CATHOLIC priest Anton Srholec, known for his help for homeless people, was chosen as Philanthropist of the Year, a title granted for the first time last year by the Slovak Donors’ Forum. The award was symbolically announced on November 28, the first Day of Philanthropy in Central Europe, the Slovak Donors’ Forum wrote on its website.
“It is natural for each human being to help and everyone deserves help,” Srholec said. “When somebody is hungry you give him a piece of bread. When somebody is dirty you offer him the possibility to wash, and when somebody is thirsty then you give him a glass of water. Simply, you create conditions for him to have at least a slightly more dignified existence… It is not about houses and land; it’s about attitude. I’m glad that I can create a home for somebody who needs it and I’m pleased that there are people who can still recognise this.”
On the same day the Slovak Donors’ Forum also announced the Top Corporate Philanthropist of 2012. Natural gas utility SPP again won in the category of large companies by granting a total of €2.2 million for publicly beneficial activities in 2011. The pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline Slovakia won in the category for medium-sized companies. It also won in the category for the ratio of profit to money granted. The AXA pension fund management company won in the category for small companies.
The Slovak Donors’ Forum organises the top corporate philanthropist competition in cooperation with Forbes magazine and the accountancy firm PwC. Its aim is to recognise companies allocating their own resources for publicly beneficial aims and to simultaneously elevate awareness about the activities of companies within corporate philanthropy and their contribution to improvement of quality of life.
