A defibrillator has been installed in the village square of Moransengo in the province of Asti, Italy, thanks to a donation from the chemical company headquartered in Lahnstein, Germany. The closest hospital to Moransengo is 40 kilometers away, and an ambulance takes around 30 minutes to reach the small town in the Monferrato hills. In recent years, the municipality has also become increasingly popular with hiking groups and cyclists, making such a “lifesaver” increasingly important. The local voluntary association Pro Loco, which organizes events – such as dance and wine evenings or the festival of the local patron saint – to keep local traditions alive, wanted to turn this idea into reality. The members had already tried to raise the necessary funds for the device with the help of a self-designed calendar. On the initiative of Ilaria Sesia, employee of Zschimmer & Schwarz at the nearby site in Tricerro, the organization received a donation of 2,000 euros, which ultimately enabled the project to be fully financed.

“Thanks to the donation from Zschimmer & Schwarz as well as the proceeds from the calendar sale, enough money was raised to purchase the defibrillator and to install and maintain it over the next few years,” explains Simona Bersano, a member of Pro Loco Moransengo. “The defibrillator is now available to all residents and tourists – in the hope that it will never be needed, but in the knowledge that it can save lives."

The donation campaign of Zschimmer & Schwarz was initiated by the shareholders and is now an integral part of the company's social commitment. It takes place every two years and entered its third round in 2024. All employees have the opportunity to suggest local initiatives to be supported by the company with a donation.

Pro Loco Moransengo is one of 39 projects across Europe, North and South America as well as Asia supported by Zschimmer & Schwarz as part of the donation campaign with a total sum of around 350,000 euros. “For more than 130 years, our family company Zschimmer & Schwarz has consistently laid the focus of our activities on our fellow human beings. With this philosophy, we aim to give something valuable back to society,” explains Dr. Monica Börner, shareholder of the Zschimmer & Schwarz Group. “We are happy to support initiatives of our employees and to involve ourselves in projects that deliver direct and sustainable effects at our business locations,” adds Thomas Schwarz, also shareholder of Zschimmer & Schwarz.