Corporate Responsibility, page 7
News on corporate responsibility and the NGO sector
Vandals demolish community garden
ONLY 10 days after the Krasniansky Zelovoc (Krasňany Grocery) community garden in Bratislava was officially opened, vandals levelled it. They rooted out all the vegetable seedlings and herbs and broke bushes, leaving complete devastation behind them.“It is a huge loss, especially from the viewpoint of the time, energy, efforts and the great pleasure we all had from this garden,” Lenka Antalová Plavuchová from the community family centre Ráčik said, as quoted by the TASR agency.
Income tax assignment
APPROXIMATELY 160,000 taxpayers, or 14 percent of all the taxpayers that submitted tax returns for 2012 by the end of March this year, assigned a portion of their income taxes to qualifying charities, NGOs and other groups, the TASR newswire reported on May 20.
Volunteers get ready to help again
ELEVEN cities across Slovakia will again welcome thousands of volunteers as part of the “Our City” project, the biggest corporate volunteering event in Slovakia, which this year will be held on June 14 and 15.
The challenges of communicating CSR
ONE DAY when Christopher Wren, architect of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, was on the cathedral’s construction site, he asked three workers who were cutting stone blocks what they were doing that day. The first one responded that he was cutting stone blocks to be precise and well-proportioned; the second one said that he was earning a living to support his wife and children; and the third one said that he was shaping blocks of stone to build the most magnificent building in the city to celebrate the glory of God.
Philanthropist of the Year
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.
Supporting the fight against corruption
CORRUPTION remains a serious problem in Slovakia, and according to the latest survey carried out by Ernst & Young, the country is perceived as one of the most corrupt in the European Union. Although there are several non-governmental organisations that work to combat corruption and disseminate information on corrupt practices, they often lack the funds to support their activities.
Restoring Banská Štiavnica’s calvary
IN 2007, the baroque calvary in Banská Štiavnica was put on a list of the 100 most endangered monuments in the world. After five years of hard work and the investment of over a million euros, it is gradually regaining its former beauty. On May 25 the completely reconstructed Lower Church was opened, marking the approximate half-way point in the reconstruction project.
Foundations' assets shrank in 2011
THE TOTAL assets of Slovak foundations registered in Slovakia shrank over 2011 while the amount of donations and grants provided decreased, too. The Centre for Philanthropy published a report about the condition of foundations based on data from the register of foundations administered by the Interior Ministry and annual reports of the foundations for 2011.
UNICEF concert raised €40,550
THE EIGHTH edition of a charity auction and the gala concert in the High Tatras on November 24 raised €40,550. UNICEF will use the funds to help children in Syria suffering from the military conflicts in the country, the SITA newswire reported.
Christmas Bazaar draws thousands
THE CHRISTMAS Bazaar, the biggest joint charity event of the diplomatic and international community in Slovakia, is a deeply rooted tradition in Slovakia, indicating that Christmas festivities are approaching. Its 22nd edition, organised by the International Women’s Club of Bratislava (IWCB), took place in the Stará tržnica (Old Market-Hall) on Sunday, November 25, drawing thousands of visitors.
Social media require more intimacy
SOCIAL media are becoming a common information channel used by companies and organisations for informing about their corporate responsibility and philanthropic activities. But contrary to traditional information channels like printed media, TV, radio, PR activities and advertisements, they require a different language and approach.
The first day of philanthropy
BRATISLAVA hosted the first Day of Philanthropy on November 27. This was the first such event held in central Europe and was a result of long-term cooperation by the Czech and Slovak Donors’ Forum, the Slovak organiser informed on its website. During the event the results of the first index of philanthropy in central and eastern Slovakia (CEENDEX) were announced.
'2 percent' to continue
FOR MOST Slovaks the phrase ‘2 percent’ requires no explanation. It has become a synonym for fundraising for non-profit and non-governmental organisations, and support for their activities. Under a relatively long-established scheme, private individuals and corporate entities can decide to assign 2 percent of their income taxes to a specific non-governmental organisation. The scheme was created to renew a positive attitude among people to philanthropic activities, something that was interrupted during the communist regime. It had been planned to replace this with other fundraising mechanisms and donations.
Some organisations active in CSR and philanthropy in Slovakia
- 1. Neziskové Servisné Centrum (the central portal for the non-profit sector), www.1snsc.sk- Business Leaders’ Forum, www.blf.sk- C.A.R.D.O., www.dobrovolnictvo.sk- Centrum pre filantropiu/Centre for Philanthropy, www.cpf.sk- Fórum donorov/Slovak Donors’ Forum, www.donorsforum.sk- Iuventa, the Slovak institute of youth, www.iuventa.sk- Panet, www.panet.sk- Pontis Foundation, www.nadaciapontis.sk
Helping out even during troubled economic times
IT MIGHT be easy to be philanthropic when the economy is thriving and wallets are fat. But the current, more challenging, era suggests that corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate philanthropy have now become part of the DNA of companies in Slovakia: they have not stopped or scaled back their efforts to help those in need – rather the opposite. One effect of the current economic situation, however, has been to prompt a more creative approach to corporate charitable activities.
