TFWA Care
“Good things only happen if we make them happen”
In the past few years TFWA has extended the scope of the ethical principles on which it was founded – embodied in the motto ‘by the trade, for the trade’ – to support numerous charity projects and worthy causes. This support has recently been formalised with the creation of TFWA Care. The mission of TFWA Care is to distribute financial resources to humanitarian organisations or charities which, through tangible projects, benefit people, especially women and children, and which enable the recipients to help themselves to improve their lives.
TFWA Care aims to select a small number of causes to support that meet these criteria, and have a special attachment to TFWA and/or any of its members.
TFWA believes that charity should extend beyond financial donations, and encourages its members and the duty free and travel retail industry in general to get involved in the projects it supports in other ways.
Heart 2 Art
At TFWA World Exhibition 2009, we launched the Heart 2 Art charity drive, donating €50,000 to Smile Train and The Lotus Flower Trust, and asking the industry to match the sum through the sale of paintings by children helped by the charities. In the end, €100,938 was raised...
Supported projects
Below is a list of projects TFWA Care has been supporting to date, with testimonials, contact details and ways you can also provide support.
A foundation dedicated to the research into treatment of the physically disabling autistic disorder Retts syndrome.
TFWA Care support: TFWA began supporting the Retts Syndrome Research Trust following a recommendation from a TFWA member. Its funding has contributed to several projects, with 98% of TFWA’s donations so far going directly to research into the treatment of Retts Syndrome. As well as research, other projects undertaken by RSRT include the setting up of a highly-respected advisory board of scientists, establishing dialogue with pharmaceutical companies and launching a high-profile series of international workshops on the problem. The Trust’s projects are carried out by some of the world’s leading scientists.
How you can get involved: Retts Syndrome Research Trust’s projects require consistent high levels of funding and the trust would be delighted to hear from anyone with an interest in donating or helping to raise funds.
Contact: Executive director Monica Coenraads, tel: +1 203 243 5733,
email: monica(at)rsrt.org
Learn more: http://www.rsrt.org/rttwatch/2009/Rett_Syndrome_Research_Trust_PAC.html
CEW France funds Les Centres de Beauté, which by providing beauticians to hospitals supports the important role that self-esteem and cosmetics can play in women’s recovery from illness.
TFWA Care support: TFWA has long been a supporter of CEW France thanks to the close relationship between the beauty and duty-free markets. In recent years it has donated to several projects .
How you can get involved: CEW France is always looking for additional funding to provide more beauticians. Alternatively if you are active in the beauty industry you may be able to donate product or lend your expertise in other ways
Learn more: www.cew.asso.fr
Charity dedicated to fighting Leukaemia, the most widespread form of childhood cancer.
TFWA Care support: TFWA became involved in Children with Leukaemia through Paul Hogan, managing director of PPS Publications, whose daughter was diagnosed with Leukaemia at the age of eight. Paul has since raised funds for the charity through several marathons.
How you can get involved: Children with Leukaemia seeks involvement from both individuals and companies. It offers advice on running your own fundraising projects and also organises several of its own in which you can participate.
Contact: Pippa Gough, tel: +44 20 7404 0808,
email: corporate(at)leukaemia.org
Learn more: www.leukaemia.org
Helping disadvantaged young people in remote areas of India by building new, or renovating old, schools, homes and orphanages.
TFWA Care support: TFWA president Erik Juul-Mortensen and World Duty Free business relations and external affairs director Sarah Branquinho became involved in The Lotus Flower Trust through their son, who helped on one of the projects in India. After visiting the project and themselves helping with construction, Sarah and Erik sought TFWA involvement in a project in Patrani in India.
The Lotus Flower Trust was a beneficiary of Heart 2 Art, and, through the support of TFWA and the travel retail industry, has been able to fund four projects to improve the lot of several impoverished children in remote areas of India.
How you can get involved: As well as financial contributions, the Lotus Flower Trust also welcomes active involvement in its construction and renovation projects, and is always looking for books and other educational materials for schools and orphanages.
The Lotus Flower Trust is looking for Indian companies that can help to source old computers, sewing machines, mobile phones, etc for its skills centres, which give young people a chance to improve their employment prospects. Old equipment cannot be imported into India, so local supplies are essential. If you are able to help, please contact johnhuntnfo(a)lotusflowerttrust.com.
Learn more: www.lotusflowertrust.org
The world’s biggest and most effective cleft palate charity aims to bring simple and affordable yet life-changing operations to children with cleft palates across the world, particularly in countries where many people cannot afford the operations.
TFWA Care support: TFWA Care has made several donations and participated in several fund raising activities organised by companies and individuals within the industry for Smile Train over the past three years.
Smile Train was one of two charities to share the €100,938 raised by the recent Heart 2 Art fundraising initiative.
How you can get involved: Several companies within the industry run fundraising initiatives for Smile Train, including internal staff fundraising projects, donating a percentage of sales from particular products at particular locations, or participating in the Miles for Smiles fun runs, the next of which will take place in Dubai during the MEDFA 2009 Conference in November.
Contact: info(at)smiletrain.org
Learn more: www.smiletrain.org
Alpha Sri Lanka Tsunami Fund
An industry-specific project led by Alpha Retail Asia (now part of Autogrill) to relocate the inhabitants of a Sri Lankan village destroyed by the Indian Ocean Tsunami of December 2004.
TFWA Care support: TFWA was involved in the project from the very start, donating funds to help buy the plot of land for a new village and finance the construction of housing on the new site. More recently TFWA is proud to have been able to open the Linda Hopkins Memorial community centre there, in memory of late, much-loved TFWA vice-president research & conferences Linda Hopkin.
TFWA Supports these organisations
- Rett Syndrome Research Trust
- CEW Foundation
- Children with Leukaemia
- The Lotus Flower Trust
- The Smile Train
and Alpha Sri Lanka Tsunami Fund
For TFWA members only
Members are encouraged to nominate a project or cause that fits in with the vision and mission outlined above by downloading a form on the TFWA Care page in the "Members only" dedicated section.
