Through various activities such as cooperations with established social institutions, donations and sponsorships and the promotion of volunteer work by our employees, we are a reliable partner at the locations where we are active.
Uniper Düsseldorf Marathon
We are the title sponsor of the Uniper Düsseldorf Marathon until at least 2027. After a break of several years, thousands of runners took to the streets of the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia again on April 27, 2025. The marathon marks the return of a sporting and social highlight to the sports city of Düsseldorf. In addition to the marathon discipline, you can also run a half marathon or take part in the marathon relay together with several other runners. There are also opportunities for the little ones to take part in the Kids Cup.
"As a global company with firm roots in Düsseldorf, we want to express our solidarity with the city as title sponsor of the Uniper Düsseldorf Marathon. Personally, I am also delighted that the marathon is back. This will enrich the city with a sporting and social highlight. We also welcome the City of Düsseldorf's decision to take the organization and staging of the Düsseldorf Marathon into its own hands."
Michael Lewis, Uniper CEO
Uniper D.SPORTS Running Team
The comeback announcement of the Uniper Düsseldorf Marathon, which returned to the state capital's sporting calendar on April 27, 2025, was just the beginning. Uniper and D.SPORTS are launching the Uniper D.RUNNING Team together.
The new team embodies the new running strategy jointly adopted by Uniper and D.SPORTS. A holistic approach is being pursued. In addition to engaging top runners and promoting young talent, the Uniper D.RUNNING Team will create an offer for children and young people to counteract the increasing lack of exercise.
From left to right: Tono Kirschbaum, Esther Pfeiffer, Sonja Oberem, Burkhard Hintzsche, Oliver Roeder, Hendrik Pfeiffer. Photo: D.SPORTS / Kenny Beele
"The Uniper D.RUNNING team combines top-class sport with the opportunity to teach children and young people the joy of exercise in a fun way. Exercise is fundamental for physical and mental development. The top athletes are actively involved and act as a beacon."
Oliver Roeder, Vice President Financial & Sustainability Communication at Uniper
Community Run
In mid-January, we hosted the first Community Run in 2025. The Community Run is the ideal opportunity to meet up with other running enthusiasts. Whether you want to prepare for a marathon or simply enjoy the fun of running together. The Community Runs are organized by D.SPORTS, the organizer of the Düsseldorf Marathon, and take place approximately every 4-6 weeks.
Esther and Hendrik Pfeiffer also took part. Esther became German marathon champion in 2023 and her husband took part in the marathon competition at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo with a marathon best time of 2:07:14 hours.
Culture event – Music Summer Walchensee
We have been involved in cultural activities in Bavaria for several years with the “Musiksommer am Walchenseekraftwerke”. We launched the event in 2021 and it has taken place every year since then. In the meantime, the music summer has become a permanent cultural fixture in the region - it is already entering its fifth round in 2025.
With the Music Summer, we want to make a contribution to the cultural diversity and tourist attractiveness around the Walchensee power plant. The concerts take place on the covered forecourt of the information center at the Walchensee power plant - a place that was deliberately designed as a meeting place for the public.
Employee Commitment – Helping Hands
In the “Helping Hands” program, our employees get actively involved in doing good for the community. Uniper encourages them to do this by giving them time off work for their commitment.
The “Helping Hands” maintain close cooperation with organizations such as Diakonie, SOS Kinderdorf and AWO in Düsseldorf. The projects supported include:
- Installation of a photovoltaic system on the roof of a Diakonie residential group to promote sustainable behavior among children and young people.
- Equipping a new residential group at the SOS Children's Village.
- Donations for play equipment and outdoor design at the Farbkleckse daycare center
- Support for the AWO daycare centers “Lummerland,” ‘Regenbogen’ and “Cronenburg” with earmarked donations for greenery and equipment.
- Planting raised beds in AWO retirement homes and in the “Young Living” project.
Partnership with the Diakonie Düsseldorf
We have been actively supporting social projects in the state capital for several years and maintain strong partnerships with several social institutions, including the Diakonie Düsseldorf.
In the residential groups of the Diakonie Düsseldorf, children find a new home when their families of origin can no longer provide them with stability. We have donated €17,000 to the Diakonie in the form of pedelecs and cargo bikes to make the everyday lives of these children a little easier and more sustainable at the same time. In future, these bikes will be used for shopping and other necessary errands in the city. We officially handed over the bikes to the Diakonie Düsseldorf on November 20, 2024.
Tina Dietrich from Diakonie Düsseldorf's donation service says:
"We are delighted that Uniper is supporting us with a donation. With this donation, we will be even more mobile and sustainable in the city area in the future. The new pedelecs and cargo bikes will be used for the majority of home visits and shopping trips. We hope that the bikes will not only make everyday life easier for the children but also bring them joy and get them moving in a playful way."
Contact
Oliver Roeder
