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Hubertus Wald Foundation
From movie theaters and art to great commitment to cancer patients
Hubertus Wald is the namesake of the Hubertus Wald Tumor Center – University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCC Hamburg). Since the founding of the UCC Hamburg, the Hubertus Wald Foundation has been an important supporter of the tumor center.
Throughout his life, Hamburg patron and businessman Hubertus Wald used his fortune to promote art and medicine in the Hanseatic city. In 1993, he and his wife Renate Wald established the Hubertus Wald Foundation, which has since provided significant support and advancement to numerous institutions in Hamburg.
The Hubertus Wald Tumor Center – University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCC Hamburg) bears his name in honor of Hubertus Wald. The tireless commitment of his wife Renate Wald and the Hubertus Wald Foundation played a key role in the founding of the Tumor Center in 2007. Since then, it has been continuously supported.
Even after the death of the Wald couple, their thoughts and wishes live on in the foundation. Today, the members of the foundation's board of trustees are playing a particularly important role in shaping the further development of the Hubertus Wald Tumor Center.
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The Hubertus Wald Foundation is not only a great asset to cancer research, but also to patient care. Today, various Hubertus Wald research awards are regularly presented to promote researchers. In recognition of Hubertus Wald's lifetime achievements and contributions, an exhibition on his life and work was organized in February 2025. Eleven exhibition panels have been on display in the waiting area of the outpatient clinic in building O24 ever since.
says his long-time companion Prof. Dr. Hartwig Huland, founder of the Martini Clinic. We are talking about Hubertus Wald, the Hanseatic merchant and patron who supported and shaped numerous projects in art and medicine.
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Hubertus Wald first built up his fortune in Karlsruhe, later throughout Germany, with movie theaters. In the 1960s, only Ufa had more cinemas. The sale of the chain formed the basis of his fortune; after moving to Hamburg, he concentrated on the real estate business. He and his wife Renate were passionate collectors of paintings, prints, and sculptures, and during their lifetime they amassed one of Hamburg's most important art collections. Their summer parties on Sylt with illustrious guests such as Andy Warhol, Gunter Sachs, and Omar Sharif were legendary. “Life has been good to me, so I feel obliged to give back some of what I have,” said Hubertus Wald shortly before his death in 2005.
As early as 1993, Renate and Hubertus Wald pooled their charitable donations and established the Hubertus Wald Foundation. The foundation's funding targets included medical issues as well as social, cultural, environmental, and nature conservation projects. For example, the Hamburger Kunsthalle received the Hubertus Wald Forum and the Hubertus Wald Kinderreich. In 2003, the city of Hamburg even awarded Hubertus Wald the title of professor for his commitment. When the University Cancer Center Hamburg was founded in 2007, the name “Hubertus Wald Tumor Center” was introduced in honor of the founding couple for the start of continuous financial support.
Hubertus Wald Foundation Sponsorship Awards
Research is the only way to improve treatment and therapy options for cancer patients. With this vision in mind, the Hubertus Wald Foundation annually awards various prizes to young scientists, motivating them to gain a foothold in oncology. Every two years, the foundation also honors outstanding researchers for their long-standing contributions to cancer research.
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Renate Wald – Patients should feel comfortable
Renate Wald always held the Tumor Center at the UKE close to her heart—she wanted to create a feel-good atmosphere for patients in the clinic. In her honor, the UCC Hamburg still uses orange as a life-affirming color in its logo and corporate design today. Since June 2024, the logo of the Hubertus Wald Tumor Center has consisted of a double symbolism of two cancer ribbons in UKE blue and Renate Wald orange.
Beyond the visual aspect, Renate Wald wanted the Tumor Center to offer patients various services to complement their treatment. These include sports and exercise, art and music therapy, and much more. Even after the couple's death, their ideas and wishes live on in the foundation.
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Prof. Dr. Carsten Bokemeyer
Director and spokesperson for UCC Hamburg
Exhibition in honor of Hubertus Wald:
About the eventful life of the patron of our tumor center
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Hubertus Wald's death, the Hubertus Wald Tumor Center – University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCC Hamburg), together with the Hubertus Wald Foundation, opened an exhibition at the Center for Oncology (O24) on February 3, 2025, honoring his life and work as a Hamburg patron. The eleven exhibition panels provide an insight into the eventful life of Hubertus Wald and his economic rise during the economic miracle. Shaped by the post-war years, his family, and close friendships, he had a keen sense of people and society, as well as a Hanseatic business acumen and an unshakeable will to succeed.
At the exhibition opening, a wall quote by Hubertus Wald with his profile was also ceremoniously unveiled in the O24 entrance area: “I want to do my part to support those people and institutions that bring good into the lives of others.” This quote reflects his philosophy of life and his great desire to share some of his success in life with others.
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First exhibition panel with quotes from the foundation and the UCC Hamburg board of directors
Exhibition opening by Prof. Bokemeyer
Unveiling of a wall quote in the entrance area of building O24 on the UKE campus
Group photo of the foundation and the UCC Hamburg Executive Board
Group photo at the exhibition opening
Further information
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