– I was positively surprised and very happy when Kjeld Andersen (editor's note: co-founder and board member of the fund) called to inform us that we had been selected to receive 100,000 kroner, says Søren Ravn Jensen, who is the director of the Julemærkefonden.

Nationwide, the Julemærkefonden operates a total of five Julemærkehjem with a combined 198 places. The annual operating costs amount to 120 million kroner, and previously, the Julemærkefonden derived most of its income from the sale of Julemærker. As fewer and fewer letters are sent, the incentive to buy Julemærker has also decreased.

– The sale of Julemærker now accounts for less than ten percent of our income. Today, we rely on collected funds, and we depend on private donors, foundations, and companies. Therefore, this donation, which is on the larger side, is very significant for us. We can see that the need to refer children for a stay at a Julemærkehjem is still great – currently, we have a waiting list of 600 children, says Søren Ravn Jensen.

The Julemærkehjemmet Fjordmark, beautifully located by the Flensborg Fjord, has space for 30 people, and the 100,000 kroner is a welcome financial support.

– There are many wishes – however, we have not yet decided whether the money should be used for operations or earmarked for renovation projects that are pressing, says Søren Ravn Jensen.

Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental transitioned to foundation ownership in 2019. According to plan, "Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit and Kjeld," which is currently under construction, was not supposed to start distributing funds for charitable purposes until 2022. However, the fund's board has decided to distribute one million already this year.

– This is the first time we are distributing from the fund, and the board has selected a total of ten organizations, each receiving 100,000 kroner. This time, the selection has been based on the wishes of the fund's founders, Margit and Kjeld Andersen. Going forward, distributions will be based on applications we receive, says the fund's chairman, Jens Stadum.

The couple Margit and Kjeld Andersen are pleased that they now have the opportunity to realize a dream they have had for many years for Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S, which they founded in 1979. The couple started by renting out their own summer house, and the company now manages the rental of around 6,500 Danish holiday homes, making it one of the largest Danish rental agencies.

In November 2019, they transferred ownership of Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S to the commercial foundation, which aims to support charitable and local causes. From 2022/23, the expectation is that the foundation will be able to distribute up to 75 percent of the profits from Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental to these purposes annually. Thus, by choosing to rent out your summer house or book a holiday stay through Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental, you are indirectly helping to make a difference for others.

The company calls this "Holidays with a Good Heart," and it is entirely in line with Margit and Kjeld Andersen's wishes and hopes for the business.

– By establishing this foundation, we ensure that our life's work of renting out Danish holiday homes continues in Danish hands and is not sold to, for example, a foreign capital fund. We are happy that we can distribute funds already this year, and we look forward to being able to make a difference for the important work that the Julemærkefonden does for children who are struggling, says Margit and Kjeld.