20 years of the Cologne Community Foundation: An evening full of commitment and inspiration!

20 years of the Cologne Community Foundation: An evening full of commitment and inspiration!

A celebration of community and commitment: The Cologne Community Foundation celebrated its 20th anniversary on June 17th this year in the Ehrenfeld Community Center (BüzE). Around 100 guests from civil society, politics and culture gathered to properly honor this special occasion. Mayor Dr. Ralf Heinen opened the event with a warm greeting, followed by congratulations from Hubert Schramm, representative of the Alliance of Community Foundations in Germany.

The evening was characterized by lively discussions about the role of civic engagement in times of increasingly scarce public resources. A panel discussion with prominent discussants such as Jasmin Caspary from Allerweltshaus Cologne, Karolin Hüner from the Cologne Volunteer Agency, Elisabeth Sandow, deputy district mayor of Rodenkirchen, and Dr. Ulrich Soénius from the Cologne Foundation Association highlighted topics such as municipal responsibilities and recruiting volunteers. The conversation was moderated by Simone Krost from the RTL Foundation – We Help Children e.V.

A look at the community foundation and its projects

The Cologne Community Foundation is primarily committed to local causes and supports numerous charitable projects. These include innovative initiatives such as “Eselsohr” and “Op zack för Pänz”, which deal with education and integration. Community foundations in Germany, such as those represented by the Cologne Community Foundation, are designed to promote community engagement and respond to social challenges that often cannot be covered by state funds. A look at [aktive-buergerschaft.de](https://www.aktive-buergerschaft.de/buergerstiftungen/modell-buerger Stiftung/) shows that such foundations cover a wide range of funding areas, including education, culture and the environment.

With now around 400 community foundations in Germany, which began in Gütersloh and Hanover in 1996, these initiatives show how important civic engagement is for the common good in local regions. The Cologne Community Foundation is a prime example of how communities can organize themselves autonomously and develop projects independently. The foundation is characterized by its independence and its diverse funding purposes, as buergerstiftung-freising.de highlights.

An unforgettable evening and a look into the future

The celebratory evening was highlighted by musical contributions from the youth pop choir of the “Junge Stadt Köln” under the direction of Lisa Maier and an excerpt from the piece “Heimat A.T.” enriched by the Casamax Theater. Former chairmen such as Ludwig Arentz and Sven Johannsen reflected on the founding and development of the foundation and remembered its beginnings 20 years ago, when the community foundation was launched on June 17, 2005 by KölnAgenda e.V.

Martin Müller, the chairman of the community foundation, emphasized the crucial role of volunteers and funding partners during his speech. With a personal story about an “engagement deal” with his boss, he showed how important it is to gain support for civic engagement. The evening ended with a buffet and lively discussions under the motto: “20 years of the Cologne Community Foundation – that’s just the beginning.” This inspiring exchange underlines the community foundation's ongoing commitment to continue to be a central voice for local volunteerism and to make a difference together with the community.