ST. PAULI AND TK UNVEIL NEW "BETTER WORLDERS" INITIATIVE
Thursday, 05. October 2017, 19:00 Uhr
FC St. Pauli and health insurers Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) have extended their partnership on the social responsibility front. TK have teamed up with KIEZHELDEN, the club's social responsibility umbrella, to launch the "Better Worlders" initiative. Its mission: to make the world a slightly better place every day.
"We're doing something for society because in doing so we're also doing something for our health," said Dr Jens Baas, chairman of the TK board. "The Better Worlders project commits to honour this principle and we want to address socially relevant issues that can lead to health problems."
St. Pauli technical director Ewald Lienen said: "We're delighted to have a strong partner in TK with whom we can drive forward our social engagement activities. Regionally, nationally and internationally, there are so many ways to play a part and help people in need. With the Better Worlders initiative we want to show that anyone can achieve great things even with small gestures. We want to encourage people to become active."
An initial activity took place back in July, when TK and KIEZHELDEN invited 1,000 refugees to the game against Werder Bremen, and another is planned for the visit of FC Kaiserslautern. "Brush aid!" is the slogan and also an appeal for people to donate toothbrushes and toothpaste to the aid organisation Hanseatic Help, who will then distribute them to the needy, especially socially disadvantaged children. Supporters, members and anyone attending the game on Friday, 13 October, can donate toothbrushes before, during and after the game by dropping them in the boxes put out on the concourse outside the South Stand. The collection drive will continue outside Hamburg, for example at the away game against SV Sandhausen on 23 October.
"Everyone can help" Arnd Boekhoff
Arnd Boekhoff, co-founder and board member of Hanseatic Help, said: "Hanseatic Help is based on a simple insight: everyone can help. All you need is a bit of courage and a good community. We're delighted to be on the joint TK/St. Pauli team to promote more understanding on the launch of the Better Worlders initiative. Let's prove the doubters wrong. Bring toothpaste! Bring brushes!“
TK staff are already leading by example, having collected some 1,300 toothbrushes and 400 tubes of toothpaste in just five days. "The staff at our Hamburg headquarters were the first to respond and hand in their donations, and our regional offices can now follow suit," said Dr Baas.
Photos: Witters / FC St. Pauli