“How HCOB fulfills its responsibilty towards society“
As a Hamburg-based company, an international view, reliability and social responsibility are the core of Hamburg Commercial Bank’s self-image. This applies to both its business activities and the areas in which the Bank takes special social responsibility. Here, HCOB wants to have a positive impact especially in its home region with focus on social issues, in particular education of young people. Additionally, the Bank supports people who need help the most which was reflected by the support offered to people affected by the war in Ukraine. HCOB is dedicated to making a significant contribution as a partner, sponsor and supporter in its region. The war in Ukraine has caused massive increases in energy prices and high inflation in Germany.
Overview Donations
The war in Ukraine has caused massive increases in energy prices and high inflation in Germany. This is affecting those people who are in need of help the most - including many children, young people and students. Additionally, this has left many people defenceless and caused a surge in support. Therefore, in 2022 Hamburg Commercial Bank has donated just over €750,000 to different organisations which directly help those in need. The overall donations were mostly determined by three themes: immediate support for people in the Ukraine, local organisations to especially support young people and the Bank’s own aid initiative #HCOBEmployeesStandWithUkraine. As a first response to the war in Ukraine and a first wave of donations, HCOB supported various established international NGOs with €100,000, which were able to provide immediate support to people in need. Towards the end of the year, Hamburg Commercial Bank has donated €450,000 to several charitable organisations in northern Germany that promote and support young people. A total of nine such organisations have each received €50,000 for the valuable work they do to help other people, supported by numerous volunteers. In addition, HCOB supported the #HCOBEmployees StandWithUkraine initiative, which was launched by the Bank’s employees. Since the beginning of the war of aggression in Ukraine, engaged colleagues have been collecting donations in kind and money, buying urgently needed aid supplies and transporting them to western Ukraine. HCOB supports the engagement of its employees with special leave for the journeys to the border region and pays the transport costs. Overall, the Bank donated €148,000 to this aid initiative with the vast majority resulting from doubling the amount of donations from the employees.
Donations for those suffering most The following organisations were the recipients of HCOB’s donations in the reporting year:
Kieler Initiative gegen Kinderarmut Not all children start life with good conditions; in Kiel alone, around 30% of minors are considered poor. For children from low-income families, it is often not possible to learn a musical instrument, attend a ballet school or join a sports club – although these are all important contributions to the development of a satisfied, self-confident, and selfdetermined personality. The “Kieler Initiative gegen Kinderarmut” (Kiel Initiative against Child Poverty), or “inka” for short, is a non-profit organisation that gives children the chance to pursue their musical or sporting interests.
ArbeiterKind.de The non-profit organisation “ArbeiterKind.de” (Workingclass Child) encourages students from families without university experience to be the first in their family to study. 6,000 volunteers are involved in 80 local ArbeiterKind.de groups across Germany to inform schoolchildren about the possibility of studying and to support them on their way from entering university to successfully completing their studies. The goal of ArbeiterKind.de is to increase the chances of children from non-academic families to advance in education.
STUBE ”STUBE” (Study Support Programme) Nord offers students from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe the opportunity to exchange experiences about living and studying in another country. STUBE complements individual subject studies with events that raise students’ awareness and qualifications in development policy. STUBE North is an educational programme of “Brot für die Welt”.
Projekt Arche In the fight against child poverty, “Projekt Arche” is particularly committed to helping children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. More than 4,000 children and young people are reached throughout Germany. In Hamburg, there are currently three locations with children’s and youth centers and an after-school care center.
Löwenherz ”Löwenherz” (Lionheart) is an initiative of pro familia Schleswig-Holstein against violence in the family. The project is dedicated to children and young people who have been or are witnesses or victims of domestic violence. This involves not only physical, but also psychological or verbal violence. Löwenherz also addresses parents or caregivers.
Hamburger Abendblatt hilft e.V. The association “Hamburger Abendblatt hilft e.V.” supports children and young people from socially disadvantaged families, single parents as well as sick and elderly people. Since 1975, the association has supported, among others, sports and leisure projects, counseling and assistance services, child protection centers and youth welfare organisations in the Hamburg metropolitan region.
Der Norden hilft e.V. The association “Der Norden hilft e. V.” (North helps) is a voluntary association for Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein that supports needy and disabled people of all ages. For its members, voluntary work means helping to shape society and taking responsibility for it. Among other things, the association offers help to women and children who fled the war in Ukraine, runs a children’s clothing store and organises the “Wish Trees” campaign, which this year received more wishes for support than ever before.
Ankerland e.V. ”Ankerland e. V.” has been committed since 2008 to helping traumatized children who suffer mentally because of violence or abuse. Injuries caused by natural disasters or accidents can also take a heavy toll on children. In 2015, Ankerland opened Germany’s first intensive trauma therapy center for children and young people in Hamburg-Eppendorf.
Art Foundation for Schleswig-Holstein
Start-up Aid for Talented Young Artists
Elbe Philharmonic Hall With the Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg not only has a spectacular new architectural landmark but also one of the best concert halls in the world. The programme presents the best the international music scene has to offer, ranging from classical and jazz to world music and pop. At the same time, the city’s top-ranking orchestras, such as the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, the Philharmonic State Orchestra, and the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, create their own concert series. Hamburg Commercial Bank has supported the Elbphilharmonie as a “Classic Sponsor” since its opening in 2016.
Hamburg European Open Tennis Grand Slam feeling at the Rothenbaum! The Hamburg European Open in 2022 took place as a “combined event”. This means that men and women played in parallel in the Hanseatic city from 16 to 24 July 2022. The last time this happened in the history of the clay court classic was in 1978. “I am extremely happy that we have succeeded in doing this together with our partners. For me, this is a dream come true! For me, a combined tournament is the ultimate product for tennis fans”, said Tournament Director Sandra Reichel. The Hamburg European Open is now in illustrious company in the tournament landscape! There are only five other “combined events” in Europe: Wimbledon, the French Open, the two Masters’ tournaments in Rome and Madrid as well as Eastbourne (England). For HCOB a good reason to continue its commitment for corporate citizenship “combined” with equal opportunities for all genders. Advantage, Hamburg! Art Foundation for Schleswig-Holstein The Hamburg Commercial Bank promotes contemporary fine arts and culture in Schleswig-Holstein through its Art Foundation, which was established in 1992 by LB Kiel. The foundation allows a curator to develop and implement an art programme that corresponds to the foundation’s main objective, above all, supporting young, talented artists. Getting started in this profession, which is associated with a great deal of insecurity, requires a lot of courage and a strong, helping hand. We are happy to extend one.
