Kosice, May 18, 2010 - Friday and Saturday of last week, May 14th and 15th 2010, saw the holding of the corporate volunteer event named U. S. STEEL FOR KOSICE, during which the employees of the largest company in Eastern Slovakia helped eight Kosice organizations with their public-benefit activities. This event continued in the success of the previous three U. S. Steel Kosice Volunteer Days, during which the steelmakers helped out by participating in community initiatives, making the city more beautiful and the life here better that before. This year the event was enlarged with volunteer activities organized by the Mayor's Office. The joint concept TOGETHER FOR KOSICE created the basis for involving other companies and subjects in the volunteer activities.

The event started off on Friday morning with the "Steelmakers' Drop of Blood" call for blood-donors at the Hematology and Transfusion Department of Kosice - Saca Hospital, which is in the U. S. Steel Kosice Public Access Area. "Public education is important for getting voluntary blood-donors, and this event helps with that. I see the main contribution in people who understand that help in this field is necessary," said Transfusion Department Director Dr. Annamaria Bratkova.

Throughout Friday and Saturday Company employees brought in superfluous summer clothing, books, towels and bed linen, clean and in good condition, for various facilities run by the Archdiocesan Charity. Former steelmakers, members of the Autumn of Life Civic Association, provided a good deal of help within this activity.

On Saturday morning the volunteers helped with pavement renovation at the Botanic Gardens, cleaning at St. Luke's Geriatric Institute, classroom door painting at the Elementary School for Disabled Children, or renovating the stables at the Zoo.

U. S. Steel Kosice President George F. Babcoke and Kosice City Mayor Frantisek Knapik came together to help with reconstruction work at the Haniska Animal Shelter. "The benefits of the joint efforts of the city, U. S. Steel Kosice and other partners to support the shelter are self-evident. Everybody who knows the situation can judge for themselves. Positive changes are visible at first sight," added G. Babcoke.

The steelmakers' enthusiasm also left Anna Uchnarova, the Director of the Autistic Center short for words of praise. "We do appreciate that there are still people in this speeding world who are willing to help. That means a lot to us."

U. S. Steel Kosice Volunteer Days are the biggest of several volunteer activities which the steelmakers organize during the whole year. Some of them help as instructors within educational programs for secondary school students, while others participate as active volunteers in charitable fund-raising at the steelworks, or help running the charity Christmas Hut for non-profit organizations. The two-day event U. S. Steel for Kosice provides space for involvement of teams from operations and administration as well. Just as in preceding years, various professions were represented this time too: apart from workers and managers from individual divisions and plants, there were also plentiful numbers of lawyers, and procurement and finance specialists. Some of them came with teenage children who could learn naturally in this way to be more sensitive to other people's needs. The trade unions also put together volunteer teams, and the Company scholarship holders were naturally present as well. "As for me, it is very natural to come and help. It gives me a good feeling. By this small contribution I can return some of the support which I get for my studies in my scholarship from U. S. Steel Kosice," commented Martina Remacova, a student of the Medical School in Martin.

U. S. Steel Kosice President George F. Babcoke, who also worked in several places together with his wife Kathleen, appreciated the altruistic help of the steelmakers: "It could be easier to help these institutions just financially. If we contribute with our own work, though, the help is much stronger for both parts. In the USA and in Slovakia there are many people who care about others and who do not hesitate to help out. I am proud that our steelmakers are among them."

- E N D -

Further information:

Jan Baca
spokesman
U. S. Steel Kosice, s.r.o.
Tel.: +421 55 673 4476
Fax: +421 55 673 0330