WHU Students Raise Over 54,000€ for Laureus Sport for Good Foundation

Every September, new enrollees at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management kick off their MBA studies by doing something good for society—and one lucky charitable initiative gets to reap the benefits. This year, the proceeds raised over the course of only five days as part of WHU’s annual Future Leaders Fundraising Challenge (FLFC)—an impressive sum of 54,527€—go to the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and its Sport for Good project dedicated to helping schools in  Düsseldorf, home to one of WHU’s two campuses.

“Many of our MBA students know from their own experience how important sports and exercise can be when you’re growing up, and that makes the cause personal. They want to pay that experience forward and give children who may not otherwise have the opportunity the same chance to discover what sports and exercise can bring to their lives,” said Professor Pisitta Vongswasdi, Chair of Leadership & Society at WHU and co-organizer of the FLFC.

Since its inception in 2016, the FLFC has seen students raise around 750,000€ in donations for charitable causes. WHU entered into partnership with the highly regarded Laureus Sport for Good Foundation for the FLFC in 2025; this collaboration is set to run for five years in total. The nonprofit organization supports more than 300 social sports programs worldwide that combat violence, racism, and discrimination while advocating inclusion, education, and the health of children and young people.

“This year’s Future Leaders Fundraising Challenge shows what students can achieve when they turn initiative and teamwork into action. Together with our charity partner Laureus Sport for Good, they raised an impressive sum of nearly €55,000 to support Sport for Good sessions run at local schools in Düsseldorf, bringing physical activity and education together through play. For me, the value lies in this connection: students develop their ability to lead and inspire others while creating opportunities for children to learn, move, and grow,” said Professor Sascha Schmidt, Director of WHU’s Center for Sports and Management (CSM) and co-organizer of the FLFC.

The donations raised by WHU’s MBA students will primarily benefit the foundation’s educational programs, such as its Tägliche Stunde [Daily Hour of] Sport for Good. These daily sessions aim to help students in disadvantaged communities develop social skills, resilience, and self-efficacy. “It was great to be part of the Future Leaders Fundraising Challenge for a second year. We really appreciate the opportunity to share our work at WHU and to gain fresh ideas and perspectives from the students. Together with the impressive amount raised, this gives our Sport for Good Sessions a real boost. A big thank you to everyone involved for the commitment and support,” said Sofia Vidal Weisch, Manager Programmes & Evaluation at Laureus Sport for Good Germany & Austria.

WHU’s Center for Sports and Management

Founded in 2014 as part of WHU’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group, the Center for Sports and Management is deeply committed to meeting the evolving business demands of the sports industry. Its research and teaching activities focus on areas of fundamental importance: corporate diversification strategies in sports, such as internationalization efforts; the effect of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and immersive technologies; and stadium economics.

Laureus Sport for Good Foundation

Laureus Sport for Good is a global nonprofit foundation dedicated to harnessing the power of sports and exercise to drive social change. Its programs tackle violence, racism, and discrimination with the aim of improving the lives of children and young people over the long term. The foundation currently supports eleven social sports programs in Germany and Austria, focusing on inclusion, education, and health. Each program specifically addresses one or more of these social priorities. Through its Tägliche Stunde [Daily Hour of] Sport for Good initiative, the foundation also advocates that every child in Germany have one hour of physical activity integrated into their school day.