"Award for caring company" - open competition for "Virtus" award of Balkan Local Initiatives Fund starts on September 2nd

Open competition for the third "Virtus" award for corporate philantropy will be officially opened on September 2nd. The award is granted by the Balkan Local Initiatives Fund, with the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Institute for Sustainable Communities.

All local and foreign companies, public and state-owned, small and mid-sized enterprises, media companies, as well as corporate funds and foundations, with the exception of non-profitable organizations and government institutions, can apply for this award prior to October 8th, 2009. Candidates for the award can also be nominated by all interested citizens, individuals, non-profitable organizations, media, PR and marketing agencies.

The award is granted to the companies and enterprises that excelled in 2009 by supporting some social or non-profitable campaign or organization.

"Virtus" award for year 2009 will be granted in four main and two special categories: the main award for contribution on national level, the award for contribution to local community in which the company operates, the award for small and mid-sized enterprise, and the award for support to the most inovative project of the year.

The award for long-term partnership between business and non-profitable sector and the award for media contribution represent special awards that will be granted to the companies that excelled in aforementioned fields. The ceremonious awards night will be organized in Belgrade in the second half of November.

Some of the previous winners of this prestigious award are: "Telenor", RDP B92, "U.S. Steel Serbia", Erste bank Novi Sad, Eurobank EFG Saving Bank Belgrade, "Holcim" Serbia and "Hemofarm" Vršac.

The whole project and ceremonious awards night are organized by the Balkan Local Initiatives Fund in association with USAID, the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC), Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, VIA foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation (RBF), foundation "C.S. Mott", "Executive Group", National Broadcasting Corporation, "Ekonomist Media Group", "eKapija", Media Center Belgrade, PR Association of Serbia, City of Belgrade, National Parliament of Republic of Serbia, and numerous other institutions, media and business organizations that have recognized the importance and potential of one such initiative.