Illustrative stock photo (source: SME)
Slovak banks allocated more than €6.2 million for public-benefit activities via tax assignation, gifts and sponsoring partnerships. The funds assisted more than 1,200 projects, with most of them supporting preservation of cultural values, sports, social assistance and education, the Slovak Banking Association (SBA) informed in a press release.
One-third of the allocated sum was used for preserving cultural values by supporting fine arts, cultural and art institutions and events, and saving important Slovak cultural monuments. One-fifth of the money went to support sports, including young and also disabled athletes.
“Banks put an emphasis on aiding the development of the society in which they do business,” said Ladislav Unčovský, executive director of SBA, as quoted in the press release.
The banks contributed another one-third of the total sum on social help and education. In the first area they focused primarily on families with children in need and homeless people, while in the latter they took aim at financial literacy and sponsored lectures by economic experts, scientists, and laureates of Nobel and Pulitzer prizes. They also supported connecting students with work practice, research activities and foreign stays.
Another field of focus has been on protection and support of health. The banks have allocated money for ill people, medical equipment and modernisation of medical facilities. They have also supported volunteering activities and motivating people to be interested in activities that benefit society.
The SBA press release also noted that funds from the banks supported projects protecting the environment and human rights.
