Erich Reich, Managing Director of Classic Tours, who created and ran the first ever overseas charity challenge event 17 years ago has received the 2009 Outstanding Contribution Award from Professional Fundraising magazine in recognition of his achievements through the work of Classic Tours – a business that created a whole new fundraising revenue stream for the charity sector.
Classic Tours has enabled charities to raise £50 million net since 1992 through its challenges with some 30,000 participants enjoying 100 challenges a year. This industry sector in total is estimated to contribute £10 million a year net to charities.
Erich constantly develops new ideas and concepts, but always retains the challenge and charity elements as the focus. Classic Tours has organised treks, bike rides, horse treks, motorbike rides, running, car rallies, camel treks and more recently abseil events all over the world.
Professional Fundraising judge Andrew Scadding said: “Mr Reich has invented an entirely new form of fundraising – and not many people do that. His challenge events have benefited tens of thousands of people and involved tens of thousands more. It’s been a very far-reaching and successful innovation and I think that deserves recognition".
Erich personally understands the challenges that life can bring to bear. Born in Vienna 30 April 1935, the youngest of three boys he came to Britain as part of the ‘Kindertransport’ arriving 29th August 1939 and was adopted by a family in Dorking. He created Classic Tours in 1987 and came up with the idea of a charity challenge that launched this new way of raising money for charity.
In addition to Erich’s role at Classic Tours he is currently Chairman of the Kindertransport Committee, member of the A.J.R Management Committee and heavily involved with World Jewish Relief in raising the funds for the Liverpool St Station Kindertransport Monument.
For media enquiries, full biography of Erich Reich and images, please contact Caroline Corfield-Rose Tel 01923 839 375 / 07979 706 553 or email caroline@corecommunications.co.uk