The GOLDENE ERBSE award

The GOLDENE ERBSE is awarded to those who are fighting like fairy tale heroes to preserve the good. The pea in Andersen’s fairytale “The Princess and the Pea” became the symbol for ethics, sensitivity and action – properties that the world urgently needs and Märchenland decided to honour.

Awardees of the GOLDENE ERBSE 2011

Gail Halvorsen, retired career officer and command pilot in the United States Air Force, known as the “Candy Bomber” during the Berlin Blockade in 1948/49
Steffi Jones, former football international, promoter of women’s football as manager of the German Football Association DFB e. V., supporter of Mukoviszidose e. V. (German CF Association) and Sepp-Herberger-Foundation
Carmen Nebel, moderator, supporter of Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid) and German Red Cross
Bettina Wulff, patroness of „Eine Chance für Kinder“ (A Chance for Children), Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung (German Children and Youth Foundation), Deutsches Müttergenesungswerk (German Mother Recovery Association) and UNICEF Germany

Awardees of the GOLDENE ERBSE 2010

Marion Horn, Chairwoman of “Ein Herz für Kinder – BILD hilft e.V.”
Iris Berben, Activist against anti-Semitism and promoter of tolerance
Stephanie zu Guttenberg, Chairwoman of “Innocence in Danger e.V.”

Awardees of the GOLDENE ERBSE 2009

Reinhold Messner, Famous Mountaineer and founder of the “Messner Mountain Museum“ in Bozen, Italy
Sabine Christiansen, German journalist, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and founder of the “Sabine Christiansen Children’s Foundation“
Dirk Rossmann, German businessman and founder of the “German Foundation World Population“

Awardees of the GOLDENE ERBSE 2008

Jette Joop, German fashion and juwelry designer
Children’s Embassador of the German Red Cross
Supporter of the German Green Cross, e.g. for the information campaigne against HPV (human papilloma virus)

Pfarrer Ernst Sieber, Swiss priest and social-critical author
Initiator of the “Stiftung Sozialwerke Pfarrer Sieber” (social foundation for drug addicts and homeless people)
Honorary doctor of the University of Zurich

Bernd Siggelkow, Berlin priest and author
Initiator of the charity organisation "Die Arche – Christliches Kinder- und Jugendwerk e.V.“, which provides places of refuge, advice and care for socially disadvantaged children in Berlin and other German cities

Awardees of the GOLDENE ERBSE 2007

Peter Maffay, Musician and producer of the rock fairytale Tabaluga and many sociocritical songs
Campaigns for abused and needy children throughout the world
Founder of the Peter Maffay Foundation for the support of children in need
Initiator of the project “Begegnungen – Eine Allianz Für Kinder” (Encounters – an Alliance for Children) in cooperation with artists from 13 countries and four continents

Henning Mankell, Swedish author of crime novels and numerous children’s and youth books
Originator of the “Theatro Avenida” in Maputo for the support of cultural life in Mozambique where there is a low level of literacy
Sponsor of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and generous supporter of SOS Children’s Villages

Heidi Oetinger, German publisher of Astrid Lindgren’s numerous children’s books
All her life, she supported children’s reading skills and understanding of literature
Knight 1st Class of the Royal Swedish Order of the North Star

Awardees of the GOLDENE ERBSE 2005

HRH Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, UNESCO ambassador, active in development aid and the abolition of child soldiers
President of the Luxembourg Red Cross
Patron of the Luxembourg department of the children’s charity SOS Children’s Villages
Member of the honorary committee of the Paralympics

Klaus Wowereit, Governing Mayor of Berlin since 2001
Sociopolitical involvements on behalf of culture, education and social matters
(e.g. membership in the German workers’ welfare association, in Ver.di, as well as in numerous cultural associations and sponsorship associations for maintaining Berlin’s schools)
Advocate of tolerance campaigns for homosexuals

Uwe-Karsten Heye, Secretary of State and government spokesman of the federal government from 1998 to 2002
Founding member and 1st chairman of the association “Gesicht Zeigen! Aktion weltoffenes Deutschland” to combat xenophobia and racism