Donation in honour of a special occasion
A donation in honour of a special occation is a perfect option for an immaterial gift. Set up a fundraiser and donate to science, technology, art and business.
My 70th birthday without gift wrappers – Choosing a Anniversary Fundraiser
Donor Eero Seuna organised a fundraiser to celebrate his birthday.
Today’s seniors already have everything that is needed for everyday life. And if something is missing, they can get it themselves. There is really no need for birthday gifts. Gifts from previous generations’ 50th, 60th and 70th birthdays – wall clocks, candle holders and vases – still fill many cupboards and attics. One more would already be comparable to problematic waste.
Yet guests seem to feel a strange social obligation to bring a gift to the party, as if in return for the hospitality. A celebration fundraiser offers an excellent alternative. At least in my case, it worked extremely well. To celebrate my 70th birthday, I organised a fundraiser and donated the collected sum to Aalto University’s School of Chemical Engineering.
My passion for chemistry began in childhood, when I conducted experiments in my home laboratory at the age of twelve. The Helsinki University of Technology provided me with a strong foundation for a long career in the chemical industry and research.
Today, funding for education is under serious pressure as part of the broader crisis in public finances. At the same time, experts are expected to have deeper knowledge of products and processes that are more complex than ever before.
Many of the green technology themes in the forest and chemical industries, which I supported already forty years ago, have recently become increasingly central. Still, there remains an enormous need for development work and expertise to learn how to refine and utilize our forest resources cost-effectively into green chemicals and new raw materials. The need for future professionals is greater than ever.
My own children are engineers and economists, and many others in my close circle are academically educated. This creates a strong understanding of the importance of education. I believe many Aalto alumni share a similar situation. That is why I believe celebration fundraisers have strong potential and that more people could choose them instead of traditional gifts.
