Dear members of the Rotary family in District 1980
Several weeks have passed since the tragedy in Crans-Montana. For those directly affected and for their families, however, the state of emergency is far from over. Many challenges remain — and with them, the ongoing need for reliable support.
From the very first days after the fire, the Rotary family in Switzerland responded swiftly and in a coordinated manner. Accommodation for relatives was organised, practical assistance provided on site, and contacts carefully coordinated. At the same time, a fundraising campaign in support of the Rotary Foundation Switzerland was launched. Thanks to the great solidarity shown by clubs and individual Rotarians, more than CHF 100,000 have already been raised.
This support is vital — and it continues to be needed. Many of the injured will require medical treatment for weeks, in some cases for months. Family members are travelling from abroad, remaining in Switzerland for extended periods while organising care, accommodation and personal support. During this time, they are unable to pursue their work in their home countries; ongoing obligations remain, and additional costs arise. Not all of these burdens are covered by insurance or public authorities — some benefits take time to come into effect, others apply only partially.
It is important for us to provide clarity at this point: all donated funds will be used exclusively and in full for measures directly related to Crans-Montana. They will be deployed where existing systems reach their limits — whether in terms of time, organisation or human capacity. Rotary does not replace governmental responsibility or insurance coverage. Our support is complementary, targeted and purposeful.
Decisions regarding the allocation of funds are made by a committee consisting of the three current Governors, the President of the Rotary Foundation Switzerland, and the President of the Rotary Club Crans-Montana. The use of funds follows strictly the applicable foundation regulations. In identifying appropriate cases for support, Rotary works closely with the responsible authorities and institutions.
In addition to financial assistance, support is also provided where burdens are less visible. This includes, for example, psychological care for firefighters who operated under extraordinarily difficult conditions — strains that often only become apparent after the immediate crisis has passed.
Crans-Montana reminds us that support does not end with the acute phase of an event. Here, Rotary can make a meaningful contribution — coordinated, responsible and complementary to existing structures.
We thank all those who have already offered their support.
And we kindly ask you to continue walking this path with us.
With warm Rotary regards
The Governors
Jouni Heinonen, John Manning, Andrea Weber
