''Pro Patria'', officially ''Stiftung PRO PATRIA Schweizerische Bundesfeierspende'', is a Swiss patriotic and charitable organization. Its purpose is to give meaning to the Swiss national holiday, August 1, by collecting donations to the benefit of social and cultural works of national public interest.

History

''Pro Patria'' was founded in 1909 as the ''Verein Schweizerische Bundesfeier-Spende'' (Swiss Federal Celebration Donation Association) by a group of public-spirited citizens led by the merchant Albert Schuster. The association's efforts were supported by the Swiss federal government and the Post Office, and ''Pro Patria'' coordinated its activities with the government during the first decades of its operation. The first Federal Celebration Collection yielded 29,000

Swiss franc The Swiss franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It is also legal tender in the Italian exclave of Campione d'Italia which is surrounded by Swiss territory. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) issues banknotes and the f ...

s and was used to support

flood A flood is an overflow of water ( or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrol ...

victims. In the patriotic atmosphere brought about by the outbreak of World War I, ''Pro Patrias collections gained the support of other associations and their volunteers, including the Swiss Samaritans' Union, military associations, the Swiss Gymnastics Federation,

Pro Juventute ''Pro Juventute'' is a charitable foundation in Switzerland established in 1912. It is dedicated to supporting the rights and needs of Swiss children and youth. Since 1913, the Swiss post office has issued an annual charity stamp series to suppo ...

and the Swiss Hoteliers' Association. Soon, though, Swiss schoolchildren became (and have remained) the greatest part of ''Pro Patria'' volunteers. Until long after World War II, most of ''Pro Patrias donation campaigns were aimed at supporting disadvantaged groups and minorities. The Swiss Red Cross was the beneficiary of eleven collection campaigns (1912, 1917, 1937, 1944, 1950, 1957, 1963, 1969, 1975, 1981 and 1987). Destitute mothers (1926, 1939, 1945, 1951, 1958, 1966, 1974, 1980 and 1985) and Swiss women's associations (1956, 1970, 1979, 1989 und 1995) were also frequently the beneficiaries of collection campaigns. Swiss soldiers and their families benefited from collections in 1916, 1918, 1929, 1940 and 1968, and the association was particularly supported by the army. In 1940, General Henri Guisan authorized the wear of the Federal Celebration Badge with military uniform; it is still the only civilian badge to benefit from such authorization. Organizations of Swiss citizens living abroad received ''Pro Patria'' donations in 1956, 1970, 1979, 1989 and 1995. In 1991, ''Pro Patria'' was reestablished as a

foundation Foundation may refer to: * Foundation (nonprofit), a type of charitable organization ** Foundation (United States law), a type of charitable organization in the U.S. ** Private foundation, a charitable organization that, while serving a good cause ...

Stamps and badges

''Pro Patria'' collects donations principally through the sale of

postage stamps A postage stamp is a small piece of paper issued by a post office, postal administration, or other authorized vendors to customers who pay postage (the cost involved in moving, insuring, or registering mail), who then affix the stamp to the fa ...

, postcards and badges, in cooperation with the

Swiss Post Swiss Post (french: La Poste suisse, it, La Posta Svizzera, german: Die Schweizerische Post, rm, La Posta Svizra) is the national postal service of Switzerland. A public company owned by the Swiss Confederation, it is the country's second larg ...

. Post offices sold Federal Celebration postcards from 1910 to 1960 and

postage stamp A postage stamp is a small piece of paper issued by a post office, postal administration, or other authorized vendors to customers who pay postage (the cost involved in moving, insuring, or registering mail), who then affix the stamp to the fa ...

s since 1936. The price of these cards and stamps (marked with "Pro Patria" since 1952) exceeds their denomination, with the surcharge representing a donation to ''Pro Patria''. Since 1923, ''Pro Patria'' has also produced an annual Federal Celebration Badge (''Bundesfeierabzeichen, 1.-August-Abzeichen''), which is sold in post offices and by volunteers.

References

External links

''Pro Patria'' website
:
Catalogue of First of August badges

Catalogue of ''Pro Patria'' postage stamps

Catalogue of ''Pro Patria'' postcards
{{Authority control Charities based in Switzerland