Interview Urs Schaad
NP:How did the earmarked fund for the care costs of the children in need of the Swiss Children’s Hospice Foundation come into realization?
USB:In her will, a single, wealthy testator from the city of Bern named the Swiss Children’s Hospice Foundation as her sole heir, with the specification that her estate assets be used to set up a dedicated fund. The Board of Trustees has laid the necessary foundations for this and is delighted to be able to realise the wishes of the testator in a targeted manner.
NP:For what purpose can support contributions be requested?
USB:The fund assets may be used in accordance with the provisions of the testator’s will as set out in the fund regulations, i.e. to cover the care costs of children in need who are not covered by health insurance and to cover the care costs of families in need.
NP:What kind of support do you expect to receive from affected families?
USB:We will assess applications from families with one or more children with life-limiting illnesses. We can imagine that these will include, for example, support contributions for recommended therapies for the afflicted child, contributions towards the costs of relieving the family’s burden through third parties or the provision of services for healthy siblings who often live in the shadow of the afflicted child.
NP:How often can an affected family apply for support?
USB:The affected family can submit one application per calendar year. The form available on the Foundation’s website must be used for this purpose. The allocation committee endeavours to support as many families with a child with a life-limiting illness as possible and therefore gives priority to first-time applications.
NP:How is the precondition of the family’s need assessed?
USB:As a matter of principle, we do not plan any checks based on our own criteria. We ask the family to confirm receipt of AHV/IV supplementary benefits in their application. If this is not possible, we expect a comprehensible explanation of the financial need.
NP:How many applications do you think you can approve each year?
USB:We believe that we will be able to approve 40 – 50 applications of up to CHF 5,000 each per year. Over the course of the fund’s activities, we will gain vital experience that will determine further awarding activities.
NP:Who oversees the activities of the fund?
USB:Applications to the fund are decided on by the award committee within six months. The Board of Trustees of the Swiss Children’s Hospice Foundation is responsible for supervising the activities of the allocation committee. Furthermore, the activities of the fund in accordance with the regulations are subject to review by the Swiss Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations.
NP:Who can I contact if I have questions about submitting an application?
USB:The office of the Swiss Children’s Hospice Foundation will be happy to provide further information to interested families who fulfil the conditions for an allocation. Tel. 0800 688 886. 0800 688 886.
NP:Thank you for this interview and the additional explanation of this new offer from the Swiss Children’s Hospice Foundation. I wish you every success with it.
USB:Thank you very much. We are confident that we will be able to alleviate the situation of affected families in difficult financial circumstances.