Cross of Merit for DPH founder and scholarship provider

The charity Deutsche Parkinson Hilfe (DPH) supports MHB students in the context of the grant program Deutschlandstipendium. DPH founder Stephan Goericke (photo) presented two Parkinson-related grants and – in collaboration with the Tiemann foundation – five Deutschlandstipendium grants to medical students at a ceremony last May. The grants primarily target students committed to helping Parkinson patients. Now Stephan Goericke himself was honored for outstanding accomplishments in support of persons suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

Last Thursday, the entrepreneur from Potsdam received the Federal Cross of Merit from the hands of Brandenburg’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Social Affairs Ursula Nonnemacher, upon a motion of Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke to the Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.  

Goericke (51) founded the charity association Deutsche Parkinson-Hilfe in 2013 and has been its figurehead and chairman ever since. In 2010 he initiated the Tulip Gala, the first and biggest charity project for Parkinson patients in Germany; numerous celebrities have supported this repeated event, and proceeds go to the Deutsche Parkinson-Hilfe.

Backing for DPH from renowned physicians

Minister Ursula Nonnemacher gave her personal thanks as a physician and praised his commitment as invaluable, nationwide unequalled and exemplary: “For almost 15 years he has been supporting Parkinson patients and their families with great personal effort and funding. His association promotes the development of complementary and alternative therapies and finances therapy stations for individuals in need of special assistance. Using his entire network of business contacts for the benefit of the association, he provides active support and helps to raise awareness of this insidious illness.”  

Goericke’s fight against Parkinson receives backing from renowned physicians. Collaboration with a neurology clinic in Beelitz-Heilstätten (Potsdam-Mittelmark) resulted in a therapy garden for the local Parkinson center and a relaxation area in the clinic. Experts on site have designed two smartphone apps for Parkinson patients and various instructional videos for exercises at home. Goericke also completed various joint projects with the Potsdam medical center “Ernst von Bergmann”.

But Goericke’s voluntary work goes beyond his battle against Parkinson. In 2014 he joined the advisory board for the Jewish Film Festival. He advises the Media Authority for Berlin-Brandenburg to back the plurality of opinions in private radio. And he chaired the football association Potsdam Royals, the winner of the European Football League under his aegis in 2018.

Stephan Goericke has received various awards for his commercial and social activities, among them a national award for honorary work in 2018 and an entry into Potsdam’s Golden Book. The Potsdam Chamber of Industry and Commerce named him “Entrepreneur of the Year 2012”.

Here is more information on his charity association Deutsche Parkinson Hilfe and on Funding opportunities at the MHB.