During the presentation, which took place at the Spanish embassy in Berlin, Ambassador Gabriel Busquets Aparicio praised the Fundación Bertelsmann’s wide-ranging civic engagement in Spain. According to the ambassador, in her work as a member of the foundation’s governing board Mohn has demonstrated that social responsibility can also be a key factor in corporate success.
The Fundación Bertelsmann carries out projects aimed at increasing civic engagement in Spain. As part of its activities, the foundation is creating a new Center of Excellence for Community Foundations. Through community foundations, which are well-known in the Anglo-Saxon world but new to Spain, the Fundación Bertelsmann wants to encourage citizens to become more involved in their communities and to promote corporate social responsibility among the business community. The Spanish foundation, founded in 1995 by Reihnard Mohn and initially dedicated to promoting media literacy, has since provided more than €9 million in resources for community projects in Spain.
About the Bertelsmann Stiftung:
The Bertelsmann Stiftung views itself as a catalyst for social change promoting reforms in the areas of education, business, social affairs, healthcare and international understanding. The foundation was established in 1977 by Reinhold Mohn and is majority shareholder in Bertelsmann AG. In carrying out its project work, the Bertelsmann Stiftung is politically nonpartisan and operates independently of the Bertelsmann Group.
A photo of the award ceremony is available for download at the right.