A: Charity Events – A: Silbertee

Charity at its best

Silver Tea 2024

The next Silver Tea of the German-American Women's Club Munich e.V. will take place on November 05, 2024 in the Kaisersaal of the Munich Residenz.

The Silver Tea

In 1949, this charity benefit was called to life by Sam E. Woods, who, at the time, was the US Consul General in Munich. He invited guests to his residence in order to collect donations for suffering and needy Munich residents. Fifty guests accepted his invitation and the women of the German American Women’s Club Munich decided to repeat this event every year.

Since 1949, the German American Women's Club Munich has invited guests from politics, industry and society to the Silver Tea in the Kaisersaal (Imperial Hall) of the Residence. The Silver Tea has become one of the most treasured charity events in Munich, with ca. 700 guests gladly accepting the invitation to attend the event each year and with their donations, supporting the Club’s charitable goals.

Chairlady Susanne Ahrens is responsible for the organization of the Silver Tea, supported by the efforts of many dedicated Club members. Throughout the year, the Silver Tea team works to assure that the Silver Tea continues to live up to the high reputation it has earned: On the festively decorated buffet table, silver candelabras and platters sparkle. As has been done since 1949, the highest quality tea is poured from silver teapots and guests can select from exquisite canapés made lovingly by women of the Club.

The 72nd Silver Tea took place on November 15, 2023, in the Kaisersaal (Imperial Hall) of the Residence.

Once more the Club has been able through the donations from this benefit event to generously support the German American Student Exchange and Youth Programs as well as charitable organizations in and around Munich.

The 72nd Silver Tea shone again in its customary splendor in 2023. President Ulrike Kellner welcomed the invited guests in the festive Kaisersaal of the Munich Residenz for this event, organized by Chairlady Susanne Ahrens.

Staatskanzleichef Dr. Florian Herrmann: Silbertee

From left to right
Timothy Liston, US Consul General Munich Susanne Ahrens, Chairlady Silver Tea Karin Baumüller-Söder, Wife of the current Minister President and Honorary Member of the GAWC; Ulrike Kellner, President GAWC Munich; Dr. Florian Herrmann, MdL (Member of the Bavarian Landtag), Head, Office of the Chancellor, Bavarian State Minister for Government Affairs and Media

Fotocredits: Bayerische Staatskanzlei / Jörg Koch

From left to right
Ulrike Kellner, President GAWC Munich and Susanne Ahrens, GAWC Chairlady Silver Tea

Fotocredits: Tommy Lösch

Exchange students from left to right
Anselm Kraus, Rhea Karty, Sophie Fuchs, Pia Winkler, US Consul General Timothy E. Liston

Fotocredits: Tommy Lösch

From left to right
Sandra Winter, Board Member "Frauen helfen Frauen Fürstenfeldbruck e.V." and Ulrike Kellner, President GAWC Munich

Fotocredits: Tommy Lösch

Tea served from silver teapots and delectable snacks lovingly prepared by club members remain a cherished part of this traditional gathering, which was initiated 74 years ago. However, this isn’t the sole reason why the Silver Tea is a favored meeting point for Munich's society. The purpose of this event is to raise funds for 16 charitable organizations long supported by the club, as well as for the German-American student exchange program that commenced in 1957. Presently, two young American women are studying at the LMU in Munich, supported and nurtured by the GAWC Munich and the umbrella organization of German-American clubs in Germany.

Bavarian State Minister Dr. Florian Herrmann praised the GAWC in his speech, stating, 'The Silver Tea is one of the most beautiful and heartfelt traditions for a noble cause: aiding the Munich population in need after the war. Since then, the German-American Women's Club has been collecting donations for social projects in Munich, making a valuable contribution to transatlantic friendship. An iconic event that, as a state government, we are naturally inclined to support!'

US Consul General Timothy Liston emphasized, 'Transatlantic solidarity has never been more significant than today. And it will continue to be so in the future. Therefore, it's fantastic that the Association of German-American Clubs and the German-American Women's Club Munich have been investing in the future of this partnership for decades.' „

Karin Baumüller-Söder, wife of Bavarian Prime Minister Dr. Markus Söder, also supports the goals of GAWC. It was close to her heart to attend the Silver Tea in 2023 to contribute to fundraising for a good cause.

The generosity of 170 club members and both long-standing and newly acquired sponsors remains unwaveringly appreciated. Much to the delight of Club President Ulrike Kellner, she was able to present this year's donation check of 10,000 Euros to 'Frauen helfen Frauen Fürstenfeldbruck e.V.' This organization provides counseling and support to victims of domestic or sexual violence.

THANK YOU

to all the generous sponsors

des 72. Silbertees am 15. November 2023

Ingolstadt Village
Kugler Feinkost GmbH, Vaterstetten
La Parisienne Gran. Brot- und Gebäckspezialitäten GmbH, München
Marriott International, Inc.
Sehbehinderten-Blinden Zentrum Südbayern, Unterschleißheim
US Consulate Munich
Wäscherei Heidenreich München, Wang

Press Reports

Photos of the Event

The 71st Silver Tea took place on November 8, 2022, in the Kaisersaal (Imperial Hall) of the Residence.

The Silver Tea shone in its usual splendor once again in 2022. After a two year pause due to the pandemic, the invited guests were delighted to attend the festive reception in the Kaisersaal (Imperial Hall) of the Residence that was organized for the tenth time by Chairlady Susanne Ahrens.

From left to right:
Timothy Liston, US Consul General Munich
Traudl Schmid,President, GAWC
Dr. Florian Herrmann,, MdL (Member of the Bavarian Landtag), Head, Office of the Chancellor, Bavarian State Minister for Government Affairs and Media
Karin Baumüller-Söder,Wife of the current Minister President and Honorary Member of the GAWC
Susanne AhrensChairlady, Silver Tea, GAWC
Photo Credits: Antonia Mattheis

Tee poured from silver teapots and canapés lovingly prepared by members of the Club continue to be an integral part of this traditional event, that began 71 years earlier. These are not, however, the only reasons that the Silver Tea is a beloved meeting point of Munich society. The spirit and purpose of this gathering is the collection of donations to provide assistance to the 17 charity organizations that the Club has supported for many years, as well as to support the German American Student Exchange Program that had its beginning in 1957.

The willingness of the 170 Club members, as well as long-term and newly-won sponsors, to generously donate was not diminished even in the third year of the pandemic. Much to the delight of GAWC President Traudl Schmid,she was thus able from the donations collected in these years to present checks to two institutions: The German Ukrainian Pfadfinderbund (Boy Scout Organization), under the aegis of which Ukrainian and German doctors deliver medicines, and medical supplies and equipment directly to clinics in Ukraine and the Kinderklinikum Nürnberg (Nuremberg Children’s Clinic) for the children’s emergency department in its new building. The honorary patron of this project is Karin Baumüller-Söder. “It is a good tradition to support a project which is close to the heart of our current Landesmutter”, said Traudl Schmid. Ms. Baumüller-Söder is the wife of the Bavarian Minister President and an honorary member of the GAWC.

State Minister Dr. Florian Herrmann praised the GAWC in his talk as as “one of the most significant Clubs in Germany in respect to its social engagement”.US Consul General Timothy Liston emphasized its important contribution to the Bavarian American friendship and the transatlantic partnership. This partnership would be reaffirmed in February 2023 as the Magnolia Ball was again held in the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, this year for the 70th time.