Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe, May 14, 2024 – The foundation Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (EKFS) cordially invites all the residents of Schmitten and others with an interest to the new work and seminar building for scientists when it holds its Open House Day on May 15th that includes a day-long program. Alongside the inauguration and blessing, the program includes presentations on the history and architecture of the house and on its utilization from the viewpoint of scientists.
The 5th of June, 2018 marked the 30th anniversary of the death of Else Kröner. The foundation took this event as an occasion to remodel her house in the woods in Schmittener Wald and use it for non-profit purposes. Else Kröner’s legacy to help people and advance medicine will live on there at the new retreat and work venue for scientists. Now the new building has been completed – and EKFS is hosting an Open House Day to be held on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
“We decided in favor of a celebration for everyone interested in what went on in the house, how it came to be and what will happen with it in the future. Instead of an official ceremony we plan to hold an Open House Day. At hourly intervals we’ll be presenting one small item on the agenda about architecture, on utilization, about the foundation’s work and on other topics in the seminar room,” explains Prof. Dr. Michael Madeja, Chairman of the Management Board at EKFS.
Use of the “Haus im Wald”
The house has two possibilities for use: On the one hand there are two apartments where research scientists in the field of medicine can retreat to the tranquility of the woods in Schmittener Wald to think about and work on publications. On the other there is the seminar area, which enables small groups to have space for one-day seminars on advanced training and toward planning their joint work in the healthcare sector.
Living reminder of the founding benefactor Else Kröner
Throughout her life Else Fernau, subsequently Kröner, had strong ties to the community in the Taunus region and to what used to be the hunting lodge and weekend house belonging to her surrogate father, Eduard Fresenius. As a child she spent part of her vacations in Schmitten. As a young woman she experienced the end of the war there. Later on she frequently took her children on vacations at the country home and spent her weekends here. “It really is a very special place. Towards the end of her life Else Kröner lived most of the time there,” says Prof. Dr. Madeja. “I think she would wholeheartedly agree with the way this place she loved so much is going to be used.”
For more information:
http://www.ekfs.de/haus-im-wald
Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (EKFS) – Advancing research. Helping people.
Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the funding and advancement of medical research and the support of humanitarian projects. To date the foundation has funded around 2,600 projects. With an annual funding volume currently amounting to over 70 million euros it is the largest foundation in Germany that actively funds and supports medicine. You can find more information at: www.ekfs.de/en
Press Contact
Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung
Bianka Jerke
Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Tel.: + 49 6172 8975-24
eMail: b.jerke@ekfs.de