Founder Johanna Hofmeir on the 20-year partnership with DR.SCHNELL, a sense of connection, and commitment.
For more than 20 years, we have been supporting an extraordinary social organization in northern Munich—Lichtblick Hasenbergl. In this interview, founder Johanna Hofmeir explains how 200 children and teenagers from families facing particularly difficult social circumstances receive intensive care and support there.
Question: Ms. Hofmeir, what is Lichtblick Hasenbergl?
Johanna Hofmeir: Lichtblick specializes in supporting children and adolescents who need more help and support than traditional preschools, after-school care centers, and school-based day programs can provide. With us, these children receive basic care, daily academic support in small groups, and intensive social skills training with a focus on career readiness. Our programs begin with mother-child groups and a preschool. From there, we support students from their first day of school through graduation and help young people transition into vocational training. Even then, we continue to stand by their side, offering support until they are firmly established in their careers.
Question: What motivated you to found this institution?
Hofmeir: Children from poor and educationally disadvantaged families often fall through the cracks of the existing social safety net. The plight of these children moved me and inspired me to develop a type of facility tailored precisely to their needs. They should have the chance to grow up healthy, do well in school, and find a way out of poverty through appropriate training.
Question: What makes working with and for children so special?
Hofmeir: The successes! It never ceases to amaze me how much these children and young people are capable of achieving and what amazing talents they display when they are provided with a safe environment and academic support. We are proud of the many young people who were the first in their families to graduate from school and successfully complete an apprenticeship.
Question: What are your institution’s main goals?
Hofmeir:Our primary goal is to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and social disadvantage. We want these children to grow up to be happy young adults and well-educated professionals who can support themselves and contribute to society.
Question: How did the partnership with DR.SCHNELL come about?
Hofmeir: Ms. Annette Schnell learned about us through a newspaper article and spontaneously offered her help. For more than 20 years, DR.SCHNELL has supported us financially, with its excellent cleaning products, and with the company’s expertise. The Schnell family is also personally involved. For example, they funded a science project and organized soccer tickets for our children and teens. We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to be part of the social projects supported by the company and the Schnell family.
Question: Why are these two partners such a good match?
Hofmeir: Whenever we have a special need or encounter problems with cleaning or HACCP procedures, we can turn to the company and the Schnell family with complete confidence. We always receive a great deal of understanding, appreciation, and warmth. This gives us strength in our challenging day-to-day work and makes us feel that we’re not alone in dealing with all the social problems and crises that the children and young people bring with them.
Question: We really appreciate your dedication, and this Christmas we’re donating up to 10,000 euros as part of a great campaign. How will you use the donation?
Hofmeir: With this substantial sum, we would like to fund additional projects focused on general education and intensive academic support. It also allows us to establish a “Future Fund” that will help ensure the educational paths of our children and young people.
Question: How will Christmas be celebrated this year at Lichtblick Hasenbergl?
Hofmeir: We’ve decorated our facility for Christmas, and small Christmas parties are being held in all our groups and programs. It’s important to us to provide the children and teens with warmth, a sense of security, and moments of peace and reflection.
Question: What are your hopes for 2026?
Hofmeir: Lichtblick takes on many tasks for which there is no public funding. We therefore hope that our sponsors will continue to stand by us and that we can gain new friends and supporters.
Lichtblick Hasenbergl by the Numbers
- Founded in 1995
- 30 educational professionals
- 200 childcare spots
Every donation helps:
Lichtblick Hasenbergl
Stadtsparkasse München
IBAN: DE33 7015 0000 0081 1345 46
BIC: SSKMDEMM