However, turning this into a small concept with big goals required a little more consideration - and wedi's management's approval. The head of the company, Stephan Wedi, gave the okay on 30.03.2001, along with "best wishes for a long lifetime for this great idea" and wedicef was born.

If the drinks in the administration department are free, we can make little donations, Günter Dieckmann from wedi marketing said and, with the name wedicef, also defined the target group for the donations: children and young people who are in need or seriously ill. The starting amount of 392.00 Deutschmark which was collected in the first month showed how willing the employees were to donate. The idea gained momentum and soon it was not just about donating for the drinks; new ideas and new occasions for donations were being thought up. New contact people were also found since, as time passed, our business partners and customers became aware of the wedicef concept.

Donation money which is collected over the year, and also receives a good boost from the management each time, is handed over at the beginning of the following year. "The full amount is handed over to the recipient in person," assures Günter Dieckmann, who has entrusted his baby wedicef to the safe hands of Heike Austrup and Marion Nordhoff since entering retirement.