THEODORA FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2025
«A small group of committed citizens can change the world.»
Margaret Mead
At the Theodora Foundation, this belief guides us every day. Thanks to your support, our Giggle Doctors bring moments of joy and comfort to children in hospitals or to children living with disabilities. Last year, 76 artists carried out nearly 119,200 individual visits across 31 hospitals, 28 specialist care centres and one children’s hospice in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
The year 2025 was also marked by the arrival of 9 junior Giggle Doctors. Our regional presence was further strengthened through new collaborations with several hospitals and specialist care centres.
Among them is Switzerland’s first paediatric palliative care hospice, «allani», with the launch of our 7th programme, «Planet of Dreams». In moments of great intensity, the presence of our artists brings gentleness, lightness and a deeply human touch.
None of this would be possible without you. Your commitment and trust make you part of that small group capable of transforming children’s lives — one smile, one visit and one magical moment at a time.
Thank you.
Jan Poulie Founder
André Poulie Founder Philippe Notter President of the Foundation Board
98,865 visits visits
60 institutions throughout Switzerland
7 programmes
2,3 million
20,330 Specialist care centres Hospital children visited since 1993
PROGRAMMES
The Foundation’s mission is to bring unforgettable moments of joy and lightness to children in hospitals, institutions for children with disabilities, and children’s hospices.
IN HOSPITALS
Giggle Doctors
68,615 VISITS TO CHILDREN
Each week, the Giggle Doctors create a space filled with kindness and imagination, allowing children to reconnect with a world of laughter and play. In 2025, the Foundation’s artists devoted around 12,475 hours to brightening the daily lives of young patients in 31 Swiss hospitals.
Operation Dreams
22
,280 VISITS TO CHILDREN
This programme supports children throughout their surgical journey by offering comfort and reassurance. The Giggle Doctors help young patients and their families experience this challenging moment with greater peace of mind. In 2025, 4,050 visiting hours were carried out in 10 hospitals.
Emergency Giggles
7,620 VISITS TO CHILDREN
Several evenings a week, the Giggle Doctors visit paediatric emergency departments to ease families' anxiety, lighten waiting times and provide valued support to medical teams. Implemented in 9 hospitals, this programme delivered more than 1,385 visiting hours.
Planet of Dreams
70 VISITS TO CHILDREN
Through this programme, two Giggle Doctors bring precious moments of joy to children in Switzerland’s first children’s hospice. They help create a warm and supportive environment where children and families can draw strength and share meaningful moments together. In 2025, the Foundation’s artists spent around 80 hours at the allani children’s hospice (BE).
«Families’ reactions to the Giggle Doctors are always deeply moving. The special attention they provide may not be tangible, yet everyone can feel it. Seeing children respond, make progress or suddenly dare to try new things is profoundly emotional.»
Christian Ziegler, Director of the allani Children’s Hospice
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 3,425 hours in 2025 to brightening the daily lives of children in 28 specialist care centres, offering them moments of joy and scape.
18,845 VISITS TO CHILDREN
«Even before ‹Mr and Ms Dream› arrive, the children are already full of anticipation — and the positive mood continues long after the visits.»
Patricia Hess, special education teacher at the Curative Education Centre of Liechtenstein
Little Orchestra for the Senses
After a pause in 2024, the «Little Orchestra for the Senses» programme resumed in 2025 with three new performances, each offering a unique sensory experience adapted to children living with disabilities. In 2025, the orchestra performed for 270 hours in 27 specialist care centres.
1,485 VISITS TO CHILDREN
Discover our programmes: theodora.ch/our-programmes
SPECIAL PROGRAMME
The Lil’ Champs
The Theodora artists also work with children and teenagers participating in obesity care programmes. In 2025, they devoted more than 50 hours to activities designed to encourage learning through a playful and caring approach, fostering positive experiences.
VISITS TO CHILDREN
FINANCES
Source of funds
68% Donations
13% Corporate partners
7% Legacies
6% Solidarity actions
6% Others
Use of donations
82% Mission: visits to children
13% Fundraising and communication
5% Contribution to support European programme activities
The annual financial statements are available in the full version of the Annual Report: theodora.ch/our-finances
In 2025, we were able to offer thousands of children and their families precious moments that went far beyond laughter. These moments of comfort and gentleness would not have been possible without the essential commitment of our donors, partners, hospitals, specialist care centres and volunteers. To each and every one of you, we extend our heartfelt thanks.