Charity
Where people come together,..
Where people come together, celebrate and enjoy life’s beautiful moments, social responsibility is also taken seriously. WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt is committed to this responsibility by regularly allocating a significant share of revenues to charitable causes. In 2023, the Berlin district of Mitte benefited from a remarkable donation of over €100,000.
In cooperation with our corporate partners, we are sustainably committed to people in need and, under the guiding principle “my Berlin, my city,” we promote social and cultural projects that bring about positive change primarily in the Berlin-Mitte district. Since 2003, our engagement has focused particularly on supporting socially disadvantaged children and people experiencing homelessness. Together with our partners from the business community, we support people in need and, under the motto “my Berlin, my city,” we are involved in social and cultural projects mainly in Berlin-Mitte. Since 2003, the emphasis has been especially on promoting socially disadvantaged children as well as people experiencing homelessness. Since 2024, a city partnership project between the district of Berlin-Mitte and Addis Ababa–Lideta in Ethiopia has also been added.
The heart of our efforts is our own charity project, the “Summer Camp” in the Tyrolean Alps. For 20 years now, this camp has enabled children from Berlin’s socially disadvantaged neighborhoods to gain the valuable experience of “Healthy Nutrition in Motion.” Each year, the children not only enjoy educational adventures in nature through this camp, but also learn the fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle and the importance of community and personal commitment. We are proud that, with our firm belief in solidarity and care, we can make a small yet meaningful difference in our society.
City partnership Berlin-Mitte and Addis Ababa–Lideta
At the beginning of 2021, the district of Mitte sought a partnership with the Lideta district in Addis Ababa. After virtual exchanges and identifying shared challenges, the first in-person meeting took place in July to establish contacts and develop partnership projects. The Coordination Office for Municipal Development Policy and the Black Adult Education Center/Africa Academy of the Mitte District Office coordinate the partnership activities. Further information and the full travel report can be found HERE.
Jenny De la Torre Foundation – Health Center for the Homeless
Dr. Jenny De la Torre Castro founded the Jenny De la Torre Foundation in 2002 to provide medical care for homeless people in Berlin. With the support of the Berlin-Mitte District Office, she found a suitable building and, in September 2006, opened a modern health center. Generous donations made it possible to purchase the building, allowing the foundation to focus entirely on patients. The foundation is a nonprofit and operates the Health Center for the Homeless. Further information can be found HERE.
Stephanus School
The Stephanus School has been an important place of learning since 1990 for children and young people with intellectual and multiple disabilities. In 12 classes, structured all-day instruction takes place from 08:00–15:00, supplemented by therapeutic services. Educational specialists provide additional care before and after lessons as well as during school holidays, to foster students’ independence and self-esteem. More information HERE.
35th anniversary of Stephanus School – Our donation for more movement
On 11 July 2025, Stephanus School celebrated its 35th anniversary—a significant milestone that we were delighted to support. On this festive occasion, we were able to present a very special gift this year: a MOTOmed. The MOTOmed is a versatile movement training device that specifically helps to relax muscles, build endurance and strength, promote mobility, and improve coordination and overall well-being.
We are very pleased to be able to make a valuable contribution to supporting the students with this. Once again, we were impressed by the outstanding commitment of all employees at Stephanus School. It is both a pleasure and a heartfelt concern for us to continue supporting this special school in the future.
Christmas Children’s Classical Gala at the Konzerthaus Berlin
Every year, the Konzerthaus Berlin opens its doors for the Christmas “Children’s Classical Gala.” The “Zukunft Konzerthaus” initiative enables children from socially disadvantaged neighborhoods to access the historic concert hall. Over 3,500 children have taken part in recent years, and many of them experience classical music here for the first time. This year, we are inspiring children aged 6 to 12 with “beschenkt,” a music-theatre piece full of music, dance and words.
Further information can be found HERE.
Support for the Social Commission of the Berlin-Mitte District Office
Together with the Social Commission of the Mitte District Office, we implement various projects to help people in need. These include Christmas vouchers for senior citizens and refugees, emergency vouchers from the Social Welfare Office, and collaboration in the “Round Table Leopoldplatz.” In addition, we run soup kitchens in the Protestant parishes of Moabit and St. Petri to provide those in need with a hot meal. These projects are part of our commitment to the community.
Summer Camp “Healthy Nutrition in Motion” in the Zillertal
At Anna Lindh School in Berlin’s Wedding district, the annual Summer Camp has already become a proven tradition—for now over 20 years. During the 2024 Summer Camp, sporting activities were combined with fun, adventure and the art of cooking together to highlight the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Participation in this special event was awarded to students who stood out in everyday school life through particular dedication and social behavior and were nominated by their classmates. The program was packed with excursions into nature and to cultural sites, such as the picturesque open-air museum with its historic buildings. This year, we hiked together to the Kristallhütte at over 2,000 meters and enjoyed the breathtaking views of the mountains and valleys. The rafting tour on the icy Ziller and the high-speed runs on the summer toboggan track are among the annual highlights. After the daily activities, the evenings ended sociably with an atmospheric dinner.
After seven unforgettable days, the trip came to an end, but it left lasting memories and the anticipation of next year. WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt GmbH would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all helpers and supporters and is already looking forward to the next trip with the wonderful students of Anna Lindh School.
The AG Erinnern of Theodor-Heuss-Gemeinschaftsschule in New Orleans – a journey tracing the city’s (German) history
Twelve students from the AG Erinnern of Theodor-Heuss-Gemeinschaftsschule in Berlin-Moabit spent a week on their trip to New Orleans exploring the city’s French, Spanish and, above all, German history. They saw the splendid houses of wealthy immigrants and learned about the people who were abducted from Africa and forced to work. On plantations along the Mississippi, they learned about the history of enslavement.
At the German-American Cultural Center, the students learned how the history of German immigration is preserved—yet without adequately addressing the reality of slavery and the existence of Indigenous peoples. There was intensive discussion about historical responsibility: migration is often essential for survival—then as now. But history must be told in full—with all its darker sides. Only then can responsibility be assumed.
It was a very impressive and impactful journey for the AG Erinnern of Theodor-Heuss-Gemeinschaftsschule.