+ Culture & sports
Social commitment is in line with our self-image as a corporate citizen. Therefore, Merck would like to help shape the communities in which its sites are located, thereby establishing and cultivating long-term partnerships. A variety of donations and sponsoring measures to promote culture and sport among our neighbors form an important basis for this. By promoting a wide range of activities, we want to ensure that many people in the vicinity of the Merck sites can benefit from the cultural and sport offerings. Here are some of these projects:
AustriaThe focus of Merck’s commitment in Spittal is on local sports and cultural projects For example, Merck is supporting the local football club in order to offer children and adolescents from the region the opportunity to engage in a healthy leisure time activity. At the same time, Merck is supporting young artists, promoting a smaller cultural project from the region every year. Past projects have included financial support of a guitar festival or film production or the musical accompaniment thereof by young music students from the region.
FinlandIn Finland, Merck sponsors a young figure-skating team. Its aim is to support the motto “Do sport instead of sitting in front of a computer!” The 24 girls on the figure skating team are between nine and 13 years of age. They normally practice a variety of moves and jumps on the ice more than four times week – not individually but synchronously. The team’s hard work has paid offer. Last year, they won the Finnish championship in synchronous figure skating.
GermanyIt is important for young and old to get exercise, both as a way to promote their physical fitness and to relax after work. That is why Merck supports more than 150 athletic associations in Darmstadt and the region. With exception of martial arts, all disciplines are represented, including roller hockey, speed skating and fistball, as well as more mass sports such as handball, soccer and basketball. To get people in the region more interested in athletic activities and community activities while heightening their health awareness Merck supports the sports and games festival held every year in the Herrngarten of the city of Darmstadt. The event for families, employees and sports lovers has meanwhile been taking place for more than 30 years with support from Merck in Darmstadt, the city and the local sports office. About 10,000 people met in summer 2011 to engage in sporting activities together, to play, and to familiarize themselves with new types of sports and games. Numerous Merck employees supported the organizer in a voluntary capacity.
In addition, Merck promotes numerous cultural activities in the region. One of these activities is the cooperation with Centralstation in Darmstadt that started more than ten years ago. As part of the “Merck Sommerperlen” music festival, eight concerts took place in 2011. Thanks to this multifaceted cultural program, employees and local citizens have access to an attractive, high-quality range of cultural and leisure activities.
SwitzerlandEvery year, thousands of amateur sports enthusiasts take part in the so-called “slowUp Schaffhausen-Hegau“ race. The national sponsors of the “slowUp“initiative are the Swiss Health Promotion Office, the SchweizMobil foundation and the Swiss tourist office. Merck has been supporting the 30 km race for several years as a sponsor. Its aim is to raise the health awareness of people in the Schaffhausen region and increase their interest in sports. The course leads through different villages and towns in the region and can be completed either by bicycle, on foot or with inline skates. Numerous shops, restaurants and other local establishments along the course offer an entertainment program that also attracts thousands of spectators.
