It hits the whole family hard when a child or adult is struck by a life-threatening illness. So hard that the many tasks of everyday life become an immeasurable burden on top of dealing with the life-threatening illness. At the same time, many young people feel unhappy and suffer from loneliness, depression, or anxiety.

But both groups can do something for each other. This is demonstrated by the organization "Det kærlige måltid" (The Loving Meal), which, with a donation of DKK 100,000 from "Fonden Sol og Strand Margit og Kjeld" (The Sol og Strand Foundation of Margit and Kjeld), which owns Sol og Strand A/S, can help even more young people and families.

The donation from the Margit and Sol og Strand Foundation will make a big difference to the organization, says founder and director Charlotte Thyberg.

DIRECTOR: YOUNG PEOPLE LEARN NEW SKILLS, FORM SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND DO GOOD FOR OTHERS

We are a small organization with big ambitions to make a difference for both families affected by illness and our fantastic young volunteers. A donation of DKK 100,000 means a great deal to "Det kærlige måltid" (The Loving Meal). With the money from Sol og Strand , we Sol og Strand help even more families in 2022 and at the same time create the best possible kitchen environment for our volunteers. We are very happy and proud to be one of the ten organizations that Sol og Strand chosen to support.

In the kitchens, the young volunteers build a strong community where the focus is on making a difference for people in crisis while having a good afternoon together. They learn new skills and are taught good kitchen hygiene, sustainability, cooking, and good ingredients. For vulnerable young people, the kitchen is a safe space where they can be with other young people on their own terms. Conversations flow more easily over pots and cutting boards, and all the young people share the joy of making such a big difference for people affected by illness. Every week, the young people also write a personal card to the recipients, and they often receive a reply the following week thanking them for both the food and the card, says Charlotte Thyberg.

"HOLIDAYS WITH A GOOD HEART" – SURPLUS FUNDS 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 are converted into support for charitable and local causes within a few years. Instead of ending up in foreign capital funds and money tanks.

The chairman of the fund's board, Jens Stadum, is delighted that homeowners, holidaymakers, and employees have all contributed to the process—and that the fund is now able to distribute DKK 1 million to charitable causes 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 the Sol og Strand and Sol og Strand Fund—that the money makes a significant difference to many people who are struggling and facing challenges. This applies both in Denmark and beyond its borders. There is a real need for money, says the chairman of the board.

"We can say with a clear conscience that when you take a vacation through Sol og Strand, you are contributing to doing something good for others. That's what we call 'vacation with a good heart,'" says Jens Stadum.

We have already decided that we will open applications for the next distribution pool after the summer of 2022, so that we can also donate DKK 1 million to good causes in December next year. We expect that we will then be able to distribute even larger amounts from the fund from 2023 onwards. As was the case this year, the plan going forward is to gather input from homeowners, holidaymakers, and Sol og Strand employees when we open for applications for the next distributions, says Jens Stadum.

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

The founders of Sol og Strand A/S, Margit and Kjeld Andersen, established the " Sol og Strand Foundation Sol og Strand Margit and Kjeld."

The couple had two wishes: to keep Sol og Strand Danish hands, but also to ensure that the company's profits would primarily go to charitable and humanitarian causes.

"We have received the money we need. And we can see that others can benefit greatly from it if we channel the surplus to humanitarian and charitable causes. This is confirmed when we see the long list of qualified applications that have been submitted to the fund again this year, says Kjeld Andersen, who, together with his wife Margit Andersen, established Sol og Strand 42 years ago.

Margit Andersen adds:

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

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Jens Stadum,
Chairman of the Board of Directors Sol og Strand the Margit and Sol og Strand Foundation,
Tel. 40 85 67 33

Kristian Andersen,
PR and Press Manager at Sol og Strand A/S,
Tel. 40 29 38 37