VIRTUS award for 2021
Corporate Philanthropy Award – Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric was recognized for developing and implementing programs that support health, education, and child protection. In 2021, the company helped renovate the reception department of the Betanija Maternity Hospital in Novi Sad and donated computer equipment necessary for monitoring and caring for patients. They also equipped the Institute for Health Protection of Children and Youth of Vojvodina with medical and IT equipment. In education, Schneider Electric donated a full digital library to Žarko Zrenjanin Elementary School in Novi Sad and provided computers, didactic materials, and recreational equipment to preschools, schools, and universities. Additionally, they awarded scholarships to 700 technical faculty students in Novi Sad and Belgrade and invested in the Talent Center, which conducted over 500 hours of training for more than 1,000 participants in 2021. The company also paid special attention to mental health by organizing 30 mental health care classes in cooperation with the Psihomozaik association and implementing a program to support the integration of children with developmental difficulties through educators, psychologists, and therapists.
. Small and Medium Enterprise Award – Fast Food Smerdov
Since 2018, Fast Food Smerdov from Vršac has supported churches, monasteries, kindergartens, socially vulnerable families, students, and numerous social welfare organizations by donating food and supplies. In 2021 alone, they distributed 19 tons of food and 7,500 free meals for students in the Vršac and Plandište municipalities, with an estimated donation value of around 21 million dinars. Their goal is to provide free meals to socially disadvantaged students and help reduce poverty in the community.
Long-term Business and Civil Sector Partnership Award – Mastercard Europe SA Belgrade
Mastercard Europe SA Belgrade initiated a long-term partnership with the National Association of Parents of Children with Cancer (NURDOR) in 2019, culminating in a €250,000 donation to build the largest NURDOR parent house to date. This house offers accommodation to parents and children undergoing treatment in Belgrade, Serbia’s largest diagnostic and treatment centre. In 2021, Mastercard’s greatest achievement in this collaboration was the launch of the Superhero online donation platform and fashion brand. Through the Biti nečiji superheroj campaign, 3 million dinars were raised in just 45 days, increasing NURDOR’s total donations by 21.54% compared to 2020 .
Individual Philanthropy Award – Vanja Petković
Vanji Petković, president of the association Čepom do osmeha from Novi Sad, thanks to whose engagement and coordination more than 100 tons of plastic caps were collected in 2021 and 6 special aids for children with disabilities were awarded, among them an electric wheelchair, an electric tricycle, a keyboard with Braille, as well as many other learning aids. Thanks to the activities of the association Čepom do osmeha, a combined playground for children with and without developmental disabilities was opened in Pivnice (Bačka Palanka municipality), accessible and suitable for all children. Vanja’s engagement includes imparting knowledge, and mobilizing and coordinating volunteers who participate in humanitarian-ecological action on the territory of the whole of Serbia. Vanja is often engaged in her free time, considering that Cap to Smile is her way of life and not a current project. Her volunteer engagement so far totals over 1,500 hours.
Young Philanthropist Award – Miloš Pešić
Miloš Pešić, a Master’s student at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, 2018 came up with the idea to animate people around him in the field of social contribution by creating the 1% Principle. According to the 1% Principle, everyone can contribute with a symbolic 1% of time, knowledge or money, and thus, together with other members of the community, create a positive change. Following this principle, Miloš started the JEDAN POSTO Foundation for the support of young talents on a volunteer basis, through which over 180 young scientists, researchers and artists have been supported so far. During the previous year, on his initiative, 10 projects to support young talents were implemented, that is, 38 participants of the Youth Center were supported, as well as one environmental project, in which 75 pine trees were planted. The total volume of support and donations for young talents of the Foundation in 2021 was 1,015,000 dinars, collected through contributions from friends, associates and other donors present in the community.
Special Award for the Most Innovative Project – Hemofarm JSC Vršac
Hemofarm ad Vršac for the Unbreakable campaign, launched in 2021 with the aim of fighting depression and the stigma that accompanies people with impaired mental health. In order to prevent the coronavirus pandemic from being accompanied by an epidemic of mental disorders, the Hemofarm Foundation, in cooperation with the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade and with the support of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, launched a campaign that later grew into a movement to improve the mental health of the entire population. Thanks to the campaign, nearly 9,000 people received help and support through the free and anonymous SOS telephone line, e-mail and social media channels of the campaign. Additionally, the campaign was supported by 657 decision makers and 107 individuals and reached over 9 million people through television, social media and advertisements.
Special Award for Individual Contribution to Poverty Reduction – Sanja Dejanović
Sanja Dejanović from Belgrade spearheaded philanthropic, humanitarian, and volunteer initiatives throughout 2021. She collaborated with the Palilula Red Cross, the Children’s Drop-In Center, the organization Dečje srce, and Belgrade’s Center for Social Work. In July, she organized aid for 12 households in six remote villages in the Stara Planina region. After initiating vegetable planting in the village of Nikolince in the spring of 2021, she distributed the entire harvest and 150 kg of flour to 15 socially disadvantaged families in Belgrade. For four consecutive years, Sanja has embodied the spirit of Grandma Claus, organizing the purchase, packing, and distribution of over 100 gift packages to children from socially vulnerable families in the week leading up to New Year’s.