There is room for many more in Danish sports clubs – including young people with autism, ADHD, or other cognitive challenges.

And now a donation of 100,000 kroner from 'Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit og Kjeld', which owns Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S, opens the door for DGI to start integrating young people with autism or other cognitive difficulties into organized sports at 15 locations across the country with the project TEAM Fred.

This is stated by Jonas Hansen, who is the project manager at DGI for TEAM Fred.

– DGI is very pleased with the grant from Sol og Strand Fonden. In 2022, we will start 15 introductory programs for children and young people with ADHD, autism, and other cognitive challenges. These programs will be spread across the country and launched through a collaboration between special schools, tennis and/or padel clubs, and DGI.

PROJECT MANAGER: WE MUST ASSIST LOCAL CLUBS FROM PLANNING TO INTEGRATION

– The funds from Sol og Strand Fonden enable DGI to help and guide schools and clubs all the way from the planning phase to after the school program (6-10 weeks), where the focus will be on integrating interested children and young people with cognitive challenges into the clubs. The goal is precisely that the project's children and young people should realize that there is also room for them in the country's sports clubs, says Jonas Hansen.

– The project offers startup packages to the 15 involved clubs – including rackets, inspirational materials, club grants, and free spots in special pedagogical workshops for the club's coaches. In this way, we ensure that the clubs are ready to give the children a warm welcome, so they can also enjoy the many joys of organized sports. We can't wait to get started in the new year, says project manager Jonas Hansen from DGI.

”HOLIDAY WITH A GOOD HEART” – THE PROFITS BENEFIT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, NOT CAPITAL FUNDS

It is unique in the Danish tourism industry that the vast majority of the profits from Sol og Strand's rental of summer houses and holiday homes over a few years are converted into support for charitable and local causes. Instead of ending up in foreign capital funds and money tanks.

The chairman of the fund's board, Jens Stadum, is pleased that both homeowners, holiday guests, and employees have contributed input to the process – and that the fund can now distribute one million kroner to charitable purposes for the second year in a row:

– We can see from the applications – and from the feedback we receive from last year's recipients of donations from ”Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit and Kjeld” – that the money makes an important difference for many of the people who are struggling and facing challenges. And this applies both in Denmark and outside Danish borders. There is a real need for money, says the chairman.

– We can say with a clear conscience that you contribute to doing something good for others when you take a holiday through Sol og Strand. This is what we call ”Holiday with a good heart,” says Jens Stadum.

– We have already decided that we will open for applications for the next distribution pool after the summer of 2022, so that next year in December we can also allocate 1 million kroner to good causes. Our expectation is that from 2023 we can distribute even larger amounts from the fund. Just like this year, the plan going forward is to gather input from homeowners, holiday guests, and employees at Sol og Strand when we open for applications for the next distributions, says Jens Stadum.

FOUNDERS OF THE FOUNDATION: SOL OG STRAND MUST REMAIN DANISH – AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

It is the founders of Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S, Margit and Kjeld Andersen, who established the "Fonden Sol og Strand ved Margit og Kjeld".

The couple had a dual wish – namely to keep Sol og Strand in Danish hands, but also to ensure that the company's profits primarily go to charitable and humanitarian purposes.

– We have received the money we need. And we can see that others can greatly benefit from it if we channel the profits further to humanitarian and charitable purposes. We are confirmed in this when we see the long line of qualified applications that have come to the foundation again this year, says Kjeld Andersen, who, together with his wife Margit Andersen, established Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental 42 years ago.

Margit Andersen adds:

– We are very pleased to see the quality of the work we donate money to. It is clear that the applications come from organizations that are passionate about making a difference. And that is what matters to us, says Margit Andersen.

FURTHER COMMENTS:

Jonas Hansen,
project manager for DGI’s project TEAM Fred,
tel. 61 71 85 00

Jens Stadum,
chairman of the board of "Fonden Sol og Strand ved Margit og Kjeld",
tel. 40 85 67 33

Kristian Andersen,
PR and press manager at Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S,
tel. 40293837