Fund for Transparent Slovakia
IN MID September the Pontis Foundation announced the creation of the Fund for Transparent Slovakia. Its main objectives are to develop ethics and transparency, to decrease corruption and to build a healthy entrepreneurial environment. Already this year the fund will support non-governmental organisations fighting corruption, cronyism, waste of public resources and unethical governance, the foundation announced on its website.
SPP is the top philanthropist
THE GAS utility SPP has become the biggest corporate philanthropist of the year for the seventh time. The company won the “TOP Corporate Philanthropist 2012” especially thanks to the activities of its EkoFond, which focuses on the environment, and the Let’s Renovate our Home donor programme, which works to help preserve cultural heritage in Slovakia, SPP announced on November 28.
Volunteering for Our City
AS MANY as 5,000 volunteers helped out with various activities as part of the two-day Our City project in mid June in towns across Slovakia. This year employees from 80 companies and organisations took part, as did other volunteers from the public. In total 152 non-profit organisations in 11 Slovak cities participated in Our City events. These organisations often do not have the capacity or the finances to implement projects on their own.
Steelmakers help out in many ways
U.S. STEEL Košice (USSK), one of the biggest employers in eastern Slovakia, organised a corporate volunteer event, the sixth such annual event, on May 18 and 19. The steelmakers helped eleven non-profit organisations as part of the U.S. Steel for Košice event. As in previous years, about 500 employees of USSK, its subsidiaries and partner institutions volunteered their assistance.
Some organisations active in CSR and philanthropy in Slovakia
- 1. neziskové servisné centrum (the central portal for the non-profit sector), www.1snsc.sk - Business Leaders Forum, www.blf.sk- C.A.R.D.O., www.dobrovolnictvo.sk- Centrum pre filantropiu (Centre for Philanthropy), www.cpf.sk- Fórum donorov (Slovak Donors' Forum), www.donorsforum.sk- Iuventa, Slovak Institute of Youth, www.iuventa.sk- Panet, www.panet.sk- Pontis Foundation, www.nadaciapontis.sk
- Another outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in western Slovakia
- Foot-and-mouth outbreak hits major Slovak cattle farm near Austrian and Czech borders Photo
- Slovakia’s Gorals gain recognition. Historians say it is a joke. Photo
- News digest: Thousands march as Fico stands by “Russian-style” NGO bill Photo
- From Mexico to Slovakia – finding a new life Audio
- Infamous journey of famous photo
- France and Slovakia: Believing, loving, and working together
- 'Don’t be afraid to use cash, say Slovak entrepreneurs as transaction tax begins
- News digest: Crisis, what crisis? Culture minister's empty limousine tours Europe
- Foot-and-mouth outbreak hits major Slovak cattle farm near Austrian and Czech borders Photo
- From Mexico to Slovakia – finding a new life Audio
- Syrian about to finally finish hotel in Bratislava started 17 years ago
- News digest: Thousands march as Fico stands by “Russian-style” NGO bill Photo
- Slovakia’s Gorals gain recognition. Historians say it is a joke. Photo
- 'Don’t be afraid to use cash, say Slovak entrepreneurs as transaction tax begins
- Another outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in western Slovakia
- What abides: Giving a shit
- Weekend: On your marks, get set... Running and marathon season beckons
- Foot-and-mouth outbreak hits major Slovak cattle farm near Austrian and Czech borders Photo
- Strange romance: Slovak leaders’ affection for Russia has yo-yoed
- News digest: 350 brown bears to be culled as Slovakia declares emergency
- News digest: Thousands march as Fico stands by “Russian-style” NGO bill Photo
- A diplomat who thrives on building bridges…and making things happen
- Číž spa water once even sent to USA
- Foot-and-mouth outbreak hits major Slovak cattle farm near Austrian and Czech borders Photo
- Slovak dad drops everything for son’s NHL debut — even a flight
- The Slovak-American who wants the world to witness the quality of Slovak wines
- France and Slovakia: Believing, loving, and working together
- Last Week: As disease spreads, Fico no longer insists on a “different opinion”
- Trading McDonald’s for the front lines
- From Mexico to Slovakia – finding a new life Audio
- What abides: Giving a shit
- Another outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in western Slovakia
- News digest: Crisis, what crisis? Culture minister's empty limousine tours Europe
- 'Don’t be afraid to use cash, say Slovak entrepreneurs as transaction tax begins
- Štítnik resumes hand-crafting Christmas ornaments after 25 years
- Weekend: On your marks, get set... Running and marathon season beckons
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- From furniture to finance: businesses that shaped Slovakia’s market economy
- A partnership centuries in the making More articles ›
