Thursday, November 6, 2008 -

The German company Geelen & Geelen consists of a magazine, the DZKF (Deutsche Zeitschrift für Klinische Forschung) and a personnel service for clinical research, the MZD (Monitor Zentrale Deutschland). Geelen & Geelen will celebrate its 15th anniversary next year. Back then both services were completely new and borne out of idealism.

Our goal is to give clinical research professionals the recognition they deserve and to ensure that they can do their work well. On our website www.geelengeelen.com you can see that our corporate mission is “People matter to us”. That is how we do business and that’s how we treat one another.

Right from the start, when our financial situation was still precarious, we made the decision that we would endorse and sponsor charities the moment our situation improved and that we would continue to do so in order to ensure our corporate identity in good times. That was actually the cradle of Children's Choice (CC) with which we hoped to ignite a much bigger initiative but which in the end turned out to be beyond reach. In retrospective I think that I just do not have Chaim’s (founder of the Peduli Anak Foundation) talents, however, I am happy that I saw Chaim on the television. We chose Peduli Anak because it is run in a professional manner and we also did not want to “lose a dime”!

Furthermore, I like the idea that Peduli Anak doesn’t only “give fish” but they also “show them how to fish”! The fact that Peduli Anak is a Dutch organisation and related to our history is also a bonus.

Personally, I am very motivated to do something because I feel very ashamed when I see the West busy pursuing wars and oil when not enough is being done to ensure that the situation of everyone on this planet is improved. I also find it hard to comprehend how the Netherlands can tolerate a politics that throws billions down the drain; You should join the politics (let me know when do, I will join too then)!

I would say this: Dear Minister, please give Peduli Anak 10 million and let us then see what Peduli Anak will accomplish! Peduli Anak “sweeps its own porch” and starts immediately with actions without being caught in lame talking. They also make sure to deliver visible results. What more can you ask for as a sponsor?

I really can not see how people can choose not to support Peduli Anak; For me it is the most ideal project and even my children will support Peduli Anak through an alternative Christmas present.

In Germany together with Children’s Choice we are making plans to do more PR and fundraising for PA. We will involve our staff and business partner in this initiative and we hope that many other companies will follow our example.

Update:

Since the launch of the Smart Kid Program, Geelen & Geelen have decided to sponsor 3 children through a scholarship. We are also very grateful for the 2000 euros they have just donated for the computer-room where soon 80 children from our shelter and from neighbouring villages will get computer lessons.

(written by Francois Geelen)