OREANDA-NEWS. ŠKODA AUTO employees have raised 1.3 Czech crowns in donations for selected projects in 2014 and 2015. Honouring a prior agreement, the company matched the total amount raised, doubling the contributions to 2.6 million crowns. These funds will be going to charitable projects in the Czech Republic in the areas of childcare, education, barrier-free mobility and road safety. In addition, one fifth of ŠKODA’s contribution will be going to a children’s home in India. The car manufacturer also supported selected community projects in the Czech Republic, donating 5.2 million crowns this year alone as part of their comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy.

ŠKODA employees have been conducting annual fundraising events at ŠKODA’s production sites in the Czech Republic since January 2014. This is a joint initiative between the company and the KOVO trade union. The contributions, which were made on a voluntary basis this year and last and subsequently doubled by the company, will be going to organizations that have been chosen by the ŠKODA workforce. The majority of the donations will be going to the following institutions: Člověk v tísni (People in Need), Život dětem (Life for Children), Linka bezpečí (Safety Helpline) Helppes (Guide Dogs) and Bezpečně na silnicích (Safety on the Roads), and to the Vasantrao Naik orphanage in Aurangabad, India.

“Our employees show tremendous commitment to the community with these donations. The company gladly strengthens the initiative by doubling the funds raised by our staff, and I am very pleased that we’re able to support such great projects together,” says ŠKODA Board Member for HR Bohdan Wojnar.

450,000 crowns will be going to Život dětem (Life for Children) – an organization involved in helping children in emergencies. Another organisation active in helping children and youth is Linka bezpečí (Safety Helpline), who will be receiving 160,000 crowns in donations. More than 110,000 crowns will be going to the organization Bezpečně na silnicích (Safety on the Roads) – a group who organises road-safety projects. ŠKODA has been a long-time partner of this organization. The same is true of Člověk v tísni (People in Need) – an educational initiative for children from socially disadvantaged families. Around 450,000 crowns will go to help this organization. 750,000 crowns will be donated to the training centre for service dogs for people with disabilities – the charitable group Helppes (Guide Dogs). The children’s home in Vasantrao Naik in Aurangabad, India will be receiving 260,000 crowns.

ŠKODA also provides comprehensive support to other non-profit initiatives in the Czech Republic as part of the company’s sustainable CSR policy. In 2015 alone, the manufacturer donated 5.2 million crowns for various projects throughout the country.

ŠKODA’s CSR measures centre on four key areas: road safety, technical training, child welfare and barrier-free mobility. The company is also involved in environmental protection by actively supporting the regions where ŠKODA has production facilities. In addition, ŠKODA is a major sponsor of cultural events in the Czech Republic.