Gunnar and Claus Heinemann, Gebr. Heinemann Co-Owners  received the Legends Wings of Help Award at the Living Legends of Aviation by Scalaria event in Austria on Saturday (20 July).

The award recognises the global social commitment of the two cousins, who have supported the work of the Wings of Help association for many years through donations and financial help and undertaken humanitarian work at home and abroad.

Frank Franke, President and Managing Director, Wings of Help said: “Heinemann sees the success attained from close cooperation with the aviation industry as an obligation to give something back to society and, above all, to open up prospects for future generations.

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY

“In this relation, we are particularly pleased — in addition to many other direct aid measures — with their commitment to the education of young people, for example by setting up computer classes in schools across needy regions. We all know that education creates a future and computers are the window into this future.”

Claus Heinemann said: “Special thanks are due above all to our employees, whose personal commitment is an essential component of our corporate culture. In our day-to-day business, we mainly dedicate ourselves to the beautiful things in life, with which we delight travellers in our duty free shops.

“For many of our employees, this awakens the desire to alleviate the existential distress of those who do not find themselves on the sunny side of life.”

Co-owner Gunnar Heinemann added: “Their volunteer work ranges from helping refugees and mentoring programs to fundraising campaigns and distributing food to people in need. Our employees are strongly committed at the local level.

“We are very proud of that. It is thus all the more important to us that the partnership with Wings of Help gives us all an international opportunity to help people in need spontaneously, across borders and without bureaucracy.”

Founded 16 years ago in the US, Living Legends is a non-profit organisation with the aim of educating children about aviation and sparking their interest in the industry. Past award winners include Sir Richard Branson, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong.

A European offshoot, entitled Living Legends of Aviation by Scalaria was established two years ago. The 2019 version of the event (20 July) was hosted by US actor John Travolta. In addition to Gunnar and Claus Heinemann, Bertrand Piccard, speaker at last year’s TFWA World Exhibition and Conference, Sir Charles Gordon Lennox, Jean Rosanvallon and Iren Dornier were awarded the prize.