The 4th annual ING Solidarity Awards were heöd at the Geesseknaeppchen forum in Luxembourg-Belair on Wednesday evening.

Luc Verbeken, CEO at ING Luxembourg, addressed the full hall and quoted the bank's philosophy "Empowering people to stay a step ahead, in life and in business" before the award ceremony commenced.

A total of 125 organisations had entered the 4th edition of the awards, of which the top 40 from a public vote (30,400 unique votes) were each awarded with a cheque worth €1,000. They were presented in groups of 10 in alphabetical order, with video testimonials from past winners screened inbetween. The organisations included Special Olympics Luxembourg, Sportunity, Telstar scouts and Think Pink Lux.

In addition, the jury of René Closter (Luxembourg Air Rescue), Colette Flesch, Isabelle Lentz of Munhowen and other representatives, awarded eight specific projects out of 68 that had been submitted.

- National projects from partially voluntary associations: 1st prize (€6,000) to Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg; 2nd prize (€3,000): Tricentenaire

- National projects from 100% voluntary associations: 1st prize (€6,000): Sportunity; 2nd prize (€3,000): "Il était une fois... " ASBL

- International projects from partially voluntary associations: 1st prize (€6,000): ECPAT Luxembourg; 2nd prize (€3,000): Les Amis de Gambie ASBL

- International projects from 100% voluntary associations: 1st prize (€6,000): Toutes à l'école Luxembourg; 2nd prize (€3,000): Eng Bréck mat Lateinamerika, ASBL, NGDO

In addition, the jury decided to give a Special award (Coupe de Coeur) of €5,000 to SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde.

This year, ING offered the winners of the project contest of all four editions of the ING Solidarity Awards the opportunity to boost their resources by trying a new kind of fund-raising. The goal is to organise an information session in partnership with KissKissBankBank, a well-known online crowdfunding website, to help them gain a better understanding of this alternative funding method.

ING will also help increase the visibility of the crowdfunding campaign of the associations that decide to try this fund raising method. An accelerated procedure and personalised follow-up will round off this offer for the associations that have won the project contest since the creation of the ING Solidarity Awards.
 
Luc Verbeken, CEO of ING Luxembourg, was thrilled with the continuing success of the ING Solidarity Awards, and stated "I'm really proud of the support and visibility ING has been able to provide to several local associations again this year thanks to the ING Solidarity Awards. It's a real pleasure to see how successful the very active Luxembourg non-profit sector is. It shows our deep commitment to our local presence which we intend to continue developing. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the 2015 edition for its commitment and actions!"

The awards were followed by a reception for representatives of the winning organisations.

Overall, it was fascinating to see so many voluntary organisations active in and from the Grand Duchy, with so many people involved in projects close to their hearts.

Winners of €1,000 Cheques:

• Actions For Life projects Larry Steffen
• Aide à l'Enfance de l'Inde
• ASA Amicale vun der Schoul fir Assistenzhonn ASBL
• Association Culturelle et Humanitaire de Bairrada à Luxembourg
• Association São Tomé et Principe au Luxembourg
• Athénée-Action humanitaire
• Badminton International Club Kehlen
• BBC Telstar Hesperange
• Coopération Nord-Sud
• D'Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher
• Enfants du Benin
• FMMR - Fondation Meninos e Meninas de Rua
• Fondation APEMH
• Gesellschaft fir Musiktherapie zu Lëtzebuerg (GML) ASBL
• Hand an Hand ASBL
• "Il était une fois..." ASBL
• Le Soleil dans la Main (ASDM)
• Les Amis de Gambie ASBL
• Les Amis de l'Herberg Kinderhuis, South Africa, Luxembourg, ASBL
• Lëtzebuerger Déiereschutzliga ASBL
• Little Sequoia
• Maison d'Afrique Luxembourg
• Man to Human ASBL
• MEDCHINE ASBL (www.medchine.eu)
• O Cancioneiro Do Alto Minho
• ONGD-FNEL scouts et guides pour le développement communautaire ASBL
• PADEM
• People of Tomorrow
• Perros Andalucia ASBL
• Pets Angels Luxembourg ASBL
• Philippines Luxembourg Society
• Pour un Sourire d'Enfant Luxembourg ASBL
• QUARTZIUM ASBL
• Rokku Mi Rokka
• Special Olympics Luxembourg
• Sportunity
• Telstar International Scouts
• Terre des Hommes Luxembourg
• Think Pink Lux
• Vélo-Club L'Endurance Leudelange ASBL

Photos by Geoff Thompson