More than 14,000 euros were raised in the “Laugh instead of firecrackers” campaign by Kirchheim Mayor Maximilian Böltl and his husband Thomas Gierling. For several years, the CSU politician and the moderator have been calling on New Year’s Eve to forego the fireworks and instead donate to a good cause. This year, the proceeds go to the Munich association “Lichtblick Seniorenhilfe”, which fights poverty in old age.
The initiative helps people who can no longer make a living on their own without bureaucracy – and their number has increased significantly in the Munich region due to the corona pandemic, the energy crisis and persistent inflation. “If pensioners who have worked their whole lives don’t have enough in their wallets to grow old with dignity, then society, especially our generation, shouldn’t look the other way,” said Böltl, 39, and Gierling, 35.