At the ceremony held at the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra premises, VIRTUS philanthropy awards were handed to laureates for actions and programmes implemented in 2015. Ninth VIRTUS Awards contest has been managed by Trag fondacija, with the support from European Union and Balkan Fund for Democracy, and in direct partnership with USAID. Contestants were domestic and foreign companies, corporations, public and private enterprises, SMEs, media, corporate funds and foundations and individuals. There were five main categories and two special awards. Main award for the contribution at national level went to Delta holding; the award for long-lasting partnership went to pharmaceutical company Glaxo Smith Kline; contribution to local community award went to tobacco company Japan Tobacco International; whereas SMEs award went to technological enterprise Nordeus.
Milomir Glavcic, who lives in Canada but financially supports those in need in Serbia, received the award for individual contribution. Two special awards went to: enterprise Giros Plus (which delivers gyros to children’s shelter on Thursdays) and Gordan Paunovic for his personal contribution in helping refugees.
Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in Serbia Oskar Benedikt said companies should be socially responsible, especially in 2015 which was full of challenges for Europe and the world and saw the expansion of extremism, major demographic and climate changes.
“Such an environment needs economic growth for the benefit of the entire community,” Benedikt said, adding he was hopeful to see even more examples of social responsibility among companies. “Solidarity and philanthropy are much needed at times like these and are not a matter of being rich, but being human,” Benedikt said.
US Ambassador in Belgrade Michael Kirby stressed the importance of supporting everyone in need. “Serbia showed its strength in 2014, during the floods, and once again in facing migrant crisis. Giving is very important. Not all of us have money, but each and every one has something to offer to those in need,” Kirby said.
According to Trag fondacija Executive Director Biljana Dakic Djordjevic, when it comes to philanthropy, companies and citizens stand side by side despite financial hardship.
VIRTUS Awards have been awarded for the ninth time, and Chair of the Jury Radojka Nikolic said most of the applications came from citizens themselves.
VIRTUS Awards, set up in 2007, are the first and most important philanthropy awards in Serbia, promoting not only socially responsible business operation as part and parcel of sustainable development of companies, but also individual contributions to philanthropy. Large companies, SMEs and individuals can equally compete for this Award, provided they contributed to common good in the most effective way, by offering material or any other kind of assistance to non-profit actions or civil society organisations.
