Henning Strauss is a passionate philanthropist, visionary leader, fourth-generation entrepreneur, and the current CEO of STRAUSS.
Under Henning’s leadership since 2001, STRAUSS—Europe’s leading workwear brand—has evolved from a catalog-based retailer to a multi-channel powerhouse, boasting four megastores and one of Germany’s top five e-commerce platforms. The company has gone from a robust €40-million family business to generating €1.3 billion in revenue, a 400x increase, and employing a workforce of over 1,600.
Known for his strategic vision and international outlook, Henning has driven innovative global branding campaigns and secured high-profile partnerships with organizations including Major League Baseball, UEFA, NFL, Liverpool FC, and Bayern Munich. In 2023, he was named “Brand Manager of the Year” by the prestigious German Brand Awards and also won the year’s German Marketing Award.
Away from STRAUSS, Henning is an enthusiastic ambassador for cross-cultural education, sustainability, and social responsibility. As part of his conviction that education is the most sustainable form of social and ecological engagement, he founded and endows the first Chair for Sustainability and Textile in Bangladesh at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, established the Don Bosco Strauss School in northwest Bangladesh, and funded the construction of two schools: a new school near the STRAUSS manufacturing site in Laos and a new school building for Antonius von Padua Schule in Fulda, Germany, a school for grades 1 to 10 with an inclusive elementary school concept integrating children with and without disabilities.
ALEA SCHOOL represents one pillar of Henning’s initiatives to develop the infrastructure of his hometown Bad Orb. The school aims to provide children in the region the same international educational opportunities that set him on the successful path he finds himself on today. ALEA SCHOOL complements Henning’s commitment to preserving the natural beauty of his hometown in the Spessart Forest through park enhancement projects and forest conservation programs.
An alumnus of Pepperdine University, Henning credits the values he learned at Pepperdine—purpose, service, leadership—for shaping his approach to responsible business and sustainable philanthropy today. Building on his own international experience, he is committed to keeping the threads of cross-cultural communication strong, stitching together a future where every child can grow as a global citizen just as he did.
In principle, anyone can apply for a scholarship. The award committee will take various criteria into account when selecting the scholarship holders: First and foremost, the economic eligibility of an applicant family. This is based on the average household income (approx. €70,000) in the Main-Kinzig district and the applicant confirms that they have a lower household income. Voluntary commitment, special achievements or a particularly convincing application are also taken into account.
When applying for a scholarship, applicants must provide basic information, a letter of motivation and a letter of recommendation from a (class) teacher. After submission, the awarding committee will review the application and contact the applicants regarding the next steps.
At the present moment, two scholarship programs have already been confirmed.
Further scholarship programs are currently being developed.
There will be both full and partial scholarships. Depending on the type of scholarship, either all or part of the school fees will be covered by the scholarship. Both scholarship models cover tuition fees up to the 10th grade to the extent indicated.