Projects

It is a great pleasure for the Sepp Blatter Foundation to be able to present the 2016 Award, with prize money of CHF 25,000, to the Musikdorf Ernen Festival.

The beautiful and emotional celebration took place on 2 August 2017 in the historic Tellenhaus in Ernen in the presence of the Sepp Blatter Foundation board members, President of the Musikdorf Ernen Society Anton Clausen, Artistic Director Francesco Walter, President of Ernen Christine Clausen, as well as representatives of the municipality and the Musikdorf Ernen Festival and was accompanied by music from concert pianist Paul Giacometti.

The Sepp Blatter Foundation would like to reinforce the cultural importance of the festival in Switzerland and abroad with this award. It is not obvious that such high-quality classical music would be played in this beautiful, picturesque village of Ernen and has been since 1974!

Sepp Blatter pointed out the parallels between music and football. Both bring people together and are full of emotion. He was especially thrilled that the 2016 Award went to Goms, the area he comes from.

After presenting the award, we enjoyed the first orchestra concert in the church. It was a feast for the ears for us all.

You can find more information about the Musikdorf Ernen Festival at: www.musikdorf.ch

In 2013, the Sepp Blatter Foundation decided on an exceptional basis to present its award – for the second year running – to a humanitarian-social institution in the Upper Valais in recognition of its extraordinary commitment and dedication to helping people with special needs. The 2013 award, which was once again worth CHF 20,000, was presented to the insieme oberwallis association. Founder Sepp Blatter and Foundation President Niklaus Furger presented the award and cheque to the President of insieme oberwallis, Edith Nanzer, at a small ceremony held in the auditorium of the curative school of Glis that was also attended by the entire Sepp Blatter Foundation Board of Management as well as by representatives of the Brig-Glis local authority and a number of students and insieme oberwallis residents.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the association, which is involved with people with special needs in the Upper Valais. The association works in cooperation with the canton and a number of other parties to provide these people with a special programme, which the association also helps to finance. The association’s main focus areas are:

• Curative services
• Special education
• Work and activities
• Living

In his address, Founder Sepp Blatter congratulated insieme oberwallis and thanked everyone involved with the association for their excellent and invaluable support. He also touched upon the importance of hope for everyone, using football as an example by saying that every defeat is always accompanied by the hope of victory in the next match. He said that he was delighted that his foundation had been able to make a small contribution towards supporting the association in the pursuit of its objectives. 

More information on insieme oberwallis:

www.insieme-oberwallis.ch

At its last meeting, held in the local council chambers in Visp on 31 October 2012, the Board of Management of the Sepp Blatter Foundation congratulated Niklaus Furgler on his re-election as the Mayor of Visp and presented him with a symbolic gift in the form of a specially embroidered foundation pennant.

The Board of Management wishes him all the very best and every success with the challenges that lie ahead in the next four years, and thanks him for his work at the helm of the Sepp Blatter Foundation.

To achieve something big in a small place: that is the aim of the Fux campagna residential home in Visp in Upper Valais, where severely disabled people are encouraged to lead as rewarding and active a life as possible.

In August 2011, the home was awarded the annual prize of the Sepp Blatter Foundation for its outstanding commitment. On 30 October of that year, it received a visit from the Foundation's entire Board of Management, comprising the Mayor of Visp Niklaus Furger, founder Sepp Blatter, Corinne Blatter Andenmatten and Jean-Paul Brigger.

For the Board of Management, it was a perfect opportunity to meet the residents of the home in person as well as the staff and board of trustees over an aperitif. The ensuing lunch provided some interesting discussions with the residents about life in the home, the care provided and the stories behind their lives.

The manager of the home, Josef Pfaffen, then described to the visitors from the Sepp Blatter Foundation the daily routine of the residents and their activities in the workshops.  This was followed by a brief tour of the living accommodation and workshops.

The members of the Board of Management were extremely impressed by the excellent work of the home and the remarkable attitude to life of its residents, which once again served to reinforce the Board’s commitment to the project. “It was a memorable visit and talking to the people in the home was a very moving experience for us. We are firmly convinced that every resident can do something and be active,” confirmed Sepp Blatter and his daughter Corinne Blatter Andenmatten.