THEODORA FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Dear donors, partners and friends,
In 2024, thanks to your invaluable support, the Theodora Foundation continued its mission with passion and dedication. To bring even more comfort to children in hospitals or specialist care centres, we recruited and trained nine new Giggle Doctors. In 2025, they will be joining our team of 68 Giggle Doctors, bringing a colourful distraction to even more children.
Faced with the increasing demand from hospitals and specialist care centres, we also expanded our programmes, such as «Emergency Giggles». This development reflects the growing impact of our work and our commitment to being there when children need us most.
In 2024, our Giggle Doctors made more than 115,400 individual visits, providing countless moments of comfort and escape for children and their families. These achievements would not have been possible without you. Your generosity and commitment enable us to pursue our mission and bring dreams where they matter most.
Jan Poulie Founder
André Poulie Founder Philippe Notter President of the Foundation Board
18’140 Specialist care centres Hospital
97’265 visits visits
59 institutions throughout Switzerland
6 programmes
20’980 hours visiting children
PROGRAMMES
The Theodora Foundation has been founded in 1993 with one mission: to bring moments of laughter and comfort to children in hospitals and children living with disabilities.
IN HOSPITALS
Giggle Doctors
Every week, the Giggle Doctors bring comfort and cheer to children in hospitals through their visits. In 2024, the Foundation’s artists dedicated over 12,525 hours to brightening the days of young patients in 32 Swiss hospitals.
68,900 VISITS TO CHILDREN
Operation Dreams
This programme aims to support children during their surgical procedures. Thanks to their caring presence before and after the operation, the Giggle Doctors help transform these delicate moments into a gentler and more reassuring experience. Their magic helps children and their families to approach the surgery with greater peace of mind. In 2024, the «Operation Dreams» programme enabled more than 3,710 hours of visits across 9 hospitals.
20,415 VISITS TO CHILDREN
«Overwhelmed, helpless, filled with fear and exhausted, we hoped to soon wake up from this nightmare and be able to go home. Suddenly, Dr Wolle appeared, looked at us, and I felt so much mindfulness, compassion, interest, and pure warmth from the heart. Deeply moved and filled with gratitude for this encounter that was so powerful for us, we were able to experience a few moments of lightness and joy. Thank you for your presence, you are a gift and leave deep marks in our hearts!»
Jessica Tofaute-Beutler, mother
Emergency Giggles
Several evenings a week, the Giggle Doctors are present in paediatric emergency units to lighten the wait, reduce the families’ anxiety, and provide valuable support to the hospital staff. Implemented in 8 hospitals , including 3 new ones in 2024, this programme resulted in 1,365 hours of visits .
7, 500 VISITS TO CHILDREN
IN SPECIALIST CARE CENTRES
Mr and Ms Dream
The Foundation’s artists also regularly visit specialist care centres that care for children with disabilities. Under the name «Mr and Ms Dream», they devoted nearly 3,300 hours in 2024 to brightening the daily lives of children in 27 specialist care centres , offering them moments of joy and escape.
18 ,140 VISITS TO CHILDREN
«Firstly, I often find it easier to connect with the children when the Giggle Doctors are present. Secondly, I frequently witness joyful and amusing situations. This brings great relief and comfort to everyone — both to the team and to the children. »
Dr med. Dimitri Vetterli, Pediatric emergency attending physician, KSA Children’s Hospital Aarau
Little Orchestra for the Senses
This poetic and playful orchestra, consisting of several artists, offers interactive and sensory musical experiences specially designed for children with disabilities. In 2024, the programme underwent a complete restructuring , leading to a temporary pause in performances. It will make a grand comeback in 2025 in a new, enriched format, for the children’s greatest delight.
SPECIAL PROGRAMME
The Lil’ Champs
Theodora artists also work with children and adolescents involved in obesity treatment programmes. In 2024, they devoted more than 80 hours of activities , bringing a fun and compassionate dimension to support learning and encourage positive experiences.
VISITS TO CHILDREN
FINANCES
Source of funds
61% Donations
Use of donations
13% Fundraising and communication
80% Mission: visits to children 7% Contribution to support European programme activities
The annual financial statements are available in the full version of the Annual Report: theodora.ch/our-finances
Read the Annual Report 2024: theodora.ch/annual-report
In 2024, we brought comfort to thousands of children and their families. This would not have been possible without the invaluable support of our donors, partners, hospitals, specialist care centres, sponsors and volunteers. To all of you, a heartfelt thank you. Chemin du Bief 6 bis · 1027 Lonay T +41 21 811 51 91 · info@theodora.ch IBAN CH51 0900 0000 1006 1645 5 www.theodora.ch ·
