Commencing on January 17th, 2012, the Pontis Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2011 Via Bona Slovakia Awards (via bona is a Latin expression for good way). The aim of the Awards is to express public recognition to companies and entrepreneurs who support corporate social responsibility and corporate philanthropy in Slovakia. The Pontis Foundation will be presenting its annual Via Bona Slovakia Awards for the twelfth time.
There are 9 categories of the Via Bona Slovakia Awards, reflecting the continual development of CR and corporate philanthropy in Slovakia and one special Honourable Mention intended for media. Besides the two Main Awards – traditionally given separately to large corporations and to small and medium enterprises – the remaining categories evaluate the individual aspects of CR and corporate philanthropy.
Via Bona Slovakia Categories for 2011 are:
MAIN AWARDS
Main Award for Large Corporations for comprehensive approach to CR
Main Award for Small and Medium Enterprises for implementation of CR principles
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY area
Green Award for an environment-related project
Ethics Award for transparency and fight against corruption
Award for Responsible Approach to Employees
Award for Socially Responsible Market Impact
CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY area
Award for Long-Term Positive Corporate Impact on society and the surrounding community
Award for Courage to Support a Difficult Topic
Award for Employee Engagement in volunteer activities
SPECIAL AWARD
Honorable Mention for Media Contribution in furthering CR and corporate philanthropy in Slovakia
Nominations
Nominations for the Main Award and the CR categories are only accepted and can only be submitted by the companies themselves. In the Corporate Philantrophy categories, nominations may be submitted also by a partnering NGO or by anyone who wishes to give credit to specific projects in each individual category. These may be exceptional activities and projects related to corporate philanthropy that exceed the legal 2 % tax assignation.
Nominations may only be submitted electronically and in Slovak language. The application forms for each of the 9 categories can be found on the website www.viabona.sk in the format of a word document. The closing date for submitting applications is February 16th, 2012.
Evaluation
The submitted nominations are evaluated by three evaluation committees. The evaluation process and its criteria are set up so as to create conditions for the greatest possible objectiveness and transparency. A reputable committee consisting of representatives from the corporate world, public management, the media, non-governmental organizations, and independent institutions evaluate the accepted nominations in two rounds which follow individual assessing process. The Main Award candidates who are submitted by the committee into the second round, are then invited to deliver a personal presentation in front of the evaluation committee.
The winners of the 2011 Via Bona Slovakia Awards will be announced by the Pontis Foundation at the gala evening on April, 12th 2012.
Partners
Všeobecná úverová banka is the General Partner of the 12th annual Via Bona Slovakia Awards. Partners include Západoslovenská energetika, DLA Piper and European Comission. Media partners are Trend, Euractiv.sk, Forbes, SITA, Hospodárske noviny, Webnoviny.sk and Zodpovednepodnikanie.sk.
