“Polar Express Arrives In Düsseldorf” charitable initiative helps kids of families hit hard by COVID-19

Uniper’s corporate culture—which it calls the Uniper Way—has always encompassed a strong commitment to social responsibility and to supporting people in need, especially during the holiday season. Each year, for example, the Christmas tree at the company’s headquarters in Düsseldorf is decorated with lists of needy children’s wishes, wishes that Uniper employees fulfill. This annual tradition is organized and funded entirely by the company’s works councils and employees.

This year Uniper is also paying special attention to the children of families hard hit by COVID-19 and making sure their Christmas wishes come true. The initiative is called The Polar Express Arrives In Düsseldorf. Fittingly, today the Polar Express arrived at Düsseldorf City Hall with hundreds of Christmas presents, which will be distributed by the city, KRASS Association (a non-profit organization that promotes cultural education and activities for kids), and kindergartens run by AWO Düsseldorf.

Uniper CEO Andreas Schierenbeck says: “Uniper remains financially robust amid the crisis. That’s why it’s even more important for our company to do its part for our home city—Düsseldorf—and the people who live here. Together, we can help overcome the pandemic’s economic and social challenges and mitigate its repercussions. I’m very proud of our corporate culture and the way our employees help their fellow citizens in need every year and reinforce the city’s sense of community.”

In cooperation with the city of Düsseldorf and a local employer association (Unternehmerschaft Düsseldorf und Umgebung e.V.), Uniper invited needy families and their children to write a letter to Santa Claus and tell him their Christmas wish.

Uniper funded the Polar Express initiative, while its employees made it a reality. Under the auspices of their Helping Hands charitable program, Uniper employees created a Santa’s workshop in which they processed hundreds of kids’ wish lists. During the past several weeks, they crafted some presents themselves, bought others, wrapped them all, and wrote accompanying letters from Santa Claus. The volunteers complied at all times with corona rules.

Barbara Jagodzinski, who coordinates Uniper’s social engagement activities, says: “The Polar Express’s inaugural load of gifts from Uniper is destined for children from about 300 families in which parents have lost their jobs because of the pandemic or face financial difficulties. Our employee volunteers worked diligently in Santa’s workshop and at home. The kids’ wonderful letters were scanned and transmitted digitally to the workshop. We’re very happy that today we can hand over a wagonload of presents that make Christmas wishes come true. The Polar Express aims to bring holiday spirit to families that have had a difficult year.”

Among the beneficiaries of Uniper’s Polar Express initiative are families in which one parent is employed in the event, trade fair, tourism, or similar sector as well as companies and artists suffering amid the pandemic. It also helps university students funding their studies by means of part-time jobs that were cut because of corona. Finally, Uniper’s charitable initiative also supports low-income and especially single-parent families of which a member works in a critical sector.

About Uniper

Uniper is a leading international energy company with around 11,500 employees and activities in more than 40 countries. With about 34 GW of installed generation capacity, Uniper is among the largest global power generators. Its main activities include power generation in Europe and Russia as well as global energy trading, including a diversified gas portfolio that makes Uniper one of Europe’s leading gas companies. In 2019, Uniper had a gas turnover of 220 bcm. The company is headquartered in Düsseldorf, being the third-largest listed German utility. Under its new strategy, Uniper aims to become carbon-neutral in Europe by 2035.