Leszek Gierszewski – the Philanthropist of the Year
He has been supporting numerous social initiatives for years, he has helped Polish hospitals fighting with COVID-19 pandemic and he has initiated the campaign that united Polish business in this time of trial. Leszek Gierszewski, the founder and president of Drutex, has been nominated the Philanthropist of the year according to Forbes.
Leszek Gierszewski, the creator and founder of Drutex, the leading European producer of window and door woodwork, since he started running his business – and this year his company celebrates its 35th anniversary - has initiated and inspired a lot of charity enterprises, aiming at development in education, support for healthcare, persons with disabilities, cultural, sport and environmental development. A great deal of them is carried out in Pomerania where the company is based. However, has been also involved in i.a. sponsorship of charity ‘TVN Great Matches’, events organized by Kuba Błaszczykowski foundation ‘Human Gesture’ or the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. Last year he also set up the Gierszewski Family Foundation, which has already executed dozens of social projects.
Since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic L. Gierszewski has been supporting Polish hospitals with donations worth ca. 3.5 million PLN. These means allowed to buy necessary medical equipment, such as ventilators, cardiac monitors and specialistic hospital beds, as well as renovate wards prepared to accept patients with Covid-19. At the same time, he urged his colleagues from other companies and industries to join forces. Together you can achieve more. The response was huge. This was the beginning of the ‘Helping. Together’ action which later led to setting up a foundation under the same name. Dozens of companies got involved and the value of the donations has already exceeded 50 million PLN.
Just in recent weeks the representatives of the foundation travelled across Poland to deliver the purchased equipment to the hospitals. The cutting edge beds and ventilators have been given to facilities in Łowicz, Łomża, Sztumia, Drawsko Pomorskie, Stargard, as well as the Voivodship Hospital Center of the Jelenia Góra Basin in Jelenia Góra, and the Warsaw Institute – the Children Memorial Health Center. What is more, in the latter facility a few days ago the renovation of the Kidney Transplantation Clinic was completed, financed by the ‘Helping. Together’ foundation.
„Leszek Gierszewski, the founder and president of the company shows the real meaning of Corporate Social Responsibility’’ – was stated in the explanation of the award.
The award has been officially presented during the 2nd Forbes Congress of Family Companies which this year – due to Coronavirus – took place online.
- I take helping for granted, it is in Drutex’ DNA – the company that I built from scratch. This passing year has been special. Coronavirus appeared, and the words ‘help’ and ‘solidarity’ have taken on a new importance. Also in business. I am delighted about the success of this action. Polish business, in these difficult times, showed its strength and solidarity – points out the president Leszek Gierszewski.
The ‘Helping. Together’ action has already been awarded in the Benefactor of the Year competition, organized since 1997 by the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland.
About the action
„Helping. Together!” – is a social initiative of entrepreneurs, ready to help in the times of COVID-19 pandemic. It gathers private entities who help fight the pandemic materially and non-materially. The action gives necessary support to i.a. healthcare facilities, people who were affected by the pandemic and NGO’s. The action was initiated by Leszek Gierszewski, the president and founder of Drutes S.A. the action is open and apolitical. Its strength lies in common action. Thanks to the integration of strong, ready to help organizations, the action gives real, tangible help. The joint action enable to reach a bigger number of donors and those in need. https://jestesmyrazem.org/
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