Mercedes 2002 Annual Report Download - page 68

62 |DaimlerChrysler’s Social Responsibility
DaimlerChrysler: a good corporate citizen
The company’s support of the World Childhood Foun-
dation (WCF) is just one example of DaimlerChrysler’s
committment to improving living conditions worldwide,
and of the seriousness with which the company
takes its responsibilities as a good corporate citizen.
DaimlerChrysler is one of the co-founders of this
charitable organization initiated by Sweden’s Queen
Silvia, and has supported its work with a donation of
11 million. The WCF looks after destitute street children
who have been sexually abused and who would other-
wise have virtually no chance of ever living a decent life.
The Foundation currently helps needy children in 37
projects worldwide.
It is not just the company but also its employees who
support this project: During their free time, approxi-
mately 600 DaimlerChrysler employees from 14 music
ensembles simultaneously staged benefit concerts
on behalf of the WCF at eleven locations throughout
Germany.
Responsibility for employees:
the fight against HIV/AIDS
The acquired immune-deficiency syndrome, AIDS, is the
most common cause of death in many countries, includ-
ing South Africa. As a result, the company loses many
highly skilled employees. As part of its Workplace
Initiative on HIV/AIDS, DaimlerChrysler South Africa is
providing medical care for those who need it as well as
information on the disease and on methods to prevent
it from spreading. Other members of this public-private
project are the South African government, the German
Society for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), trade unions
and various international organizations such as UNAIDS.
Protecting employees and their families against AIDS
has top priority at DaimlerChrysler. The company was
honored by the United Nations for its efforts in
combating AIDS when UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
presented the Award for Business Excellence in the
Workplace to CEO Jürgen E. Schrempp in June 2002.
Jürgen E. Schrempp was also appointed chairman of the
Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS.
Intercultural exchange
The need for greater intercultural understanding and
dialogue is one of the most pressing challenges of our
time, and DaimlerChrysler considers it a social and
corporate responsibility to promote cultural exchange
among people of different backgrounds.
The New York–Berlin bridge
Following the terrible events of September 11, 2001,
German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder initiated
a program that enabled 1,000 New York teenagers
aged 16 to 18 to tour Germany. DaimlerChrysler took
a leading role in this project, which was designed
to provide young people with an insight into German
culture and society.
A picture is worth a thousand words
In addition to sponsoring talented young musicians and
numerous orchestras, DaimlerChrysler also supports
the fine arts. For example, DaimlerChrysler sponsors
numerous cultural and art events in Germany and the
United States.
DaimlerChrysler’s own art collection is regularly
exhibited to employees and the public. In South Africa
DaimlerChrysler awarded a prize to young artists, whose
work was subsequently exhibited in Germany.
Jane Alexander, “African Adventure” (1999-2002); Last year, the “African
Adventure” sculpture installation was shown outside South Africa for the first
time in exhibitions of the artist’s work at DaimlerChrysler’s premises in
Stuttgart and Berlin. In recognition of her outstanding artistic achievement,
Jane Alexander was given the “DaimlerChrysler Award for South African
Sculpture 2002”.