New addition for Dillingen's "Steelworks Bear Cubs": Second AWO children's day centre opened

In view of the great popularity enjoyed by the original "Kleine Hüttenbären" centre founded in 2006, and the fact that all the crèche and day centre groups are full, while the demand for places continues to grow, Dillinger Hütte decided to support AWO in expanding its day-care facilities in Dillingen. This time, the company also provided a plant-owned site, which has been specially prepared to meet the needs of a day centre for children. The new facility will accommodate twenty-eight children; operation is to be financed, within the framework of the applicable legal provisions, from public funds and from fees paid by the parents. Dillinger Hütte will also be providing supplementary grants. This is a future-orientated model of family-friendly corporate policy, and simultaneously a sign of great commitment to community life, as AWO state chairman Paul Quirin emphasised at the opening ceremony: "The high level of commitment to social affairs that shapes Dillinger Hütte policy, and the pleasing relations in social matters which the company practises, become visible here. Such attitudes are, regrettably, not found everywhere nowadays, and they greatly impress us, as a workers' welfare organisation with our own profound commitment to these values". Dr. Karlheinz Blessing, Chief Executive Officer of Dillinger Hütte, also praised the good co-operation between the company and the AWO: "This 'company adopted' children's day centre for our 'steelworks bear cubs' is an important element in our family-friendly corporate policy, and we are therefore pleased to continue our tried and proven partnership with the AWO organisation". As he continued: "Dillinger Hütte plays an active part in integrating family and work, and not only for its own employees. It also accepts its social responsibilities". The "Kleine Hüttenbären" day centre, open from 6:30 in the morning to 6:00 in the evening, cares for the children of Dillinger Hütte employees and of other working parents in the county. With its two facilities together (Lindenstrasse and Werderstrasse), it will, in future, provide fifty-eight places for children ranging from eight weeks to six years in age, of which fifteen places in the Werderstrasse will be for infants up to three years of age, and thirteen places for day-centre children