On 17th November 2014 in the Grossmünster in Zurich, the LutherRose 2014 for social responsibility and entrepreneurial courage was awarded to Dietrich Pestalozzi, president of Pestalozzi + Co AG, a Swiss company which has been in the steel business for over 250 years. During its 7th business conference, the International Martin Luther Foundation (IMLS) presented the award in recognition of a person who “…with his life and professional work has applied the Reformatory traditions of Freedom with Responsibility for the benefit of the community as a whole in an exemplary manner…”
The ceremonial speech was made by Moritz Leuenberger a former member of the Swiss Federal Council (or Swiss government). In referring to the awardee Dietrich Pestalozzi he stated “Inheriting a family business brings responsibility. Those who appreciate this, honour their privilege and thereby earn a LutherRose”
In his acceptance speech the recipient of the LutherRose Dietrich Pestalozzi emphasised that he understood that his entrepreneurial activities were also in the service of the community. “Through the commitment of many people – both in the company and outside of it – something worthwhile can develop.”
The minister-president of Thuringia Christine Lieberknecht highlighted the fact that the roots of the modern social market economy started with the reformers Luther, Zwingli and Calvin and that their ideas were adopted and further developed by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and other Germans who resisted the Nazis. She saw Dietrich Pestalozzi as somebody who follows this tradition: “With Swiss charm he combines the virtues of freedom and responsibility with his business, social and church activities. This is what the International Martin Luther Stiftung terms as <EntrepreneurialCourage> and it describes this life style precisely.
