VIRTUS award for 2015
National level contribution award
Delta Holding Ltd. Belgrade, for the Zasad za Buducnost program, which provides financial and professional support to social enterprises in the field of agriculture, as well as the possibility of placing goods through Delta Agrar and Yuhor stores.
Award for contribution to the local community
JTI International JSC Senta for donations in money, equipment and volunteer work of employees. With its donations, JTI helped the Association of Disabled Workers, the National Kitchen in Senta, the Day Club for the Elderly in New Belgrade and the Belgrade Philharmonic.
Award for Small and Medium Enterprises
Nordeus Ltd. from Belgrade, for supporting the Battle for Maternity Hospitals and Battle for Schools campaigns, as well as for supporting the Children’s Shelter and Children’s Shelter. Nordeus provides its support through monetary donations and donations of equipment and services, and the volunteering of its employees who educate pupils and students in their community for free is also significant.
Award for a long-term partnership between business and non-profit sector
GlaxoSmithKline Ltd. for their ten-year partnership with BELhospis, which was crowned by the PULS program! which has been implemented for 2 years. As part of this program, GSK enables its employees to volunteer at BELhospic for 6 months. One of the most important results of PULS is the development of a strategic plan for launching a capital fundraising campaign for the construction of the first stationary hospice in Serbia, as well as a strategy for the implementation of palliative care in cities across Serbia through satellite programs similar to the BELhospice centre concept.
Award for individual contribution to philanthropy
Milomir Glavčić, a retiree from Canada, for numerous donations sent to institutions and citizens in Serbia. . In the past year, Milomir donated to the Studenica General Hospital for the purchase of an MRI machine, and to the Health Center in Raška, he donated money for the purchase of a modern ambulance, an ECG and a defibrillator. In the past year, he donated money for the bridge over the Ibar in Kraljevo and the construction of a cultural centre with a kindergarten in Jošanička Banja. He donated money to the local school for prizes for the three best students from each class, and every year he sends financial aid to the residents of his village. Although he has not been in his native region for six decades, it is estimated that Milomir has donated over 6,000,000 euros to various initiatives. He says about his charity, “I am satisfied that my little means a lot to someone.” If I reduced someone’s problems and made their life easier, so far away, in my Serbia, someone is happy about my help, I am happy.”
Special award for personal contribution to helping refugees
Gordan Paunović for selfless support provided to refugees in transit through Serbia. During this period, Gordan provided over 1,200,000 dinars in financial support, large quantities of clothes, shoes, toys for children, food and hygiene products. He tirelessly shared his experiences on Facebook, motivating hundreds of citizens to get involved in actions to help refugees. He organized numerous actions such as Breakfast with Refugees and Football in the Park, as well as initiatives for the opening of InfoPark. Today, InfoParks exist in Belgrade, Dimitrovgrad and Preševo and work with thousands of refugees every day. Stories of Gordhan’s activism and dedication travelled the world.
Special award for a small company
Giros Plus Ltd. from Belgrade, for the initiative Tuesday Is the Day for Gyros! This company has been a member of the Circle of Donors of the Children’s Shelter for two years and continuously donates its products to children who live or work on the streets.