Georg Zinner Foundation
Founded in 2021 by Rosa Strobl-Zinner, the Georg Zinner Foundation aims to support the international meeting place Kreisau and ensure the upkeep of its essential infrastructure.
Rosa Strobl-Zinner named the foundation after her husband, Georg Zinner, a pivotal figure in the development of Berlin’s social services sector since the 1970s. Born into a Bavarian farming family, Georg Zinner completed an apprenticeship as a bank clerk and later studied social work. In 1971, he joined the Neukölln Social and Youth Office, while simultaneously pursuing a sociology degree.
From 1978 to 2013, as the managing director and visionary, he transformed the small Neighbourhood Centre Schöneberg e.V. into one of Berlin’s largest social enterprises, encompassing around 80 facilities, approximately 1,000 employees, and about 1,600 volunteers. His unwavering belief in the power of civic engagement, inspired by the “small communities” philosophy of the Kreisau Circle, guided his work.
“What should our foundation aim to achieve? Georg and I quickly agreed: it should enable young people to broaden their horizons, just as we had the opportunity to do.”
Civic engagement, a European-democratic mindset, a strong focus on young people, and ties to Poland: “The Freya von Moltke Foundation and the New Kreisau should continue their good work. I believe Georg would have liked that,” says Rosa Strobl-Zinner.