50 years of LICHT INS DUNKEL – Einhell and ZGONC donate towards worthy causes

This year sees the third installment of a 24-hour cycling challenge in support of LICHT INS DUNKEL, which also marks the start of the charity initiative's 50th anniversary year. Together with ZGONC, Einhell is actively taking part in the biggest humanitarian project hosted by Austria’s national broadcaster ORF and honoring the outstanding performance of celebrities, professional athletes, and athletes from the armed forces across the whole of Austria.

Making a commitment together

For 50 years LICHT INS DUNKEL, which is Austria’s biggest charity initiative, has been working hard to support people with disabilities as well as families and children in need. During this time, the initiative has managed to raise donations totaling around EUR 361 million. Every year, emergency funds from LICHT INS DUNKEL support over 5,000 families with children in need, and around 400 projects focusing on inclusivity and social issues receive project aid from LICHT INS DUNKEL. 

The idea for a 24-hour cycling challenge in support of LICHT INS DUNKEL, in which celebrities, professional athletes, and athletes from the armed forces across the whole of Austria do some serious pedaling for a good cause, was already kicked off three years ago by Pius Strobl, Head of ORF Humanitarian Broadcasting, and Julian Bohry, Director of Marketing at Einhell Germany AG. This year the tool and garden equipment manufacturer Einhell will once again be supporting this outstanding charity fundraising event alongside specialist retail chain ZGONC. 

Since the competition was launched in Vienna on 11 October, nine teams from across the whole of Austria have been competing in 24-hour events to earn a place in the final. The three best teams met on 17/18 November to compete against each other in the final at PlusCity in Pasching (Upper Austria). The full number of kilometers covered by the athletes was then converted by Einhell and ZGONC into a generous cash donation during the gala event.

“We are overwhelmed and incredibly proud of being partners of this amazing event. The charity initiative LICHT INS DUNKEL has been doing outstanding work for years by supporting thousands of families every year. This is why it is so important that everyone gets involved so that, together, we can demonstrate our commitment to this great cause,” explains Andreas Kroiss, Chairman of the Management Board of Einhell Germany AG, during presentation of the donation check to LICHT INS DUNKEL.

“We find ourselves in the extremely fortunate position that our business is still doing very well even after an eventful year. We want to share this success with others, because in these challenging times it is even more important than ever that we stick together with people who are less fortunate and help those who are disadvantaged through sickness or other misfortunes. For this reason, we are delighted that this year we are once again able to support the LICHT INS DUNKEL fundraiser with our long-term partner Einhell,” adds Michael Dockal, CEO of ZGONC. 

This year, the amounts donated by the two companies will again primarily be used to support the Lichtblickhof charity in Vienna. “Having visited the Lichtblickhof charity in Vienna myself not long ago, it was particularly important to me that our donation should go exactly where it is needed so urgently. The effort and commitment, as well as the outstanding achievements this organization delivers on the ground every single day, deserve our fullest support,” adds Kroiss.

Lichtblickhof is a unique therapy center in which families with critically ill and traumatized children are offered a living environment with exceptional therapeutic options. Specially trained therapy horses and other animals help the children and their families to create moments of joy and give them the strength they need to cope with the challenges that still lie ahead.

About Einhell Germany AG

Einhell is a leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art tools and devices for the house and garden and will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2024. From its headquarters in Landau/Isar (Bavaria), the internationally successful company has continuously expanded its innovative rechargeable battery platform Power X-Change and is now the market leader in the area of cordless tools and garden devices. For many years Einhell has set new standards in terms of endurance, performance, and safety. Einhell customers appreciate the freedom of cordless operation for all their DIY projects, as well as the excellent value for money that Einhell products represent and the first-class customer service offered by the company.