CSS Foundation honours social commitments with 100,000 Swiss Francs

The CSS Foundation supports socially relevant and charitable projects by non-profit organisations. 'Our board of trustees has recognised 4 innovative projects focused on the health and well-being of people in various life situations,' emphasised Foundation President Dr. Lucrezia Meier-Schatz at the ceremonial presentation in Lucerne. Since its inception in 1987, the CSS Foundation has supported around 100 organisations with a total amount exceeding 3 million Swiss Francs.

Association BoulevardSanté, Lausanne: CHF 25,000 The Association BoulevardSanté works in the area of physical, psychological, sexual, and psychosocial health for deaf and hard of hearing people. It develops its activities for both its target group, the hearing disability network, and professionals working in healthcare. The services are offered in different forms: courses, lectures, workshops, continuous information, and health counselling. These services are free of charge, and the offering is continuously being expanded.

Genossenschaft Zeitgut, Sarnen: CHF 25,000 Zeitgut Obwalden Cooperative accompanies people in everyday life and promotes health within the social environment. Its volunteers design low-threshold and free event formats in communities, strengthening movement, cardiovascular health, and well-being. Story cafes and 'Listening Time' visits stimulate the mind, reduce loneliness, and promote mental health. Shopping assistance and other support services enable health-impaired individuals to live independently at home for longer and relieve caretaking relatives. Support is provided in the form of tandems: Zeitgut Obwalden currently has around 550 members, who operate within 280 active support relationships. Members who contribute hours can redeem them for their own support within the organisation if needed.

Verein Junge Autoren, Basel: CHF 25,000 Young Authors Association Basel Switzerland supports young people aged 8 to 25 who have experienced or are experiencing trauma or challenging situations. The project is a new approach that builds on the resources of the affected individuals and does not directly address the serious experiences. The aim is to focus the affected individuals on their healthy and creative sides, providing them with the opportunity to process these heavy experiences creatively. This is achieved by writing a fantasy book together, under the guidance of a professional. It is not about writing a biography but rather a work of fiction. This could be science-fiction, a novel, a thriller, a love story, a drama, or a comic – depending on the individual needs of the 'Young Authors'.

Winterhilfe Kanton Bern, Bern: CHF 25,000 Winter Aid Canton Bern supports and relieves poverty-stricken households in the Canton of Bern with its 'Health Costs' project. Many affected by poverty choose the highest deductible to have lower monthly premiums and cannot afford high out-of-pocket costs in case of illness. By covering costs of medical and health-related services, Winter Aid promotes medical equality for those affected by poverty. This helps prevent medical and health-related consequences that could arise from foregoing such necessary services.

Editor's note: Image rights belong to the respective publisher. Image rights: CSS Kranken-Versicherung AG