On 8 February, the prize “Woman of the year 2004” was awarded to the wife of the Federal Chancellor of Germany, Doris Schroeder-Koepf.
Mrs Schroeder-Koepf was the third winner of the prize “Woman of the year 2004”. Previously, it was awarded to the leader of the German opposition Angela Merkel (2002) and the internationally renowned couturier Jil Sander (2003).
The prize was founded by the magazine Bunte and the Burda concern. Mrs Schroeder-Koepf was given the award for her public activity. Under the patronage of the Federal Chancellor’s wife, social projects are realised for supporting invalids, and a programme for fighting the spread of AIDS. Mrs Schroeder-Koepf gives a great deal of attention to the upbringing, education and support of the growing generation. She is responsible for the youth project “Germany reads” and the programme “Teenage help hotline”.
During the ceremony, there was a collection of donations to the fund for helping countries that suffered from the tsunami in Southeast Asia.