Press Release

Press Release | Gütersloh, 12/13/2024

Bertelsmann Makes Christmas Donation of €25,000 to the ‘Der Weg nach Hause’

From left: Stefan Schwalfenberg, Head Physician of the outpatient palliative care team “Der Weg nach Hause”, Thomas Rabe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bertelsmann, Prof. Dr. Eckard Hamelmann, Director of the University Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Bethel Children's Center and René Meistrell, Facility Management, Pedagogical Director, Bethel Children's Hospice.

  • Renewed support for Bethel palliative care team
  • Around € 475,000 donated to the association since 2006
  • No Christmas presents for business partners for 18th consecutive year

Gütersloh, December 13, 2024 – Bertelsmann continues to provide support to critically ill children in the region in 2024 by making its 18th consecutive donation of €25,000 to the palliative care team “Der Weg nach Hause” (The Way Home) and the children’s hospice of the v. Bodelschwingh Stiftungen Bethel, a Bielefeld-based foundation. As in previous years, the international media, services, and education company is doing this in lieu of Christmas gifts for its business partners.

Bertelsmann Chairman & CEO Thomas Rabe presented the donation check in Bethel to Prof. Dr. Eckard Hamelmann, Director of the University Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at the Bethel Children’s Center, Dr. Stefan Schwalfenberg, Senior Physician on the outpatient palliative care team “Der Weg nach Hause” and René Meistrell, Head of Facilities, Pedagogical Director, Bethel Children's Hospice.

Rabe said: “Critically ill children and young people not only need excellent medical care, but also the security of their family and the familiar surroundings of their own home. The ‘Der Weg nach Hause’ initiative has been making this possible in an impressive way for many years. The teams of Eckard Hamelmann and Stefan Schwalfenberg do valuable and exemplary work on a daily basis. We are pleased to support this work long-term.’

Eckard Hamelmann said: “In the coming year, Bertelsmann's donation will specifically benefit our children’s palliative care team and the Bethel children's and youth hospice in their social work. The ongoing financial support from Bertelsmann helps enable us to approach projects with long-term financial planning. Sadly, the number of families requiring support in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region is still rising steadily.”

“Der Weg nach Hause” makes it possible for children and adolescents with a life-shortening illness to receive outpatient treatment in the familiar and safe environment of their family home. The project thus combines specialized multi-professional care with the security of a familiar home environment. Bertelsmann has supported the initiative with about €475,000 since 2006.

About Bertelsmann
Bertelsmann is a media, services, and education company with more than 80,000 employees that operates in about 50 countries around the world. It includes the entertainment group RTL Group, the trade book publisher Penguin Random House, the music company BMG, the service provider Arvato Group, Bertelsmann Marketing Services, the Bertelsmann Education Group and Bertelsmann Investments, an international network of funds. The company generated revenues of €20.2 billion in the 2023 financial year. Bertelsmann stands for creativity and entrepreneurship. This combination promotes first-class media content and innovative service solutions that inspire customers around the world. Bertelsmann aspires to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.