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2004 was characterized by the celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of Anne Frank's birth. The ANNE FRANK-Fonds (AFF) supported an exhibition in the Jüdische Museum Jewish Museum in Basel and also funded the publication of "Anne Frank und ihre Familie. Fotos von Otto Frank" Anne Frank and her Family. Photographs by Otto Frank by the Anne Frank Stichting in Amsterdam. For the first time the "Buch der schönen Sätze" The Book of Beautiful Lines ("Mooie Zinneboek") containing a collection of quotations by Anne Frank is going into publication. The Board of the AFF visited the Anne Frank Begegnungszentrum in Frankfurt to see the newly designed exhibition on the life of Anne Frank.
The many celebrations commemorating Anne Frank's 75th birthday (2 June 1929) in different countries around the world helped to spread the message of Anne Frank's diary. In particular, Buddy Elias, the cousin of Anne Frank and President of the AFF, gave many talks and was often asked to give interviews or to lecture in schools. The Board funded the publication of the "Birthday Book" (Anne Frank and her Family. Photographs by Otto Frank. Special edition 12 June 2004 commemorating the 75th anniversary of Anne Frank's birth); it was put together with care by the Anne-Frank Stichting in Amsterdam and contains, in a limited edition, photographs of the Frank family. The Jüdische Museum der Schweiz Jewish Museum of Switzerland in Basel put on an exhibition under the title "Anne Frank and Basel" to which the AFF contributed a facsimile of her diary and a number of other documents.
Archive of the Families Frank-Elias
Basel, and in particular the house at Herbstgasse 11, was a place of special significance for the Frank-Elias families. Between 1953 and 1961 Otto Frank also lived there in the house of his sister and her husband. Numerous documents, many of them invaluable for the family history, lay there for years, gathering dust. The AFF has now commissioned the archivist Dr. Peter Toebak to edit and index the voluminous material. This time-consuming work is being done in close collaboration with the Anne Frank Stichting in Amsterdam.
The Diary
The publication of the diary and the task of making and maintaining contacts with publishing houses worldwide are in the hands of the Liepman Literary Agency in Zürich. In memory of Hans Stöckli, who worked for the agency for many years and who died in 2004, the board has decided to fund the translation of the diary into Arabic. Unfortunately, no publisher for this edition has yet been found. However, a new Swedish and a Turkish edition of the diary have been published recently. Unfortunately, the Board of the AFF had to take action against an unauthorized edition of the diary in Sri Lanka.
The Board
Apart from their regular monthly meetings, the seven members of the board frequently met for shorter meetings over lunchtime in order to deal with the many requests concerning the use of the diary and to discuss projects initiated or supported by the AFF. The members of the Board visited the Anne Frank Begegnungszentrum in Frankfurt am Main in order to get a picture of the new exhibition on show there. Contacts like these and the relationship with the Anne Frank Stichting in Amsterdam are important to the board.
The Executive Secretary, Peter-Michael Loewe (50%), assisted by, Jeannette Beumer, support the Board effectively in its work.
Grants
In the year under review the AFF (ANNE FRANK-Fonds) awarded grants amounting to approximately CHF 580,000. The recipients of these grants included: Stiftung vivamos mejor Bern, Anne Frank Jugendbegegnungsstätte Frankfurt am Main, Globe Relief Winterthur, Hannah-Arendt-Oberschule Berlin, Museum der Kulturen Basel, Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker Bern, Verein Johanna "Lernen im Park" Basel, The Hope Flowers School Bethlehem, Waisenhaus Bangladesh India, Anne Frank House Amsterdam, Adam-Institut Jerusalem, Anne Frank Zentrum Berlin, AMCHA, Verein Kezakimana Basel, Schweizer Freundeskreis Zelt der Völker Bern, Neve Shalom/Wahat al Salam, Visoparents Schweiz Dübendorf, Friedenstage in Bergen-Belsen, Herinneringscentrum Kamp Westerbork Hooghalen, exilio e.V. Lindau, religions Basel, "imagine" by terre des hommes Basel, Schnürschuh-Theater Bremen, "Living with Difference" (University of Sussex), Spielgruppe St. Johann Basel, as well as smaller donations.
The Board carefully reviewed all requests; the number of applications turned down exceeded the number of approved requests since many of them did not conform to the aims and specifications of the AFF.
The "Anne Frank Medical-Fund for the Righteous" remains a significant project, receiving over CHF 100'000.-. Unfortunately, third party contributions to this important aid project that supports non-Jewish people who provided help and shelter during the Holocaust still fluctuate strongly.
In order to process the many applications to the AFF more efficiently a part-time assistant has been taken on.
Finances
An external review found that in a difficult investment environment the AFF manages its assets in a very professional way and in accordance with the prevailing statutes. The 2003 annual accounts were audited in accordance with the stipulations of the Foundation's supervisory body.
07.2005/PML/ck
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