Gerhard C. Starck Stiftung

The Gerhard C. Starck Stiftung is a non-profit foundation based in Düsseldorf, Germany, dedicated to promoting the vocational education and further training of gifted young Jewish people who are connected to the German language and cultural sphere. It has the legal form of a legally capable foundation under German civil law (rechtsfähige Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts). The foundation was established by the Düsseldorf jurist Renate Starck-Oberkoxholt (16 July 1926 – 30 July 2003) through her will, and it is named after her husband, the lawyer Gerhard C. Starck (4 April 1929 – 9 January 2000). The foundation's purpose reflects the personal history and interests of its founders. Gerhard C. Starck was the son of the industrialist Hermann Carl Starck (1891–1974), founder of the company H.C. Starck, and inherited a considerable fortune after his father's death together with his sister Barbara. His mother, Klara Sarkadi (1895–1968), was of Jewish descent, and during the Nazi era almost all of his maternal relatives were murdered in Auschwitz; only his mother and one uncle survived. Gerhard Starck took a deep interest in his Jewish ancestors, and both he and his wife were impressed by the intellectual and artistic diversity of Jewish life in Germany before 1933. They resolved during their lifetimes to support such talent. The foundation idea combines these elements: by supporting particularly gifted young Jewish people who are interested in Germany, the foundation aims to encourage them to come to and remain in the German-speaking world. The founder was fully aware that the Jewish culture of the Weimar era cannot be revived in a comparable way, but she was deeply convinced that the contribution of gifted Jewish people to the community is immensely important. This idea remains the guiding principle of the Gerhard C. Starck Stiftung. The foundation was recognised by the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of the Interior on 14 December 2004. On 22 February 2005, the regional president Jürgen Büssow presented the recognition certificate to the foundation's representative, Paul Spiegel. Charlotte Knobloch, former president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, has served as chair of the three-member foundation board from the beginning. The foundation's funding circle includes pupils, students, apprentices, artists, doctoral candidates and post-doctoral researchers of the Jewish faith. Approximately 20 students are admitted to the funding programme each year. Grants are awarded in the form of scholarships ranging from 250 euros per month for pupils to 1,000 euros for doctoral candidates and post-doctoral researchers. Applicants must be between 17 and 35 years old, provide confirmation of membership in a Jewish community in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, demonstrate particular talent through certificates, prove a high level of German language proficiency, and show the intention to attend a German-speaking school or university.

The Gerhard C. Starck Stiftung was established through the will of the Düsseldorf jurist Renate Starck-Oberkoxholt (16 July 1926 – 30 July 2003). It is named after her husband, the lawyer Gerhard C. Starck (4 April 1929 – 9 January 2000). Gerhard C. Starck was the son of the industrialist Hermann Carl Starck (1891–1974), founder of the company H.C. Starck, and after his father's death he inherited a considerable fortune together with his sister Barbara. His mother, Klara Sarkadi (1895–1968), was of Jewish descent, and during the Nazi era almost all of his maternal relatives were murdered in Auschwitz; only his mother and one uncle survived. Gerhard Starck was deeply interested in his Jewish ancestors. He and his wife were impressed by the intellectual and artistic diversity of Jewish life in Germany before 1933. During their lifetimes they set themselves the goal of supporting such talent. Added to this was both spouses' interest in Jewish life, especially in Germany. The foundation idea consisted in combining these elements: how could this be better realised than by supporting particularly gifted young Jewish people who are interested in Germany, and thereby encouraging them to come and to stay. The founder was fully aware that a Jewish culture of the Weimar era cannot be revived, but she was deeply convinced that the contribution of particularly gifted young Jewish people to the community is immensely important. The Gerhard C. Starck Stiftung is committed to this idea. The non-profit foundation, whose establishment Renate Starck-Oberkoxholt had ordered in her will, was recognised by the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of the Interior on 14 December 2004. On 22 February 2005, the regional president Jürgen Büssow presented the recognition certificate to the foundation's representative, Paul Spiegel. Charlotte Knobloch, the former president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, has served as chair of the three-member foundation board from the beginning. The foundation's funding circle includes pupils, students, apprentices, artists, doctoral candidates and post-doctoral researchers of the Jewish faith. Approximately 20 students are admitted to the funding programme each year. Grants are awarded in the form of scholarships varying between 250 euros per month (for pupils) and 1,000 euros (for doctoral candidates and post-doctoral researchers). The award of funding is tied to several conditions: applicants must be between 17 and 35 years old, must provide confirmation of membership in a Jewish community in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, must possess a particular talent documented by certificates, must demonstrate a high level of German language proficiency, and must show the intention to attend a German-speaking school or university.

• 2005

  Recognition certificate presented to foundation representative Paul Spiegel by regional president Jürgen Büssow on 22 February

• 2004

  Foundation recognised by the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of the Interior on 14 December

• 2003

  Death of founder Renate Starck-Oberkoxholt on 30 July; establishment of the foundation ordered in her will

• 2000

  Death of namesake Gerhard C. Starck on 9 January

A non-profit foundation supporting gifted young Jewish people connected to the German-speaking world, encouraging them to come to and remain in Germany, Austria or Switzerland.

• Scholarships for pupils (250 EUR/month)

• Scholarships for students

• Scholarships for apprentices

• Scholarships for artists

• Scholarships for doctoral candidates and post-doctoral researchers (up to 1,000 EUR/month)

1. 1Gerhard C. Starck Stiftung - Stiftungsgedankestarck-stiftung.de
2. 2Gerhard C. Starck Stiftungwikidata.org
3. 3Gerhard C. Starck Stiftungde.wikipedia.org