User:Factsofhistory/Anne Frank Fonds Basel

The Anne Frank Fonds is a non-profit organisation based in Basel, Switzerland. It was founded in 1963 by Otto Frank to distribute the  diary of his daughter Anne Frank worldwide and to manage the copyrights.

Apart from the publication of Anne Frank's diary and her other writings the organisation stimulates scientific research of the diary and is involved in films, plays and other projects and activities based on the diary. In addition, with the proceeds of the copyrights, the Fonds supports projects in the field of human rights, racism, discrimination and anti-Semitism.

Background
Otto Frank (1889-1980) was the only one of the eight Jewish people in hiding in the Secret Annex on Prinsengracht in Amsterdam who survived the persecution of the Jews during the Second World War. After returning to Amsterdam in the summer of 1945, Otto Frank received the diary papers of his daughter Anne Frank from one of the helpers, Miep Gies. She found the diary papers in the Secret Annex right after the arrest of the people in hiding in August 1944 and had hoped to return them to Anne Frank after the war. Otto arranged the publication of the diary in 1947 with the title Het Achterhuis, which became world famous and has now been published in more than 70 languages. Through her diary, Anne Frank has become a worldwide symbol for the victims of racism, anti-Semitism and fascism.

History
The Anne Frank Fonds was founded by Otto Frank and his second wife Elfriede Geiringer-Markovits after he moved to Switzerland in 1952. Through the Anne Frank Fonds, Otto Frank dedicated the rest of his life to his daughter’s diary and the ideals described in it.

In his will Frank designated the Anne Frank Fonds in Basel as his universal heir and legal successor. Otto Frank passed away in Switzerland in 1980 at the age of 91.

Since Otto Frank's death, the Anne Frank Fonds has acted on his behalf. In addition to publishing and protecting the legacy of Anne Frank and her family, the Anne Frank Fonds also promotes charitable work in the spirit of Anne Frank and her father. Otto Frank's wish was that the organisation contribute to a better understanding between different cultures and religions, stimulate contacts between young people from all over the world, and help create peace. In order to achieve this, the Fonds  works closely with various international organisations, for example UNICEF.

Anne's cousin Buddy Elias (1925-2015) served as president of the Anne Frank Fonds

from 1996 until his death in 2015. The current president is John D. Goldsmith.

Externe link

 * Official website