IMPROVING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN
Enhancing their wellbeing and personal living conditions
The Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation, established in 2021, is dedicated to improving the lives of children all over the world. The Foundation supports organizations and institutions that provide healthcare and educational programs, helping underprivileged young people and those with specific needs to enhance their wellbeing and prospects for life.
Based in Zurich, Switzerland, the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation primarily cooperates with professionally recognized partners that are strategically aligned with its specific funding areas, such as medical research, healthcare and access to education.
INSPIRING PERSONALITIES
Engaged in society, committed to giving back
The Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation’s assets originate predominantly from the sale of a superior art collection that the Swiss siblings had accumulated over decades, as internationally respected gallerists, passionate art collectors as well as personal friends of renowned artists.
After Thomas’ early death in 1993, his sister Doris took over the ‘Thomas Ammann Fine Art’ gallery, leading it with the same extraordinary success. When Doris passed away in 2021, she had stipulated in her will that the gallery’s art collection be transferred to a foundation and be successively dissolved for charitable purposes, particularly benefitting children in need.
DISTINCT AREAS OF ENGAGEMENT
Seeking global impact
The purpose of the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation is to help underprivileged young people and those with specific needs to get off to a good start and improve their living conditions in the long term. In addition, the Foundation engages in projects and institutions in the fields of human medicine and art science. The Foundation’s funding strategy is based on three pillars.
Medical Research
In addition to application-oriented medicine, the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation funds research initiatives that ideally translate into clinical practice, preferably at the bedside of young patients. In the area of medical research, the Foundation cooperates primarily with Swiss institutions, while always aiming for global impact.
Health and Educational Care
The Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation supports educational projects and organizations as a means of improving health, reducing poverty, promoting social responsibility, and leading a self-determined life. The focus is particularly on the following thematic priorities: Access to quality schooling and education as well as vocational training and related infrastructure.
Art Science and Education
In the field of art, the Foundation selectively funds science and research initiatives as well as projects around art history, art technology and art scholarships. In this context, publications of catalogues raisonnés or similar endeavors may be supported aiming to transfer knowledge and to stimulate curiosity, primarily amongst children and young people.
CREATING SOCIETAL IMPACT
Collaborating with recognized partners
The Foundation primarily cooperates with professionally proven partners that are strategically aligned with its specific funding areas. Leveraging joint resources and well-established contacts locally, supports the Founders’ intention to achieve high impact with minimal bureaucracy.
In this spirit and to create high impact, the Foundation proactively approaches potential partners, rather than accepting individual applications for financial support.
The University Children’s Hospital Zurich covers the full spectrum of pediatric medicine and pediatric surgery, treating more than 100,000 children and young people each year. It is one of the leading children’s hospitals worldwide, with experts working together in an interdisciplinary and interprofessional manner, conducting research, and employing state-of-the-art technologies and methods for the benefit of children. The sponsor of the Children’s Hospital Zurich is the private, non-profit Eleonorenstiftung.
The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (KJPP) at the Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich (PUK) is a leading clinic for child and adolescent psychiatry in Switzerland and Europe, treating more than 4,000 patients and their families each year for a wide range of psychiatric disorders and mental health problems. The interdisciplinary teams assist children and adolescents in difficult times, developing innovative patient-oriented treatment approaches such as “Life”, the new crisis intervention for adolescents
The Roger Federer Foundation engages in educational programs in African countries as well as in Switzerland with a special emphasis on school readiness. The Foundation aims for systemic impact by implementing its programs in close coordination with governments and within existing structures, working with selected local organizations in long-term partnerships. In order to achieve sustainable impact, parents, teachers, as well as local communities and authorities get mobilized and empowered, ensuring that the population takes over responsibility.
The Pro Juventute Foundation has been supporting children for over 100 years on their journey of becoming self-determined and responsible personalities. Every year, more than 300,000 kids and teenagers and around 140,000 parents benefit from the Foundation’s programs and wide range of services in Switzerland. Pro Juventute’s most important service is Counselling + Help 147, Switzerland’s only national child helpline, where trained specialists offer immediate help and advice - day and night.
The Ombuds Office of Children's Rights Switzerland (OKS) supports children and young people in stressful legal situations by providing uncomplicated assistance. It ensures adequate access to legal systems and offers advisory and intermediating support, ensuring fundamental rights, such as the right to information or the right to be heard, as well as legal representation of children. Thus, the Ombuds Office contributes to the prevention of injustice, avoiding health-related consequences and fostering a self-determined life.
The Swiss Institute for Art Research (SIK-ISEA) is a competence center for art scholarship and art technology with both a national and an international focus. Its primary activities are research, documentation, dissemination of knowledge and services in the field of fine art. Incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation, SIK-ISEA enjoys the status of an independent research establishment.
The Fondation Beyeler is a museum of modern and contemporary art, with a mission to especially foster the interest of young people in art. It promotes access to art, cultural education and experiences with nature, as well as interpersonal encounters. High quality exhibitions of renowned artists of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries have established the Fondation Beyeler as one of the most popular art museums in Switzerland and beyond.
COMMITTED TO SERVING THE PURPOSE
Professional, engaged, and efficient
The Board of Trustees is composed by:
- Georg Frei President
- loannis Martinos Vice President
- Amina Miriam Chaudri Member
Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation
Restelbergstrasse 97
8044 Zurich – Switzerland
info@ammannfoundation.ch
Phone: +41 44 360 51 66