Hamburg/Wolfgangsee, 22July 2019. The two Hamburg entrepreneurs Claus and Gunnar Heinemann were awarded the "Legends Wings of Help Award" on Saturday. The award was presented during the "Living Legends of Aviation by scalaria" event at the Scalaria Event Resort at Lake Wolfgangsee in Austria. The award recognises the global social commitment of the two cousins, who are among the most important retailers and distributors in the international travel retail market with their own airport shops and the wholesale of Duty Free products.
With more than 8,000 employees worldwide and trade relations in more than 100 countries, Gebr. Heinemann not only has strong economic ties to the aviation industry, it is also active in the broad field of humanitarian aid both at home and abroad. For example, Gebr. Heinemann has been supporting the work of the "Wings of Help" association for many years with donations in kind and financial help.
Frank Franke, President and Managing Director of Wings of Help: "Heinemann sees the success attained from close cooperation with the aviation industry as an obligation to give something back to society and, above all, to open up prospects for future generations. In this relation, we are particularly pleased – in addition to many other direct aid measures – with their commitment to the education of young people, for example by setting up computer classes in schools across needy regions. We all know that education creates a future and computers are the window into this future."
Claus and Gunnar Heinemann thank employees for their commitment
"Special thanks are due above all to our employees, whose personal commitment is an essential component of our corporate culture. In our day-to-day business, we mainly dedicate ourselves to the beautiful things in life, with which we delight travellers in our Duty Free shops. For many of our employees, this awakens the desire to alleviate the existential distress of those who do not find themselves on the sunny side of life," says Claus Heinemann, co-owner of Gebr. Heinemann.
Co-owner Gunnar Heinemann adds: "Their volunteer work ranges from helping refugees and mentoring programs to fundraising campaigns and distributing food to people in need. Our employees are strongly committed at the local level. We are very proud of that. It is thus all the more important to us that the partnership with Wings of Help gives us all an international opportunity to help people in need spontaneously, across borders and without bureaucracy."
Living Legends of Aviation: Pilots, astronauts, entrepreneurs and Hollywood stars
Living Legends of Aviation was founded 16 years ago in the USA by Jerry Lips, editor of the "Airport Journal". Since 2008, Living Legends of Aviation has been organised by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy. It is a non-profit organisation with the aim of educating children about aviation and arousing their interest in the industry. The organisation also honours outstanding personalities for their services to the aerospace industry. Among the award-winners so far are internationally renowned names such as Sir Richard Branson, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Ulf Merbold and "Sully" Sullenberger. Prominent hobby pilots and supporters of the aviation industry from Hollywood such as Harrison Ford, John Travolta or Morgan Freeman are also part of the Living Legends of Aviation.
The award ceremony traditionally takes place in Beverly Hills. A European offshoot was initiated two years ago: the "Living Legends of Aviation by scalaria" gala. US actor John Travolta hosted this year's event on 20 July. In addition to Claus and Gunnar Heinemann, Bertrand Piccard, who circumnavigated the earth in a solar plane in 2016, Sir Charles Gordon Lennox (founder of “Festival of Speed”), Jean Rosanvallon (President Falcon Dassault), and Iren Dornier, aircraft pioneer and grandson of Prof. Claude Dornier, were awarded the prize.
Press contact
Gebr. Heinemann SE & Co. KG
Julia Knors / Corporate Communications
+49 40 3010 21 86
j_knors@gebr-heinemann.de
Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen – Wings of Help e.V.
Werner Claasen
+49 69 690 23255
w.claasen@wingsofhelp.com
www.wingsofhelp.com
About Wings of Help / Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen e.V.
Wings of Help / Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen, based at Frankfurt Airport, is spreading its wings around the world to help people in need. The tasks are the immediate care of distressed people after natural and humanitarian disasters as well as the transport of medical emergencies from all over the world to Germany for medical treatment. Founded in 2003, the non-profit charity works with airlines, logistics companies and a large number of renowned German and globally engaged companies. In the 16 years since its inception, the humanitarian organisation has rapidly and unbureaucratically brought aid, food and much-needed pharmaceutical products totalling more than 120 million euros to people in need on all continents. On the ground, this is done in cooperation with local and global, renowned aid organisations. Wings of Help / Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen gladly issues donation receipts.
Donations:
Frankfurter Sparkasse
DE84 5005 0201 0200 3322 44
HELADEF1822
