear and uncertainty have taken over. The consequences are only just beginning to be felt and will stay with us for months, if not years. The health, economic and social crisis has shaken many of our certainties. Our convictions have been put to the test. And yet. Thanks to resilience, courage and our capacity to adapt and, sometimes at the cost of enormous sacrifices, the system has held strong. WE have stood firm.
Last year, in this same report, I mentioned the future economic impact of COVID-19. It cannot yet be fully quantified. Yet, one thing is sure: a great number of people need help, support and guidance. It is our social and economic responsibility to do everything we can to remain by their side and to help and assist them as best we can.
“Fondation Groupe Mutuel”, set up in 2018, is also working towards this goal. In March 2020, at the very beginning of the pandemic, we made an urgent donation of CHF 2 million. As a socially responsible and dedicated company, Groupe Mutuel, through its foundation, actively supported people in need by donating CHF 1 million to the Chaîne du Bonheur. Fondation Groupe Mutuel also joined forces with La Vaudoise Assurance and QoQa to support Swiss SMEs, by taking part in an innovative project and donating an additional CHF 1 million.
In 2020, Fondation Groupe Mutuel supported once again the RTS Swiss television event “Coeur à Coeur”, which took place from 12 to 18 December. The “Cœur au Balcon” challenge, fundraising in agencies and other in-house initiatives: everyone was encouraged to support children who are victims of domestic violence in Switzerland. Thanks to a tremendous demonstration of solidarity, the overall result of the event “Cœur à Cœur 2020” was CHF 2,028,186, raised in favour of the right to a childhood in Switzerland.
The objectives of the foundation are ambitious. It is committed to promoting health and prevention. and offers support to Groupe Mutuel's private and corporate clients, as well as to non-profit entities, in their efforts to promote health in Switzerland.
In this activity report, you will find a summary of our actions and donations in 2020. Over 20 associations from all over the country, both in German and French-speaking Switzerland, were funded by Fondation Groupe Mutuel in 2020. These are associations and foundations with concrete, ambitious and sustainable health projects in a wide range of fields.
I look forward to being able to continue to oversee and develop the actions of Fondation Groupe Mutuel over the next few years, so that we can move even closer to the tangible needs of the most disadvantaged. In order to support these persons in a hands-on way, without administrative complications and without judgement. In other words, to be committed to the most disadvantaged, while remaining at your side. This is our role and our duty.
Karin Perraudin, President
