Rays of hope: Announcing the recipients of the 2025 BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility.

Munich. Giuseppe Cassataro, Samory Gassama, Grit Grassberger and Khaled Kombas are inspiring role models: They are the winners of this year’s BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility. The award ceremony took place at the BMW Welt Double Cone in Munich on 15 September. For the 14^th time, the award recognised employees’ outstanding social commitment. Each winner will receive prize money of 10,000 euros to support their project.

“Keeping our eyes open to the world and having the courage to drive change – that is exactly what our award-winners embody. They show us all how to create rays of hope and nurture a meaningful social community. With passion and dedication, they bring about lasting improvements in people's lives. There can never be enough of this kind of commitment in the world,” said Ilka Horstmeier, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for People and Real Estate, who is also the patron of the award.

Good deeds make a difference
Every year, employees from around the world apply for this award, which is highly respected across the company. This year, ten candidates with a particularly impressive level of commitment were nominated for the final round. Many of the nominees have launched their own social projects and dedicated countless hours of their free time to supporting disadvantaged individuals. One of the finalists described their motivation: “Friendliness is not a one-time act – it’s a rhythm. When this rhythm is shared, it creates something bigger than ourselves.”

All finalists attended the award ceremony and received 2,500 euros in prize money each, directly supporting their projects.

Here are the 2025 recipients:
Khaled Kombas is a Smart Access project manager in Munich, who champions the rights of people with disabilities in his home country of Tunisia through the initiative he founded, “TunisAid – Aid for Tunisians with Disabilities”. The organisation helps create a better future for people with disabilities by providing in-home care, workshop apprenticeships, expanding schools and offering financial support. His dedication inspired many colleagues, who chose Khaled Kombas as the winner of the employee vote in 2025.

Samory Gassama, a Change Management engineer in Munich, is the recipient of the Vera-und-Volker-Doppelfeld Award, which encourages social commitment among young people. Together with a friend, he founded the association “Ihsanprojects – Initiative for Gesundheit und Bildung e.V.”, advocating for access to medical care, clean water and education, primarily in Senegal. One project, in particular, stands out: Thanks to an innovative digital solution, people in regions without local medical care can receive a medical consultation via video chat.

Giuseppe Cassataro, who works in Insurance and Damage Management for Alphabet Italia in Milan, Italy, has dedicated his life to supporting people with multiple sclerosis (MS). As an active member of the initiative “Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla” (AISM) for 25 years, he focuses on organising drivers to bring people with MS to work, medical appointments or government offices. This initiative helps individuals confined to a wheelchair maintain their mobility.

Grit Grassberger works in MINI Lifestyle Product Management in Munich. Through the association “JUNITI e.V.”, which she co-founded with a friend after a trip to Sri Lanka, she aims to improve educational opportunities for children in the country. By partnering with local organisations, the association funds hot school lunches for children from socially disadvantaged families, often a key factor in ensuring regular school attendance. A special programme also focuses on empowering young women, in particular, to successfully start their own businesses.

SOCIAL DRIVE means employees’ social commitment
With its multinational workforce, the BMW Group is more than just a car manufacturer. Together with our employees, we are an integral part of global society, helping find solutions to many future issues and challenges. Through innovation and volunteering, BMW Group associates drive positive change worldwide. These activities are bundled in the SOCIAL DRIVE initiative: Alongside the BMW Group Award, the SOCIAL DRIVE platform allows volunteers to showcase their projects and connect with one another.It shines a light on social commitment and inspires others to get involved.