The Rittal Cup 2019 raised a record €10,400 for good causes, to be shared between the bereavement charity “Charlie und Lotte”, the German Red Cross in Dietzhölztal, the Diakoniesation Eschenburg community care centre, and football club SG Dietzhölztal.
Even the organisers were unprepared for such a resounding success: The 27th Rittal Cup last summer broke its own records and raised more money for charity than ever before. “We are delighted to be able to support vital social work in the region with our Cup,” said Andreas Huck, Managing Director of Loh Services and Head of Finance and Administration at the Friedhelm Loh Group. “Now in its 27th year, the Rittal Cup is well-established as a genuine family event in the Friedhelm Loh Group, combining an enjoyment of sport with good causes. We would like to thank Norbert Peter and his team for the superb organisation.” Norbert Peter, Plant Director of the Rittal factories in Rittershauen and Ewersbach, praised the recipients of the donations. “The funds are in excellent hands. Voluntary work deserves our respect and support, and should not be taken for granted.” As in previous years, Prof. Friedhelm Loh, owner and CEO of the Friedhelm Loh Group, generously doubled the amount raised by the event.
The 27th Rittal Cup played out over 1152 minutes, with 111 goals scored in total. The Rittershausen plant’s RGS1 home team were the jubilant winners. The teams and the spectators were not the only beneficiaries of this successful tournament. The money raised was donated to the “Charlie und Lotte” bereavement service at the hospice “Hospiz-Mittelhessen GmbH”, the German Red Cross (DRK) in Dietzhölztal, the Diakoniestation Eschenburg community care centre and SG Dietzhölztal football club, traditionally the hosts of the tournament at the Burbach stadium in Ewersbach.
Support for creative groups
€2,500 was donated to the “Charlie und Lotte” bereavement service to help fund its creative work, such as the music therapy group for children aged 12 to 14, explained coordinator Petra Gießlier. “Charlie und Lotte” is a project which supports bereaved children and young people, and focuses on the entire family. It is funded solely from donations and is staffed by volunteers.
An injection of funds for the Red Cross (DRK)
Heidi Hofmann and Monika Wunderlich representing the German Red Cross in Dietzhölztal were presented with €1,200. They explained that the Red Cross funds all its own training, and that repairs are also needed to the garage roof housing the Red Cross bus. The donation will help fund the repairs and free up more cash flow for training. The DRK has attended the Rittal Cup at the reservoir sports ground for many years.
New chairs and songbooks for community care centre
The Diakonistation Dietzhölztal community care centre plans to use the €1,500 donation to purchase new chairs and songbooks for groups attended by dementia patients and others. The centre currently supports three groups with a total of 33 participants, some of whom are taken to events by bus, charity representatives Conny Schwarz and Conny Rein explained. They have 55 volunteers working for them.
Investing in young football talent
The takings from the tournament were donated to SG Dietzhölztal football club to help fund its work with young people. It is also a way of saying thank you to the footballers for their commitment to the Rittal Cup, who provide the catering and ensure that the event runs smoothly.
The local authority provides the stadium, car park and adjacent leisure area for the football tournament, attended this year by 19 teams from the Friedhelm Loh Group. They were joined this year by DLRG from Aartalsee, who organised the water games for the family party at the reservoir.