AUSTRIA – Austrian fittings manufacturer Blum turned visitors’ signatures at its interzum booth into a €99,660 donation to non-profit relief organization “Light for the World”.

For 34 years Blum has run a social campaign at interzum. This year, the family-owned company donated €30 per signature in its visitors’ book to “Light for the World”.

Visitors to interzum in Cologne are familiar with the procedure. They are asked to sign the visitors’ book at Blum’s booth for a good cause. Blum has made a donation per signature to a charity for the last 34 years. This year, the donation again went to “Light for the World”. €30 per signature – that is what it costs to finance an eye operation for people who have gone blind from cataract in the poorest regions of the world. This year’s donation amounted to €99,660, which will pay for 3,322 operations to restore people’s eyesight. “We want to support those who need our help most urgently,” says Managing Director Philipp Blum. “People who can see can play a full and active part in society and shape their own future.”

“Light for the World” is an international relief organization that is based in Austria, but also has representations in Germany, Switzerland and other countries. The non-profit organization’s vision is to create an inclusive society where no one is left behind. In addition to carrying out cataract operations, it provides medical care, development and educational programmes to help people suffering from visual impairments or other disabilities. The non-profit organization operates in the poorest regions of Africa, South America and North East India.