Cologne/Munich, August 2025 – Football moves people – not just in a sporting sense, but also socially. To recognise this, insurance group Die Bayerische and voting platform FanQ have been presenting the fan award „LICHTBLICK DES JAHRES“ (Moment of Light of the Year) for three years. The award highlights positive projects, campaigns, and moments in football that serve as role models for sustainable development both inside and outside the stadium.

The vote for the 2024 ‘Ray of Hope’ award was once again divided into three phases: After an open nomination round, an independent jury selected the best entries, which were then presented to the fans for the final vote. The winners have now been decided in the four categories of Diversity & Equal Opportunities, Social Commitment, Environmental Orientation, and Sporting Fairness – and each will be delighted to receive a prize of €1,000.

„For years, Die Bayerische has stood for active partnership in sport. We are convinced that football can be a driving force for fairness, diversity, and sustainability. This is precisely the power we want to make visible and support long-term with the Lichtblick Award. This year's award winners are outstanding examples of this and show how commitment on and off the pitch enriches our society,“ explains Dr. Herbert Scheidemann, Chairman of the Board of Die Bayerische.

The initiative strongly advocates for gender equality and diversity in football. The aim is to dismantle systemic barriers, promote women into leadership positions, and support institutions in developing diverse structures. „This award shows that the perspective of women on shaping football is being more widely recognised – and that the work of ‚Fußball kann mehr‘ (Football Can Do More) is relevant for the future of the sport.“, says Julia Möhn, managing director of ‚Football can do more.

The foundation launched by national player Serge Gnabry is committed to helping those in need – particularly sick children and caregivers. Right from the start, the foundation donated €100,000 to a children's hospital in Munich. „We are delighted by the recognition from the “Lichtblick des Jahres" (Ray of Hope of the Year). It reinforces our conviction that with heart and conviction, one can truly make a difference.“ says Lara Engert, co-managing director of the foundation.

The idea is simple but effective: footballers donate an individually set amount per goal scored to climate protection. This creates a steady contribution to combating climate change – directly from the game. „„Thanks to its broad reach, sport offers the chance to achieve positive social impact – it also makes a valuable contribution in the area of ecological sustainability,“ says the founder of the initiative and captain of Arminia Bielefeld, Maël Corboz.

The FCH supporters demonstrated a high level of sportsmanship: after an important victory over Darmstadt, they refrained from celebrations to show respect to their opponents – and shortly afterwards bid farewell to the departing coach Christian Streich with great applause. „Fairness and respect are the foundation for any sporting competition – and beyond.“ So, Patrick Mainka, captain of 1. FC Heidenheim, who accepted the trophy on behalf of the fans.

FanQ is the "voice of the fans". It is the only football platform where the opinion of the fans takes centre stage. The experienced FanQ editorial team provides daily surveys via the web and app. Fans can vote on their favourite clubs and all relevant football topics. FanQ is interactive. Fans can exchange opinions, interact socially and ask their own questions. This results in a representative picture of the mood. FanQ also creates long-term studies to research complex topics. Registration for the web community and use of the app are free of charge. FanQ is based in Cologne.

The insurance group die Bayerische was founded in 1858 and consists of the companies BY die Bayerische Vorsorge Lebensversicherung a.G. (parent company), BL die Bayerische Lebensversicherung AG and the composite company BA die Bayerische Allgemeine Versicherung AG as well as BBV Holding AG. The Group's total premium income amounts to over EUR 978 million. The Group is continuously increasing its equity. It also manages investments totalling over 4.1 billion euros. More than 12,000 personal advisors are available to the approximately 1.1 million customers of Bayerische throughout Germany. The rating agency Assekurata has confirmed the quality grade A („very good“) in the current credit rating of the Group parent company and certifies that the company's financial strength is well above the industry average. The subsidiaries BA Bayerische Allgemeine AG and BL Bayerische Lebensversicherung AG are also rated A in the credit rating. The insurance group was awarded AA in the agency's sustainability rating.

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Kilian Weber/Joachim Lammert 
Managing Director