For the third time, John Patrick Platzer, information officer and militia soldier at the Carinthia Military Command (Interview in Militär Aktuell), has collected donations for the SOS Children’s Village in Moosburg. After sledges in winter 2019 and summer sports equipment this year in May during the coronavirus lockdown, the next charity campaign was for the start of school in 2020.
This time, support also came from the “Burger Boutique” restaurant chain: Together with Managing Director Baran Ümit, Platzer created the “Soldier with a Heart Burger”. For every burger sold, one euro went into the donation pot. A total of 1,280 burgers were sold at the Villach and Klagenfurt locations within two months. This raised around 2,000 euros, which was used to buy 26 high-quality school bags and rucksacks as well as small extra gifts such as board games, puzzles and books for young people, which were handed over to the young residents of the SOS Children’s Village in Klagenfurt on August 23. The private concert by pop singers Nadja Inzko and Stefan Skreinig and the invitation to dinner with drinks also made the children’s eyes light up when the donations were handed over.
Surprising award
Once a year, the Austrian Albert Schweitzer Society presents the “Albert Schweitzer Lifetime Award for Humanity”. This year, Platzer was honored for his commitment to date. The award was presented to him during the donation ceremony. “Militia Corporal John Patrick Platzer receives the Lifetime Award for Humanity for his commitment to collecting donations for those who need it most, even in times of crisis. When a militia soldier puts on his uniform and helps, not because he has to but because he wants to, everyone benefits. The little ones from the SOS Children’s Village as well as the reputation of the armed forces. Platzer has absolutely earned the award with his numerous actions. We congratulate him on this award,” said Secretary General Jörg Steiner, who traveled all the way from Vienna for the award ceremony.
The initiator
John Patrick Platzer was visibly moved and expressed his thanks: “They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. In the case of our campaign, this probably means ‘charity’. Not only my Soldiers with a Heart donated, but also the guests of the Burger Boutique with every ‘Soldiers with a Heart Burger’ they ordered. I would like to thank the ÖASG for this award. It confirms me in what I am doing and I see it as a mandate to continue. I would also like to thank everyone who made these wonderful gifts for our children possible. I am sure that the new school bags will make starting school a little easier.” Corporal John Patrick Platzer is an information officer at the Carinthia Military Command. The 31-year-old from Klagenfurt works for the private radio station Antenne Kärnten. As a singer, rapper (Der Antenne Wochenrapblick) and editor, he is responsible for news, traffic and weather, among other things.
Read more here our interview with Corporal John Patrick Platzer from July 17, 2020.
