The creation and founders of the Foundation
Carolin was only a few weeks old when she saw her father, mission
soldier Arre, for the very first time. This would, unfortunately, be also the
last time, because when he returned from his holiday to the operation area in
Iraq, Arre fell. A young wife and a newborn daughter were left behind in
Estonia. The year was 2004.
The story of the Carolin Illenzeer Foundation began in the year 2005, December
27th, when a group of Christian-minded officers decided that beliefs and values
should be transformed into deeds in addition to words. They focused on
helping the daughter of Arre Illenzeer, who had fallen on a foreign mission.
Over time, the idea developed and it was decided to raise money to pay for
tuition fees and recreational activities of the children of other brothers in
arms who had fallen or were seriously injured in the performance of their
duties in the Estonian Defense Forces.
The founders of the Carolin Illenzeer Foundation are Estonian Atlantic Treaty
Association (MTÜ Eesti NATO Ühing), The Estonian Reserve Officers’ Association
(MTÜ Reservohvitseride Kogu) and NGO OSMTH (an organization uniting Christian
officers).