(NEWS) ZURICH, Switzerland, 2026-Mar-2 — /Travel PR News/ — Zurich Airport passengers helped raise more than CHF 240,000 for charitable causes through a long-running airport retail initiative that links everyday purchases with social impact. The latest fundraising round generated CHF 242,553 for the Allani Children’s Hospice Foundation, with proceeds coming from the sale of “Charity Water” bottles in duty-free stores operated by Avolta.
As outlined in information shared by the airport operator, the initiative allows travellers to contribute to selected charities simply by purchasing Swiss mineral water sold for CHF 2.50, with 50 cents from each bottle donated to a partner organisation. The allani Children’s Hospice Foundation benefited from the programme between July and December 2025, helping support care services for children and young people living with serious or life-limiting illnesses, as well as their families.
The initiative, run jointly by Avolta and Flughafen Zürich AG since 2014, rotates beneficiary organisations several times a year. According to the airport, the programme has supported a wide range of charities over the past decade, reflecting a broader commitment to community engagement within Switzerland’s largest aviation hub.
Since January 2026, donations from Charity Water sales have been directed to the Schweizer Tafel Foundation, an organisation that collects surplus food and distributes it to social institutions such as shelters and soup kitchens. The charity has already rescued thousands of tonnes of food, combining waste reduction with support for people facing economic hardship.
The Charity Water programme has now supported eleven organisations since its launch, demonstrating how small individual purchases by travellers can collectively generate meaningful support for social and environmental causes.
Over the years, the initiative has supported a wide range of charitable organisations across Switzerland. Previous beneficiaries have included the Stiftung Kinderhilfe Sternschnuppe, which received nearly CHF 400,000 to help fulfil wishes and organise activities for children living with illness or disability, as well as the Sozialwerk Pfarrer Sieber, which provides social and medical assistance to people in need. The programme has also enabled community-focused activities, including special airport visits for families supported by partner charities, illustrating the initiative’s broader social impact beyond financial donations.
