Following the controversial news earlier this year that the ancestors of the Reimann family — the majority stakeholders of German-based JAB Holding Company, owners of Krispy Kreme and Panera Bread — were enthusiastic Adolf Hitler supporters, the family announced that they would be donating $5 million to Holocaust survivors. The Reimann family’s charitable arm, the Alfred Landecker Foundation made the donation as an emergency fund for the Jewish Material Claims Against Germany conference and foundation.
"The funds being provided through the Alfred Landecker Foundation will make a significant difference in the lives of so many who deserve so much," Julius Berman, President of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany said in a statement. "Elderly, poor Holocaust survivors need food, medicine and heat in the winter. These funds will enable thousands of survivors to live in dignity."
The 5 million Euros will be disseminated to the claims conference over the course of three years, starting in 2020 with €2 million ($2.2 million USD), another $2.2 million USD in 2021, and the final installment of €1 million ($1.1 million USD) in 2022.
"This marks a significant step for the Alfred Landecker Foundation and our ambition of researching and remembering the atrocities of the Holocaust, as well as providing humanitarian assistance for survivors of the Holocaust and former forced labor in World War II," David Kamenetzky, chair of the Alfred Landecker Foundation said in a statement. The foundation is named after Alfred Landecker, who died at the hands of German Nazis in 1942 and was the grandfather of Reimann family descendants.
According to the original story published in the German publication, Bild in March 2019, Albert Reimann Sr. and Albert Reimann Jr. were supporters of the German Nazi party and “used Russian civilians and French POWs as forced laborers.”
At the time, a spokesperson for JAB Holding, called the entire incident, “a very dark chapter” in the family business’ history, and said that the company would donate $11.3 million in response to the findings. This is the first announcement made that specifically cites the recipients of the Alfred Landecker charitable funds.
JAB’s portfolio also includes Pret a Manger, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Caribou Coffee Company, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group and Stumptown Roasters.
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