BMW Group South Africa employee wins 2024 BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility.

Midrand. On 16 September, Sibusiso Thusi, Björn Sommer, Karin Kollross and Graham Darab received the 2024 BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility. The award ceremony, held in Munich, Germany, honoured employees worldwide who engage as volunteers by dedicating their time and expertise to social projects.

The four winners are actively involved with causes in South Africa, Germany and Bolivia. With passion and dedication, they empower the families of children with cancer, support disadvantaged youth, provide aid to street children and help individuals struggling with addiction by presenting them with new opportunities. Each winner received prize money of 10,000 Euros (± R196,400) for their project.

“The BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility is truly inspiring. It highlights the profound impact individual dedication can have and shows how commitment to others strengthens the entire community. Our associates are driving change by developing practical solutions to social problems. Their projects create a positive impact and serve as an invitation to everyone to step up and get involved,” says Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for People and Real Estate, and Labour Relations, who is also a patron of the award.

Sibusiso Thusi, who works in Human Resources Services at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn, is the recipient of the Vera-und-Volker-Doppelfeld Award, which fosters commitment among young people. Thusi helps schoolchildren discover their talents and realise their professional dreams. As a mentor with the “Young Aspiring Thinkers” initiative, he works with public schools in economically disadvantaged areas to help children make up learning deficits, prepare them for internships and share insights into the world of work.

Achieving more together.

The BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility has been highly regarded within the company for many years, achieving an impact that extends far beyond simply recognising the individuals involved. Around 100 associates worldwide submitted entries for the BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility this year.

Behind each winning project is a team of dedicated helpers from the organisations themselves, who also receive recognition and appreciation through the award. Volunteers find their involvement in social and environmental causes deeply enriching, motivated by the desire to give back to the community. One of the winners described the experience of volunteering as grounding and inspiring gratitude.  

More 2024 award winners.

Björn Sommer, a Process and Digitalisation expert based in Munich, has a true pioneering spirit. He is developing a digital patient companion to support the families of children with cancer, aimed at improving their quality of life. Sommer’s project garnered the interest of a team of colleagues, and together, under the umbrella of the association “Initiative for Children with Cancer Munich”, they developed a digital platform that consolidates all information relating to their illness.

Karin Kollross, who works in Technology Materials and Process Analytics in Munich, is committed to helping street children in Cochabamba, Bolivia. She first experienced the plight of local children as a backpacker, later discovering the project “Emanuel Foundation – Children with a Future”. The initiative established a home for children whose mothers work in the neighbouring red-light district. Kollross is working to ensure the continued existence of this safe haven.

Graham Darab, MINI Brand Manager for the company’s branches in central Germany, helps people break the cycle of addiction. As a trained addiction counsellor, he leads a self-help group at the “Living without Addiction” association, where he helps people overcome addiction by maintaining a stable lifestyle and avoiding relapse. Darab also serves as one of the BMW Group’s addiction officers, undertaking important prevention efforts.

Social Drive strengthens social commitment.

Social responsibility is a significant part of the BMW Group’s core philosophy and has encouraged social commitment among its employees for many years. Alongside the BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility, the Social Drive initiative consolidates volunteer activities at the company. It allows employees to showcase their social causes, connect with each other and recruit new members. The platform provides an easy way for individuals or teams to learn about and participate in various projects.

BMW Group South Africa is committed to corporate social responsibility by building a more sustainable future for its people, communities and the industry. The voluntary involvement of employees makes an equally important contribution to the social responsibility of the BMW Group.

ENDS

If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Angela Konert

Head of Business Communications

Phone: +27 71 666 2472

Email: Angela.Konert@bmw.co.za

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/south-africa

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2023, the BMW Group sold over 2.55 million passenger vehicles and more than 209,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2023 was € 17.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 155.5 billion. As of 31 December 2023, the BMW Group had a workforce of 154,950 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products. 

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