For decades, the Volkswagen workforce has assumed social responsibility for those in need: in the so-called employee donation alone, the employees of Volkswagen AG and the company donated a total of around 750,000 euros in 2021. In this way we help disadvantaged people at the Volkswagen AG locations. Concrete projects are supported which, for example, improve the situation of people whose quality of life is impaired by illness, disability or other circumstances. The Tafeln (food banks) in Gifhorn and Wittingen each received a total of 50,000 euros for the purchase of refrigerated vehicles. Furthermore, small facilities are considered when purchasing IT equipment, office furniture or therapy equipment as well as e-bikes and cargo bikes. Likewise, leisure activities can be realized with socially disadvantaged families for which there would otherwise be no funds available.
The willingness of the workforce to donate was particularly evident in 2021 in the joint appeal for donations with the DRK for the flood victims in the Ahr Valley, which brought in more than 250,000 euros. The appeal for donations "Nothilfe Ukraine" in favor of the UN refugee aid Germany for the UNHCR in March 2022 reached the million mark within a short time.
Restcentspende: Donations terre des hommes
Another regular form of donation by the workforce is the so-called Restcentspende: Every month, numerous employees donate the remaining cents that appear after the decimal point on their payslip. The income supplements the sustainable financing of the projects at the Group's locations around the world. The company's workforce has been supporting the international children's charity terre des hommes for more than 22 years on the initiative and under the leadership of the group works council. In 2021, the donation amount was over 1.3 million euros. At the Volkswagen Group's production sites in Argentina, Brazil, India, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand and Germany, a variety of projects for disadvantaged children and young people are funded from the donations. They receive protection, care and the opportunity for education as well as professional prospects.
Regardless of these achievements by the workforce, the company makes extensive donations to social, cultural and sustainability purposes.