Activities 2021, a small excerpt

It is highly likely that 2021 will be remembered by one and all mainly for the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic under which it laboured. Personal contacts and physical events…? Recalling the positive is important, such as our many funding projects, which while not publicised, were accomplished in an undiminished high number despite all the obstacles.

Events could either not be held at all, or only subject to the familiar safety and hygiene regulations. We therefore had to abandon our usual meetings and deal with essential business in what soon became habitual online meetings, also with regard to our contact with the organisations that we support. Unfortunately, it was quite impossible to meet for festive and joyous occasions, such as our inaugurations. This is why 2021 also yielded very little photo and video material to document the activities of the MARGARETE MÜLLER-BULL FOUNDATION. Let’s look at three important projects from that period. The devastating floods of 14 July 2021 in the Ahr valley and large parts of North Rhine-Westphalia called for swift action. Our emergency fund provided a six-figure sum to regional relief organisations to ensure fast support over the first few days. Many people there had lost their lives, many others all their belongings and property. Swift action without the red tape was the order of the day and our funding provided just that. An additional substantial sum went to the Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe e.V., a non-profit organisation based in Freiburg in Breisgau, which has been providing comprehensive support to children with cleft lips and palates for some 20 years. An operation that permanently changes the life of a child with a cleft lip or palate – and sometimes even saves their life – costs just €300. We were thus able to help many of these children. Thirdly, in 2021, we continued to support a cause that was very dear to the heart of our founder, the “Verein der Wachtelhunde” [German Spaniel Association] with an appropriate contribution to its lively association activities.