U. S. Steel Košice, s.r.o. and the Carpathian Foundation today opened the 10th edition of the Together for the Region grant program, in which a total of 13 500 euros will be distributed to support public-benefit community projects in Eastern Slovakia during 2017.

Grants from this program are available on application to non-profit organizations and local councils for projects actively involving employees of U. S. Steel Košice and its subsidiaries in the Košice and Prešov regions.

Grants up to the maximum amount of 2 500 euros will be awarded to support innovative projects designed to improve safety in all fields of life, to develop purposeful free-time activities for children and young people, as well as to promote environmental activities and education. The deadline for grant applications is January 16, 2017.

The administrator of the U. S. Steel Košice Together for the Region grant program is the Carpathian Foundation. Since its inception the program has already supported 89 projects with a total sum exceeding 228 000 euros.

“The Together for the Region grant program is a very special project, because for us it is not just about providing financial support, but also about involvement and cooperation of our employees with other organizations. I am proud to see them contributing to a good cause with their voluntary work and help. This creates special values and enables us to actively help the region together,” said U. S. Steel Košice President Scott Buckiso at the start of the tenth edition.

In the latest grant program seven organizations were supported, among them the Barlička civic association from Prešov, which has been trying to eliminate barriers limiting integration of disabled people into society. The project named “Safely on the roads, safely home” encourages children to come to the Barlička center and combines transport education with opportunities for young disabled people who want to help as education assistants.  

“The name of this grant program expresses the mission and long-term effort of our Foundation.  If we want to develop this region, we have to do it together. We value the help that U. S. Steel Košice has given us in this effort for ten years, and it also sets an example for other key players in the region,” says Carpathian Foundation Director Laura Dittel.