Fritz Walter Prize

The Fritz Walter Foundation promotes outstanding achievements in youth sports work with the Fritz Walter Prize, placing special emphasis on the integration of young people in football. This prize aims to honor football clubs in Rhineland-Palatinate that distinguish themselves not only through sporting success but also through social responsibility and community engagement. The funding approach combines talent development, the implementation of integration measures, and the organization of social days where young people come together to jointly carry out projects such as environmental days or integration activities. These diverse initiatives reflect the commitment to spreading the spirit of "Fair Play" both in sports and in social coexistence.

The initiative is exclusively aimed at non-profit organizations, with a focus on football clubs in Rhineland-Palatinate that act as role models. The evaluating committees, consisting of representatives from the regional associations of the Rhineland Football Association and the Southwest German Football Association, recognize the clubs' efforts in talent promotion, youth work, and social projects. Alongside supporting top athletic performance, strengthening cooperation with schools, educational institutions, and other organizations is central. Through targeted measures against doping, substance abuse, and youth unemployment, a contribution is also made to social development and international understanding—especially in the context of collaboration with Central and Eastern European state communities.

The continuous funding opportunity and open application process allow interested clubs to engage flexibly with the Fritz Walter Foundation. The prize can be much more than a mere award: it provides a sustainable impetus for innovative and inclusive youth engagement in football. With a focus on environmentally conscious and social projects, the foundation creates incentives that promote not only sporting aspects but also social cohesion and intercultural dialogue. In particular, clubs that establish themselves as beacons in youth work benefit from this initiative, which places both sporting excellence and social responsibility at its core.