The Heinz and Heide Dürr Foundation was set up in 1998 and supports projects throughout Germany. One of Heide Dürr's key foundation goals is to establish the Early Excellence approach for early-years education. Early Excellence aims to provide individual support in nurseries and daycare centers and involves parents in their children’s educational processes. “Every child must have the chance to receive a good education — right from the start and regardless of their background. We are committed to this social responsibility,” says Heide Dürr.
Even after the passing of her husband in 2023, Heide Dürr remains a driving force behind the foundation’s work as a Supervisory Board member. Examples of the Heinz and Heide Dürr Foundation’s broad-ranging commitment include the German Daycare Award, first presented in 2018, support for playwrights, premieres, and small theaters, remembrance culture, and research projects on artificial intelligence and human genetics.
When presenting the Order of Merit, Berlin’s State Secretary for Youth, Falko Liecke, said: “I would like to thank Heide Dürr for her tireless commitment and drive. The foundation of Heinz and Heide Dürr has long been an integral part of the foundation landscape. It has enabled the support of over 500 Early Excellence institutions with more than 10,000 professionals across Germany, as well as the training of specialist staff.”
The Heinz and Heide Dürr Foundation holds 3.5% of the shares in Dürr AG. The foundation uses the funds from the annual dividend payout for its work.