Dutch Ambassador Rob Swartbol presented an award to Peter Varmuža from Tesco Stores SR. (source: Pontis Foundation)
On April 2, the Pontis Foundation announced winners of the ninth year of the Via Bona Slovakia Award. Through these awards, the foundation expresses public recognition of companies developing corporate social responsibility and corporate philanthropy in Slovakia.
In two rounds, a 20-member commission picked out winners in 10 categories from a total 82 nominees.
Main Award for Large Corporations for a comprehensive approach to corporate social responsibility went to Tesco Stores SR.
In the Main Awards category, the evaluating committee also decided to award two Honourable Mentions for permanent and systematic development of corporate social responsibility. These were received by Slovnaft and Orange Slovakia.
The Main Award for Small and Medium Enterprises for a comprehensive approach to corporate social responsibility went to Bayer, s.r.o.
Corporate social responsibility area
The Green Award for an environment-related project went to Tesco Stores SR for its first ecological store, Tesco Rajec.
The Ethics Award for transparency and fight against
corruption went to Slovnaft for its project to implementan ethics code.
The Award for Responsible Approach to Employees
went to U. S. Steel Košice for its project Equality of Opportunities, Focusing on Employment of Disadvantaged Citizen Groups.
The Award for Socially Responsible Market Operations
went to VÚB Banka. The bank received a nomination for its project Don’t Be Afraid of the Euro! – Euro Campaign for Roma Women from the non-profit organisation Pro Donum.
Corporate philanthropy area
The Award for Long-Term Positive Corporate Impact on society and the surrounding community went to Avon Cosmetics for its support of projects focusing on the fight against breast cancer.
Award for Courage to Support an Innovative Project implemented in a little-known area or in an unconventional form went to Microsoft Slovakia whose project Notebooks for All Pupils was nominated by Peter Pallo, a teacher from the Rudolf Dilong Primary School in Trstená.
The Award for Employee Engagement in volunteer activities was received by U. S. Steel Košice.
Special award
An Honourable Mention for Media Contribution was awarded by the Pontis Foundation to EurActiv.sk, a specialised information portal reporting events with a European dimension in Slovakia and developments in the European Union. The portal is one of the few Slovak media engaged in regular, in-depth examination of issues of corporate social responsibility, presenting various CSR perspectives in a separate section of its website.
