Swiss Benevolent Society of Philadelphia

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The Swiss Benevolent Society of Philadelphia was founded on September 14, 1860. It began as an idea of Rudolph Koradi, the Swiss Consul of Philadelphia. The Charter of the Society, written in 1865 and amended in 1915 and 1960, states that the Society’s object is “to relieve, so far as means will permit, the urgent necessities of poor and honest natives of Switzerland, either by contributions of money and provisions, or by procuring employment for them. It is not a society for mutual assistance, but of general benevolence.”
Support has been provided for orphanages and homes for the aged as well as to needy individuals. In addition, the Society has contributed funds to disaster victims throughout the world, and aided relief organizations in Switzerland during the First and Second World Wars.
In 1990, the Swiss Benevolent Society of Philadelphia joined forces with the SBS of New York, which administers the Scholarship Fund founded in 1979. The Pellegrini Scholarship Fund, the Sonia Streuli Maguire Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Award, the Medicus Student Exchange Fund (founded in 1996) and the Zimmermann Fund (founded in 1999) support undergraduate and graduate students in our geographical area and in Switzerland.
The society celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2010 with a Gala Dinner at the Torresdale Frankford Country Club in Philadelphia. The goal of the board of directors was to make the membership grow to 150, which was met during the anniversary year.
Funds for the Society come from dues, investments and bequests. The annual meeting held in March usually takes the form of a dinner and is one of the social activities sponsored by the Society. Members and their guests are always welcome. The Swiss Benevolent Society of Philadelphia and its members, along with other area Swiss Societies, continues to be an active organization.
The Society is a 501(c) (3) Non-Profit Organization and donations are very much appreciated.

02/08/2026
On behalf of the Swiss Benevolent Society of Philadelphia, we wish everyone a happy August 1st!🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭
02/08/2026

On behalf of the Swiss Benevolent Society of Philadelphia, we wish everyone a happy August 1st!🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭

01/08/2026

In his Swiss National Day address to Swiss citizens living abroad, the President of Switzerland, Guy Parmelin, reflects on Switzerland’s...

11/07/2026

HISTORISCH: Wir stehen erstmals seit 72 Jahren im WM-Viertelfinale!!!
UN MOMENT HISTORIQUE : pour la première fois depuis 72 ans, nous sommes en quarts de finale de la Coupe du monde.
UN MOMENTO STORICO: Per la prima volta dopo 72 anni siamo ai quarti del Mondiale

01/03/2026

Leo Schelbert Award | Swiss and Swiss-North American History.

The Swiss American Historical Society (SAHS) is pleased to announce the annual Leo Schelbert Award, honoring the best undergraduate or graduate student paper in the field.
Submissions may explore any topic related to Swiss and/or Swiss-North American history (including Canada) and should advance understanding of one or both areas, reflecting the mission of SAHS. Papers originally written for a course are also welcome, provided they align with the thematic focus.

Dr. Leo Schelbert (1929–2022), historian and University of Illinois Chicago professor emeritus, was a leading scholar of Swiss emigration. Author, mentor, and former SAHS president, he helped shape the Swiss American Historical Society and its publications for decades.

📆 Application deadline: June 1, 2026.

🔗 For more information and to submit your paper, please visit https://forms.gle/n3mzF7vniMQFAddb9.

12/12/2025

Swiss tradition of yodelling has been awarded Intangible Cultural Heritage status by UNESCO.

06/12/2025

🎅 Meet Samichlaus and Schmutzli: In Switzerland, December 6th is St. Nicholas Day, when Samichlaus—the Swiss Santa—visits children to reward good behavior with treats like nuts, mandarins, cookies, and chocolate.

He’s never alone: his dark-robed companion Schmutzli playfully admonishes those who have been naughty.

Together, they roam snowy villages, meet children, and keep holiday traditions alive—children recite poems to Samichlaus, and in return he and Schmutzli hand out Chlaussäcke (treat bags) filled with sweets. In some regions, the duo even joins festive parades, bringing holiday cheer to the whole community.

Address

142 Commonwealth Drive
Newtown, PA
18940

Telephone

+1 (215) 68-1873

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