LIQUI MOLY says its donation campaign with free products for first responders and front line health workers was a complete success.
The donation campaign started at the beginning of April with an allotted one million euro ($1.5 million CAD). The goal: To support first responders around the world in the fight against the coronavirus. With the products supplied free of charge, LIQUI MOLY wanted to relieve the financial burden on fire brigades, hospitals, rescue services, “meals on wheels”, food banks, mobile care services as well as first-aid organizations and many other non-profit associations, so that they could procure other necessary equipment. Not only disinfectants and face masks are important during this time.
Eight months and significantly more than 20,000 packages later, the million euro budget has been used up. “The rush and the gratitude were overwhelming,” smiles Managing Director Ernst Prost.
“We have provided what we do best: oils, additives and other car care products,” says Prost. After all, the operational reliability of the emergency vehicles is a high priority. “Rescue services and fire brigades can’t even get to the emergency site without motor oil. That is why our products, however much they work in secret, are important for the functioning of our healthcare system,” the Managing Director emphasizes.
Fire brigades, rescue services and aid organizations from around the world expressed interest. So much so that the donation campaign did not remain limited to Germany. The company set up a similar program for the international market. “Our product donations were as popular as pasta and toilet paper in stores at the beginning of the pandemic,” jokes Prost.
In total, almost 15,000 inquiries were received at the company headquarters in Ulm, resulting in more than 13,000 orders and over 22,000 packages.
Canadian shops participating
Among the programs put in place was a partnership between LIQUI MOLY’s Canadian division and local automotive repair shops in Alberta, providing complimentary oil changes to healthcare workers to support their tireless work during this crisis.
The four participating shops are Alberta Asian Motorworks, Alberta European Motorworks, German Car Specialist, and Sheni’s Auto Trend, and serve the Calgary and Red Deer markets.
“We have felt fortunate over the years to have been given the opportunity to operate our business in the city of Calgary. The community has supported our business through the good times and bad,” said Zuhair Janmohamed of Sheni’s Auto Trend, one of the shops partnering with LIQUI MOLY. “At a time like this, it gives us great pride to be able to give something back. Our local health care workers have given so much to our community. We are happy to thank them with these complimentary services.”
The initial amount was not sufficient for this, which is why the aid program was increased twice to a total of five million euro in Germany alone. This amount was also used up to the last cent and even significantly exceeded. In the end, the sum was an incredible 5.6 million euro. Not included: the costs for picking, shipping and free delivery worldwide.
“Of course, we took care of these costs. And donation receipts were not an issue for us,” says the LIQUI MOLY Managing Director. The aim was not to reduce the company’s tax burden through the special expenses. Taking on social responsibility was paramount.
“Many people work hard every day to prevent the corona crisis from spreading. For these frontline helpers, our donation is a genuine relief,” says Ernst Prost. The financial situation of all rescue forces and organizations is strained and every expenditure that does not have to be made is a huge help for the women and men in the service of society. The corona crisis also showed which services and products are indispensable and how many things are connected without it being noticed right away. “Our products are system-relevant,” as LIQUI MOLY’s Managing Director emphasizes.
In this crisis, all kinds of assistance are needed. LIQUI MOLY asked itself what it could do for the well-being of society. “This was the basis for this great campaign,” concluded Prost.
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