Munich honours Heart for Heart Foundation chair Irène Lejeune with gold 'München leuchtet' medal

The City of Munich has awarded Dr h.c. Irène Lejeune the 'München leuchtet – Den Freundinnen und Freunden Münchens' ('Munich Shines – To the Friends of Munich') medal in gold. The honour recognises her voluntary work as chair of the Herz für Herz (Heart for Heart) Foundation and her contribution to Munich's cultural life. Mayor Verena Dietl presented the medal at a ceremony in the Hauberrisser Room of Munich City Hall.

In a short tribute to Dr Lejeune's work in Munich and around the world, Ms Dietl said: 'For me as mayor, too, it is a very special honour to be allowed to award the Munich Shines medal in gold. It is an honour for someone who does not look away when help is needed. That is of immeasurable value, especially in times like these. I am truly very impressed and, above all, deeply moved by your commitment.'

Dr Lejeune founded the Heart for Heart Foundation in 2003 with her husband, Professor Dr phil. h.c. mult. Erich Lejeune, and she remains its chair today. Since then the foundation has made life-saving heart procedures possible for many patients, often very young ones. Working mainly in Vietnam and South Africa, it supports complex heart operations for children and young people and also runs screening programmes and training for doctors to support children's long-term health in poorer regions of the world.

Beyond her own foundation, Dr Lejeune has repeatedly given generously to the university hospitals, the Schwabing Children's Hospital and the Care-for-Rare Foundation.

She is also a committed patron of the arts, particularly ballet. In recent years the businesswoman has been especially prominent as a generous supporter of the Heinz Bosl Foundation, which promotes young dancers. She is an ambassador for the Bavarian Junior Ballet Munich, with which she has a long-standing partnership, and her voluntary work makes a significant contribution to supporting young international dance and ballet talent in Munich.

Alongside Dr Lejeune, her husband and members of her family, the ceremony was attended by city councillors Dr Christian Köning of the SPD group and Professor Dr Jörg Hoffmann of the FDP and Free Voters group.