RTL Group | Cologne, 01/20/2022

Record Official End Result For ‘RTL-Spendenmarathon’ Telethon

Maik Meuser, Jan Hofer, Ursula Karven, Wolfram Kons, Matthias Dang (f. l.)

Subject: Society
Country: Germany
Category: Charitable Donations

Even after the end of the “RTL Spendenmarathon” telethon last November, extensive further donations were received. A total of €23.56 million was raised for charity this time around – more than ever before. The donations go to help children in Germany and around the world.

The 26th “RTL Spendenmarathon” ended on November 19, 2021, with a record result: On the day after the longest charity show on German television, RTL announced that €22,448,676 in donations had been received (26th ‘RTL-Spendenmarathon’ Raises €22.4 Million). But even after this, donations in the six-digit range continued to pour into the “Stiftung RTL - Wir helfen Kindern e. V.” foundation’s account. At the turn of the year, and after checking all receipts, the official end result has now been determined. “By continuing to donate even after the RTL telethon, our viewers showed how important solidarity and a sense of community are to them. This brings the official donations result for 2021 to €23,558,306, a sum we have never reached before,” says Stephan Schäfer, Co-CEO RTL Germany and Chairman of the Board of the “Stiftung RTL - Wir helfen Kindern e. V.” “Thank you to everyone whose donation contributed to the fact that we can now provide lasting help to so many children in Germany and around the world. I promise that every cent will reach the children in need.”

All costs are borne by RTL

This record donation total also includes the proceeds from the extensive emergency aid fundraising campaign related to last year’s storm tide disaster in Germany, jointly initiated by the “Stiftung RTL – Wir helfen Kindern” foundation and RTL Deutschland in mid-July. “For us, advocacy for children doesn’t just mean organizing the 24-hour ‘RTL Spendenmarathon’ telethon,” explains Wolfram Kons, Head of Charity at RTL. “Throughout the year, we help children who urgently need our support. At this time, we are working to providing sustainable help to children who are particularly hard-hit by the repercussions of the pandemic. But we are also looking after children and their families in Afghanistan. There, right now, in this winter of hunger and cold, it’s a matter of life and death.”

RTL Deutschland bears all the costs associated with the year-round campaigns, the “RTL Spendenmarathon” telethon, and the foundation’s work. As a result, all the funds raised go to the selected children’s aid projects without any deductions. A total of more than €222 million has been raised In this way since the first “RTL Spendenmarathon” in 1996.