Liz Mohn

In 1987, Mohn launched the Neue Stimmen International Singing Competition. She was inspired to do so by Herbert von Karajan, who noted that too little was being done to promote new opera talent. Organized by the Bertelsmann Stiftung, the competition has since become an internationally recognized forum for discovering up-and-coming opera singers. In addition, Mohn initiated a project in 1999 for promoting music appreciation and education among children, especially in primary schools.

In 1992, she founded the nonprofit German Stroke Foundation, which works to prevent and increase awareness of stroke. She was motivated to do so by a medical condition affecting one of her sons which caused symptoms that resembled a stroke. Mohn is president of the foundation and her daughter Brigitte serves as chairwoman of its board of trustees. A key activity in this area is the Roseball, at which Mohn collects donations to be used for fighting the illness.

In 2005, Mohn expanded her efforts to promote music appreciation and education by establishing the Liz Mohn Foundation for Culture and Music. She serves as the chairwoman of its executive board. The foundation carries out numerous activities: staging musicals for children and young people, for example, and awarding scholarships to opera singers. To achieve its goals, the foundation partners with the Berlin State Opera and other organizations. In addition, it hosts the annual idea initiative "Cultural Diversity with Music".