In the form of donations or loans, assistance to employees of founding companies (and their successors) affected by prolonged unemployment; material assistance to active or retired employees, widows and children of active or retired employees in need (including beneficiaries of Novartis pension fund pensions); support for the launch of a regional social institution; national or regional relief efforts in the event of a catastrophic event; training measures for the benefit of employees or children of active employees or pension beneficiaries (including beneficiaries of Novartis pension fund pensions); payment of death benefits to the families of active employees or pension beneficiaries (cf. statutes).