Else Kröner was a German entrepreneur and philanthropist who was born on 9 May 1903 in Worms, Germany. She grew up in a middle-class family and was trained as a nurse. During World War II, she served as a nurse in various military hospitals in Germany.
After the war, Kröner became interested in business and eventually founded her own pharmaceutical company, which specialized in producing antibiotics. The company became highly successful, and Kröner became one of the wealthiest women in Germany.
However, Kröner was not content to simply accumulate wealth. She was a firm believer in giving back to society, and she established the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung, a foundation that focuses on funding medical research and improving healthcare. The foundation has donated millions of euros to various research projects and has also provided funding for medical equipment and facilities.
Kröner’s philanthropic work was not limited to her foundation. She also donated large sums of money to various organizations, including the German Red Cross, the German Cancer Aid, and the German Foundation for World Population. In recognition of her charitable contributions, Kröner was awarded numerous honors, including the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Kröner died on 5 November 1988, but her legacy lives on through her foundation and the many people whose lives have been touched by her philanthropy. Her wealth, which was estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of euros, was put to good use in supporting medical research and improving healthcare, making her an inspiration to many who aspire to use their wealth for the greater good.
Here is a timeline of her life:
1903 – Else Kröner is born on May 9th in Worms, Germany.
1920 – Kröner begins training as a nurse in Frankfurt.
1932 – Kröner becomes a nurse practitioner and begins working in a hospital in Frankfurt.
1945 – After World War II, Kröner starts working at a military hospital in Bavaria.
1952 – Kröner founds the pharmaceutical company “Fresenius” in Bad Homburg, Germany.
1971 – Kröner establishes the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung, a foundation that focuses on funding medical research and improving healthcare.
1976 – Kröner retires as the head of the Fresenius company.
1981 – Kröner’s foundation donates €15 million to establish the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Zentrum für Ernährungsmedizin (Else Kröner-Fresenius-Center for Nutritional Medicine).
1988 – Kröner passes away on November 5th in Frankfurt, Germany.
Today, the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung continues to fund numerous medical research projects and promote healthcare education in Germany and beyond.
Here are 5 interesting facts and 5 quotes from her:
5 Interesting Facts:
- Else Kröner was trained as a nurse and worked in various military hospitals during World War II.
- Kröner founded her pharmaceutical company, Fresenius, in 1952 and turned it into a highly successful enterprise.
- Kröner established the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung in 1971, which has since donated millions of euros to medical research and healthcare initiatives.
- In addition to her philanthropy, Kröner was an art collector and owned works by famous artists such as Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso.
- Kröner was awarded numerous honors during her lifetime, including the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
5 Quotes:
- “I am convinced that with sufficient determination and with the necessary resources, great things can be accomplished.”
- “I believe that one has a responsibility to do good with the resources one has been given.”
- “It is not enough to simply accumulate wealth. It is important to use that wealth to make a positive impact on society.”
- “Philanthropy is not just about giving money. It is about taking responsibility and being actively engaged in supporting worthy causes.”
- “I have always believed that it is important to invest in medical research and healthcare, as these are the areas where we can make the greatest difference in people’s lives.”
