Košice, May 6th, 2020 – U. S. Steel Košice and the Carpathian Foundation announced today the results of the Together for the Region grant program, through which they have been supporting active non-profit organizations and local municipalities in the Košice and Prešov regions for a considerable time. Thanks to the U. S. Steel Košice financial support of 13 000 EUR, another six meaningful projects benefiting mainly children and young people in eastern Slovakia will be implemented this year.

”Despite the challenging time due to the COVID-19 pandemic we are not slackening up in helping communities in our neighborhood. Right now it is very important to declare solidarity and show that the strong help the weaker, and the active take care of the disadvantaged. Partnerships which do well in difficult times become more valuable and sustainable,” says U. S. Steel Košice President James Bruno. “In particular I appreciate the fact that employees of our company are actively involved in each of the projects.”

One of them is Rastislav Šelepský, the leader of the Friends of Trstené Countryside civic association (c.a.), which has been improving the local environment for years and including younger generations as well as the village inhabitants in its activities. Thanks to the grant they are going to build a rain garden nearby local elementary school and organize lectures about water in the countryside and its economic usage. The Smile On Me c.a. will be preparing several workshops for physically and mentally disadvantaged children, who among other things will paint socks for people in need. The aim of the Jaklovce Little Traffic Wardens project is to provide education for children in kindergartens and elementary schools about safer road use, making it more interesting, interactive and practical. Volunteers from the Enjoy the Ride c.a. plan to improve conditions for exercising and competing by building a new freestyle box in the cycling park at KVP city ward in Košice, which they have been creating on the site of a former illegal landfill. In Hrašovík village the local community are working together on playground revitalization to improve conditions for safe sports, games and relaxation of both inhabitants and village visitors. Obišovce village also has interesting plans, intending to continue with their local castle renovation project and make the place more attractive by repairing the access road and planting an avenue of plum trees with the help of about forty volunteers from the Košice steel plant.

The Carpathian Foundation has been U. S. Steel Košice's partner and administrator of the program for thirteen years. Together they have supported 113 organizations with a total sum of 281 400 EUR.

“We have been cooperating with U. S. Steel Košice for a long time to build a better life for people in eastern Slovakia. We consider this cooperation as crucial for creating healthy communities which are indispensable for a well-functioning society. Currently it is very important that people think positively, help each other and prepare for joint activities. We are happy that we have the opportunity again to support several great initiatives in which employees of U. S. Steel Košice also help as volunteers,“ says Laura Dittel, Carpathian Foundation Director.       

List of supported organizations and projects:
•    Hrašovík village: The place for sports, games and relaxation – 2 500 EUR
•    Jaklovce village: The Jaklovce little traffic wardens – 2 497 EUR
•    Obišovce village: The plum-tree avenue to the castle - 2 500 EUR
•    Enjoy the Ride c.a.: Fun box for training skills – 2 500 EUR
•    Friends of Trstené Countryside c.a.: Water is life, let´s learn how to manage it – 1 810 EUR
•    Smile on Me c.a.: Something less, something more – 1 193 EUR

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More information:

Ján Bača, Director Public Affairs                 Laura Dittel, Director
U. S. Steel Košice, s.r.o.                                 Carpathian Foundation
tel.: +421 55 673 4618                                    tel.: + 421 55 622 1152
jbaca@sk.uss.com                                          laura.dittel@karpatskanadacia.sk

U. S. Steel Košice is the biggest steelmaking company in Slovakia, and a prestigious corporate partner and responsible community neighbor supporting development of the region where its partners and employees live. The Company has done so since its foundation in 2000 through support for children and youth activities, healthcare, sports and sporting events, environmental and educational programs, projects promoting the cultural identity of the region, and above all those promoting improved day-to-day safety. U. S. Steel Košice supports its active employees, respecting their generosity associated with Company fundraising for charity purposes, and developing their voluntary activities performed in favor of the community. For more information visit: www.usske.sk

The Carpathian Foundation has been supporting Eastern Slovakia for 25 years. The mission of the Foundation is to provide financial support, counselling and technical support for active people and organizations who are interested in a better life in this region. The Carpathian Foundation actively addresses the topics of social poverty as well as corporate social responsibility. Grant programs focus on regional development in various areas. The Foundation supports cooperation and local partnership, as well as involvement of the whole community in resolving local needs. During its existence the Foundation has given support to thousands of projects amounting to more than EUR 2.5 million. For more information visit: www.karpatskanadacia.sk