Aktion Mensch

The Aktion Mensch ("Mensch" means "human") registered association (formerly known until February 2000 as "Aktion Sorgenkind"; Sorgenkind can be translated as "children in need") is a German social organisation which was formed on the initiative of the ZDF, a German television channel, in 1964 and is financed from the Lottery. The organisation supports inclusion, which may be defined as equality for all in the community. The headquarters of the charitable organisation is in Mainz; the service centre is in Bonn. The registered association has seven members. In addition to the ZDF, the following six welfare organisations are also included: Arbeiterwohlfahrt (Workers' Welfare Association (AWO)), Deutscher Caritasverband, German Red Cross, Diaconal Charity of the German Evangelical Church, Deutscher Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband (German Parity Welfare Organisation) and the Zentralwohlfahrtsstelle der Juden in Deutschland (German Central Jewish Welfare Office). 4.6 million people regularly participate in the lottery run by "Aktion Mensch", which supports up to 1000 projects for people with disabilities, children and adolescents every month. It is the largest lottery in Germany. Since the foundation of the association, it has contributed over 3.9 billion euros to various projects (status as of 2017).