Germany’s former Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger has been named as the new deputy chairwoman of the advisory board of Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, run by Dutch charitable lottery operator Novamedia.A former member of the Bundestag for 23 years and Federal Minister of Justice for eight years, Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger has also served as anti-Semitism commissioner for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia for almost two years.
Together with five advisory board colleagues, she will be responsible for deciding on the allocation of funding for social and green projects. She will be joined on the board by a colleague from her time in the Bundestag, the chamber’s former president and Federal Minister for Youth, Family and Health Rita Süssmuth.
Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger is a well-known figure in Germany, through her decades-long work in politics.
“She is an outstanding politician, a pleasant colleague and a great person,” her former Bundestag colleague and fellow board member Süssmuth said. “I am looking forward to the joint work on the advisory board of Deutsche Postcode Lotterie – and the further support of many effective social and green projects.”
Managing director of the postcode lottery, Annemiek Hoogenboom, said of her appointment: “Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger has not only achieved a lot as a politician. She has also been involved in various social and non-profit organizations for decades. We are very happy that this extraordinary woman will now support and enrich our advisory board as Vice Chairwoman. ”
Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger herself added: “The Deutsche Postcode Lotterie is the only lottery in Germany in which entire neighbourhoods not only win together, but also support social and green projects in their area. I think this concept is great and am therefore very happy to be able to support the social lottery as an advisory board member.”
The Deutsche Postcode Lotterie has been operating since 2016, and offers participants a chance to win a share of over €1 million each month, alongside their neighbours.
The lottery donates 30% of revenue to charitable causes, and already supported more than 2,100 projects across Germany, donating around €47m (£41.8m/$55.6m). Its parent company Novamedia also runs similar lotteries in its native Netherlands, the UK, Norway and Sweden.
