After celebrating ten years of engagement in France, La Financière de l’Echiquier Foundation has expanded its reach to promote education and professional integration in Europe, and in that way, support the company’s development beyond its borders.
The Foundation has thus broadened its mission in assisting persons in difficulty to those countries where La Financière de l’Echiquier (LFDE) is already present by supporting non-profit projects promoting access to the world of work. The first three not-for-profits supported are Apprentis d’Auteuil in Switzerland, Rock your life! in Germany and Duo for a job in Belgium, with developments in Spain and Italy next in line.
Ten years of initiatives in France have made it possible to distribute €5 million and finance more than 150 solidarity-based projects. 75% of the Foundation’s budget is derived from fee sharing arrangements for two funds, Echiquier Excelsior and Echiquier Agressor Partage – a pioneer in such sharing mechanisms, for which LFDE was recognized in 2013 and 2014, the “Financial altruist of the year”. The remaining 25% is derived from private donations.
“This expanded European scope marks a new chapter in the history of our foundation,” commented Bénédicte Gueugnier, President of La Financière de l’Echiquier Foundation, adding that “in so doing, it seeks to promote the company’s values and their sustainability in those countries where it has established a presence, beyond its core business. As in France, LFDE employees will be engaged by participating in all these local initiatives.”
“We are happy and proud to deploy with even more energy our philanthropic initiatives wherever we are present. This excellent initiative quite naturally accompanies the latest advances of our project for growth and reinforces our local engagement. I consider myself profoundly European and am determined to replicate at this level the superb work we have carried out in France for more than ten years”, added Didier Le Menestrel, Chairman & CEO of La Financière de l’Echiquier.
Por Funds Society, Madrid
Por Alicia Miguel