The most meaningful memorials are the ones that are set up to continue the legacy of the person to whom they are dedicated. This is exactly the type of memorial that was set up at a commemorative ceremony at IST METZ with the creation of the Joachim Jung Charitable Foundation. The Foundation will continue the commitment to social responsibility shown by former IST METZ Managing Director Joachim Jung, who passed away a year ago, which he established as an integral part of the company culture during his lifetime. Many speakers, including Ernst Pfister, the Minister for Agriculture, took the opportunity to attend the foundation ceremony for the new subsidiary of the ⿿Time for People charitable foundation in order to show their support for this type of social responsibility.
⿿Joachim Jung was a wonderful father, concluded Gerhard Metz, founder of the UV systems manufacturing company, which exports worldwide from its headquarters in Nürtingen. He was directing these words in his welcome speech to the children of the former Managing Director who passed away on 4th January 2007. However, he was referring as well to the fact that Joachim Jung was also the father of a particularly strong social corporate culture, which will be continued and developed further by the charitable foundation set up in his name. In his speech to the 100 or so guests Dirk Jägers, Managing Director of IST METZ, described how Joachim Jung⿿s sense of social responsibility has left an enduring impression on the company, ⿿He had such charisma, commitment and determination, was warm-hearted but also demanding in business. In addition to many other qualities Joachim Jung stood for social responsibility and service. He had the idea for the ⿿Time for People charitable foundation years ago and arranged for all apprentices at IST METZ to spend at least a week during their apprenticeship at the facility, which will benefit from the Joachim Jung charitable foundation in the future. This is the ⿿Workshop on the Neckar, which is run by the Samaritan Charitable Foundation in Wendlingen for the professional rehabilitation of mentally ill people. It will now be supported in its work by donations from the foundation. During the event, which was also attended by the head of the ⿿Time for People foundation, the manager of the workshop, Helmut Püschel, presented an overview of the new possibilities arising from this financial support. The funds will enable the workshop to provide personal support through work placements and traineeships, professional qualifications outside the workshop and also creative development opportunities.
The start up capital for the Joachim Jung Charitable Foundation was contributed by the founders of IST METZ, Renate and Gerhard Metz, colleagues and friends from his business and private life. The amount raised will continue to rise, as Frank Krauss from the company⿿s Works Council made clear: ⿿We want to continue donating and collecting at company functions, as we have done successfully in the past.
However it is not only the financial support that Helmut Püschel values so highly for the Werkstatt on the Neckar, but also the sense of normality that IST employees bring to the facility. ⿿Contact with them helps to break down the sense of isolation felt by the mentally ill. It is this personal commitment together with the financial support that Ernst Pfister (FDP), Minister for Agriculture, values as the fundamental commitment of the foundation. In his speech he referred to the idea that Corporate Citizenship, i.e. bringing small and medium sized companies together in civic and social activities, is growing stronger and stronger in Baden-Württemberg. ⿿This is a very important signal in these times when people decry the lack of social responsibility shown by companies, commented the Minister. He praised the Joachim Jung Foundation for setting an example of the commitment required in the form of a lasting partnership between a company and a social institution. At the same time he encouraged the foundation to apply for the ⿿LEA, which is the prize awarded to the medium sized business that sets the best example of social commitment among the companies in the Baden-Württemberg area.
The Lord Mayor, Otmar Heirich, recognised the willingness of foundations to become involved with general social welfare as a positive signal for improvement in the social climate. He commented, ⿿Corporate recognition should not come solely from material things but also from commitment to foundations. ⿿It has been shown in Nürtingen that charitable foundations do not need to compete with each other at all but can instead complement each other. The creation of the Joachim Jung Foundation, under the umbrella of the ⿿Time for People foundation, is an appropriate and fitting continuation of Joachim Jung⿿s commitment to the wellbeing of those who are not as fortunate as ourselves. Dr Hartmut Fritz, Chairman of the Board of the ⿿Time for People Foundation emphasised this point. ⿿This foundation is the best way for us to pay tribute to Joachim Jung and honour his memory, he commented in his closing speech. He valued highly the person after whom this fourth subsidiary of the ⿿Time for People foundation is named as a reliable and level headed person. His spontaneous enthusiasm for the idea of giving disabled and ill people more time and personal support through voluntary commitments has become Joachim Jung⿿s enduring legacy to IST METZ.
