Cardboard airplanes take flight for good causes
The Outpatient Children’s and Youth Hospice Service (AKHD) in Hanau, Germany, provides essential, free support for families with children, adolescents or young adults with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses. The hospice, which currently supports 29 families, relies largely on donations.
Employees in the Smurfit Westrock plant in Hanau wanted to raise money for the hospice and coordinated a unique and fun-filled initiative to do so—attracting donations while providing entertainment for the community.
The “Flugplatzkerb” project involved the complete planning, construction, and production of airplanes made of corrugated cardboard, which were then handed out to children and families at a local event in exchange for a donation. Children were invited to assemble and fly the planes, with many participating in a long-distance flight competition that showcased the planes’ impressive flying abilities. The project received overwhelmingly positive feedback and raised 2,000 euros for the hospice.
The benefits of the Hanau team’s initiative reached as far as Germersheim and St. Leon Rot, where local trainees and organizers coordinated a stand at the airfield festival in Bad Dürkheim to raise funds for the Family Support Association. Our trainee colleagues handed out the corrugated airplanes with great enthusiasm for children to assemble and enjoy, and were delighted to raise much-needed funds.
Both events are a powerful example of how our teams' creativity and the durability of our material can be combined to create something unique and enjoyable—all while supporting truly worthy causes in our communities.
Smurfit Westrock has a deep commitment to supporting the communities in which we live and work and championing the vulnerable. Each year our employees continue to generously give their time, energy, and expertise, to empower communities, encourage wellbeing and inspire future generations.