A heartfelt initiative in Geleen, the Netherlands, has led to a €4,250 donation to ATJ Owls, a small local owl sanctuary that supports both rescued birds and people in need of connection and calm.

Each year, employees from Intertek’s Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals laboratory select a community cause to support. For 2025, senior analyst Anita Caris nominated ATJ Owls—an organization that not only provides a safe haven for owls, but also fosters well-being through interactions with the birds, particularly for the elderly and individuals with disabilities or emotional challenges.

The donation was made possible through a Dutch national scheme that allows employees to donate a portion of their unused paid leave, which their employer then converts into a tax-free financial contribution. Over the past ten years, this giving model has resulted in more than 2,100 hours’ worth of charitable donations from the Geleen team alone.

The €4,250 raised will feed the sanctuary’s eleven owls for over a year. The donation was formally presented to ATJ Owls’ founder, Brigitte Furnèmont, during a small ceremony in January 2025—attended by one of the sanctuary’s feathered residents.

This initiative is a powerful reminder that small acts of generosity, when driven by a sense of community and purpose, can have a lasting impact on both people and wildlife.