After long discussions, the ‘Good Council for Redistribution’ appointed by millionaire heiress Marlene Engelhorn has come to a conclusion about how the assets should be divided: around 25 million euros will be given to 77 organizations.
The money will go to initiatives addressing the issues of climate and environment, affordable housing, healthcare and social affairs, as well as integration and education, the commission explained at a press conference on Tuesday.
Money must have a long-term effect
Only the committee, a council of fifty citizens, decided on the public distribution of Engelhorn’s assets, with diversity playing an important role. This is intended to “reflect Austrian society,” as project manager Alexandra Wang emphasized.
During the distribution, the focus was on questions such as the seriousness of the organizations and how the money could be used in such a way that it had a long-term effect. On Tuesday it was said that they had, in a sense, conducted ‘market research’ and then decided to the best of their knowledge and belief. The exact 24.9 million euros should not be distributed all at once, but over several years, Wang emphasizes. The aim is to ensure a certain level of planning for the supported initiatives.
Contrast with the original concern?
Doesn’t the mere division contradict the concerns of the 32-year-old millionaire, who strongly supports inheritance and wealth taxes? Project manager Wang denied this at the press conference. Since such taxes do not exist, Engelhorn initiated the council and gave its power to the 50 citizens. “She wanted this process. For them, redistributing their money is the solution to a problem that they as individuals should not have to solve. But politics. But politicians disagree with their concerns,” Wang said. However, the council also admitted that it was under time pressure when making its decision.
Engelhorn himself did not speak at the press conference. She deliberately wanted to stay out of the picture and not ‘steal the show’ of the council, as was said at the press conference. The million-dollar heiress herself plans to go to work.
1.6 million for ‘Nature-free Purchase’
The Austrian Association for Nature Conservation receives the largest share, approximately 1.6 million. The money will be used to support its ‘buy nature free’ initiative. Near-natural areas such as riparian forests and heathlands must be purchased and therefore safeguarded. “They simply need a lot of money,” said council member Angelika Taferner, explaining the large amount.
The Viennese homeless shelter Neunerhaus follows in second place with 1.59 million. The list includes large and renowned aid organizations such as Caritas, Diakonie and Volkshilfe, women’s shelters and street newspapers, Reporters Without Borders, fire brigades, the Momentum Institute and IG Democracy. But small, relatively unknown initiatives and theater projects are also supported. The complete list is available on the website http://guterrat.info.
Source: Krone
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