Officially established on 13 September 2013 At a ceremony held on 13 September 2013 in Luxembourg, ESSKA President João Espregueira-Mendes and Fondation de Luxembourg General Director Tonika Hirdman signed the agreement to officially establish the ESSKA Foundation.

The ESSKA Foundation was established under the aegis of the Fondation de Luxembourg. Its avowed aim to achieve excellence in the field of European orthopedics, especially in sports medicine and degenerative joint disease, to improve musculoskeletal function, and thereby enhance its patients' quality of life.

The first meeting of the ESSKA Foundation was held on 10 October 2013 in Luxembourg.

The Fondation de Luxembourg was created in December 2008 by the Luxembourg State and the Oeuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte. Its mission is to promote private philanthropic commitment.

The structure was set up to meet the growing need for a centre of expertise in philanthropy in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and to encourage and facilitate philanthropic commitments made by private individuals and/or businesses.

By providing information and advice and by developing specific tools and structures, the Fondation de Luxembourg seeks to encourage, support and guide donors who wish to make a long-term commitment to the development of significant philanthropic projects.

The ESSKA Board is most appreciative of the support it has received from the Fondation de Luxembourg’s team.

On 10 October 2014, the ESSKA Foundation Management Committee held its second meeting, in the offices of the Fondation de Luxembourg.

The committee comprised ESSKA’s Past President João Espregueira-Mendes, ESSKA President Matteo Denti, ESSKA's 1st Vice-President Romain Seil, former Luxembourg Minister of Economy and Sport Mr Jeannot Krecké as an independent consultant and Director of the Fondation de Luxembourg Tonika Hirdman. Its remit was to oversee our newly-established ESSKA Foundation.

The committee was content with the progress so far. It re-elected João Espregueira-Mendes as its Chairman and specified the tasks for the new period, which were:

[ a ] fundraising for the ESSKA Foundation, so as to provide us with a secure financial reserve

[ b ] investment of the funds already available, so as to ensure a good return

[ c ] co-ordination with the various EU bodies, to ensure ‘compliance’ and to attract additional funding.

The Foundation funds will be available for ESSKA’s education and prevention programmes.

Additional information about the ESSKA Foundation can be found on the Fondation de Luxembourg's website.