Peter Pohlmann, Honorary Trustee of Witten/Herdecke University, was awarded the Cross of Merit on Ribbon of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany on September 13, 2024. In the justification for the award of the order, his extensive and long-standing social commitment is recognized in particular.

His voluntary activities began back in 1992, when he launched the "Poco lets the puppets dance" project, which introduces children from Bergkamen kindergartens and special schools to theater through play. So far, more than 46,000 children have taken part in the project. Together with the Peter Pohlmann Foundation, he has been supporting Bergkamen schoolchildren with a tutoring concept since 2010: students give intensive tutoring to prospective high school graduates. By supporting many other projects and initiatives, he provides support for socially disadvantaged children and young people in particular.

In 1989, retail salesman Peter Pohlmann founded POCO Einrichtungsmärkte and opened the first store - now a nationwide company with several thousand employees. At the age of 60, he moved to the supervisory board.

Peter Pohlmann is one of the biggest supporters of Witten/Herdecke University and is still involved with the university today. "As a shareholder in particular, he used all available resources to advance the university. He was able to win over many people to the educational idea of our university, was a promoter and supporter and not least a personal advisor," says Jan Peter Nonnenkamp, Chancellor of UW/H. Peter Pohlmann also joined the UW/H Board of Trustees in 1996, was Chairman for many years and was finally appointed Honorary Trustee in 2018. With his sponsorship, he supported teaching and research, start-ups, made scholarships possible and was involved in the WIFU sponsorship.