More than 240 applications had been submitted, from which a jury including actor and documentary filmmaker Hannes Jaenicke (Environmental category), former professional footballer and foundation founder Neven Subotić (Social category), "Netzwerk-Chancen" founder Natalya Nepomnyashcha (Education category), and a youth jury selected 19 organisations. ElasmOcean made it onto this longlist, which is why we travelled to the magnificent Städel Museum in Frankfurt/Main on 28 October.
The nine award winners on the shortlist with the jury
And we were honoured as one of three projects in the Environmental category with the "Wir für morgen" Prize 2024 by Union Investment, for our educational work on marine conservation.
The award ceremony, held in a prestigious setting, was opened by Hans Joachim Reinke, Chief Executive Officer of Union Investment and patron of the initiative: "In a world of upheaval, social commitment is more important than ever. Your contribution to creating a better tomorrow cannot be valued highly enough." Since 2022, the investment company of the Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken has been presenting these awards to non-profit associations that advocate for social justice, greater equal opportunities, and enhanced environmental awareness.
Hannes Jaenicke, as jury member for the Environmental category, pointed out that this topic "is currently rather out of fashion because other issues are being prioritised. Yet these other issues are merely consequential problems of environmental issues. Environmental protection is a human rights issue!"
Patron Hans Joachim Reinke, Friederike Kremer-Obrock and jury member Hannes Jaenicke
We are very proud of this honour and are grateful for it. We will invest the funding prize of 20,000 euros into our school programme, specifically into our school boxes and equipping our speakers for their activities in nurseries and schools.
Hans Joachim Reinke dismissed the approximately 100 attendees with a word of thanks to all active volunteers: "You give society the most important thing of all: your time!"
Presenter Sabrina Marggraf, Friederike Kremer-Obrock (ElasmOcean), Aktionsgemeinschaft Artenschutz (AGA) e.V. as the Environmental flagship award winner, jury member Hannes Jaenicke
We intend to continue doing this on a voluntary basis in the future. Our congratulations to all the other winners — and today, a well-deserved pat on the back for ourselves before return to our daily work: More conservation through knowledge!
