In celebration of 75 years of Porsche sports cars, the Stuttgart-based automaker launched a large-scale fundraising campaign during the Le Mans 24-hour race: For every race lap completed by the three factory Porsche 963 racers, 750 euros were set aside for the “Racing for Charity” initiative. The Porsche Penske Motorsport hybrid prototypes completed a total of 733 laps at the 100th anniversary of the world’s largest endurance event. To commemorate its anniversary, Porsche boosted the donated sum of 549,750 euros to 911,000 euros, which will be distributed to three charitable organizations.
The associations Kinderherzen retten and Interplast Germany e.V. will each receive 350,000 euros from the funds raised by the “Racing for Charity” campaign. These funds will aid children in developing and crisis regions who are afflicted by heart disease, injuries, deformities or burns. The remaining 211,000 euros will go to the Ferry Porsche Foundation, established in May 2018 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Porsche brand. Donations from “Racing for Charity” will alleviate some of the burden on seriously ill children and their families, offering them some respite.
Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, Research and Development, states, “Porsche has consistently acknowledged its social responsibilities. With the ‘Racing for Charity’ initiative, we’ve successfully integrated this principle into motorsport for the first time.” To underscore their commitment, they have increased the original donation from 549,750 euros to 911,000 euros. He emphasizes that their support for the three charitable initiatives once again reinforces the central role of motorsport and people in Porsche’s DNA, extending their social responsibility beyond their factory gates.
The “Racing for Charity” campaign was awarded first place in the “Sustainable Endurance Award” by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest on the eve of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Porsche’s extensive social commitment focuses on people, with a commitment to a wide array of aid initiatives. They support over 150 sponsorship projects globally, emphasizing sustainable projects in the five core areas of sport, culture, environment, social issues, as well as education and science.
Prof. Friedhelm Beyersdorf, founder of Kinderherzen retten e.V., Prof. Jürgen Hermann Dolderer, board member of Interplast Germany e.V., and Dr. Sebastian Rudolph, Chairman of the Board of the Ferry Porsche Foundation, all express their gratitude towards Porsche for the “Racing for Charity” campaign. They emphasize that the funds will be utilized to treat children with various health issues from underdeveloped regions, enhance the quality of life of affected children and their families, support seriously ill children, provide education opportunities, and make their lives a little more enjoyable.
