Record donations at the Swiss Red Cross Gala in Zurich

More than CHF 400,000 for projects in Togo and Laos

The official gala of the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) was held at the Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich on Saturday 3 September. Under the patronage of Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey, SRC President Annemarie Huber-Hotz and main sponsor Marco Illy, Head of Credit Suisse Investment Banking Switzerland welcomed 400 top-class international guests. The event was on the theme of water, as more than one billion people still do not have any access to clean drinking water. From the auctions, donations and a tombola, more than CHF 400,000 was raised for children and families in Togo and Laos, which is a record for this event, held for the fourth time this year.

Water is a prerequisite for good health and development.
In her speech Annemarie Huber-Holz, the SRC President, highlighted the importance of water supplies in Togo and Laos. "In Togo and Laos less than half of the population has access to clean water. Water and hygiene go hand in hand. Together they are the prerequisite for the good health and development of a community," said Annemarie Huber-Hotz.

Marco Illy, the Head of Credit Suisse Investment Banking Switzerland, stated it was intolerable that 1.5 million children should die every year because water is lacking or is contaminated. In his moving speech before 400 international guests, he said: "In some countries of the Western world the national debt has reached its limits. National deficits need to be reduced and welfare spending cut. Public spending on development aid will certainly also need to be cut in some countries. The ones to suffer will mainly be those people who are not in a position to help themselves. Unlike the developed countries, the world's poorest countries are unable to hand out stimulus packages to help their economies. It is all the more important for private companies to take their social responsibility."

The Red Cross Gala is held in Zurich every two years.

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