"The establishment of the Friedel & Gisela Bohnenkamp-Stiftung was a process that occupied me for some time. On the one hand, after the death of my husband in 1990, it was important to me to continue the company as an independent enterprise and to ensure that the jobs at the Osnabrück location were safeguarded; on the other hand, it should be made possible to do something meaningful with part of the proceeds. As a viable solution for not exposing the company's current 239 jobs (end of 2013) to the laws of the free market, the idea of establishing a charitable foundation matured in me. About half of the shares - in 2002, the GmbH & Co. KG was converted into a stock corporation - have been transferred to the foundation.
“When I look back on the company’s 60-year history, I find time and again that the most important building block has been forward-looking investment. This is how the company has become what it is today: a market leader in Europe. That is why it is particularly important to me that the Friedel & Gisela Bohnenkamp Foundation also makes meaningful investments in the future. Shortly after its founding, education was identified as a key focus. The foundation’s primary mission is to strengthen the potential of children and young people—preferably in the Osnabrück region—and, by improving their educational opportunities, to enable them to have—as I hope—a better future. Supporting high-achieving children of Bohnenkamp AG employees also plays a major role in this effort.”
"The foundation has now established itself as an 'educational foundation.' The focus on education was a deliberate choice, as I believe it is one of the most important social issues when it comes to securing our future. The many congratulations and the warm support I received from representatives in politics and business after founding my foundation show me that I have set the right course for the future—not just that of Bohnenkamp AG. I am very happy about this, and it also makes me a little proud. And so I hope that the Friedel & Gisela Bohnenkamp Foundation will continue to make a significant impact and, in doing so, contribute to shaping the educational landscape in the Osnabrück region—and will continue to do so for many years to come."