Patron Jürgen Schwarz looks back on an eventful WUAHL year – and tells the story of a gift from the heart just before Christmas.
What a year for WAS UNS AM HERZEN LIEGT! Many hearts were touched at the fourth WUAHL benefit concert on 19 October 2024 in the sold-out Friedenskirche in Ludwigsburg. A fitting venue for a special occasion and an equally worthy cause. Musicians playing the music that is close to their hearts, for a cause that is close to their hearts – for HOPPS, the home-based paediatric oncology care Stuttgart.
Due to the pandemic, we had to take a break after 2019 – until the time had finally come again. All the more wonderful that the Ludwigsburg concert was also a restart for new ideas. In addition to the big Ludwigsburg concert, smaller concerts are planned as well. The first ones have already taken place, with the benefit concert at the Solitude-Gymnasium Stuttgart and the thank-you concert at the Gymnasium Rutesheim.
That the original idea of bringing joy to the children at the Olgäle keeps on growing is wonderful – and it clearly touches more and more people's hearts.
Here is a lovely example: when our winter concert took place at the Gymnasium Rutesheim last week, the proceeds from the refreshment sales during the interval were dedicated to our cooperation with WUAHL in support of the project HOPPS. As I was leaving at the very end, a stranger approached me:
You are collecting donations for WUAHL and HOPPS? Tell me how much you have raised, and I will double it.
An angel was standing before me. On the day before Christmas, he transferred 1,000 euros – generously doubled. Gifts from the heart like these motivate us to keep making the music that is close to our hearts, for the people who are close to our hearts – in the new year as well.
With warmest greetings, I wish you all the very best!
Jürgen Schwarz
Headmaster of the Gymnasium Rutesheim and patron of WAS UNS AM HERZEN LIEGT
