2023 in Purple Foundation was a busy year full of changes, news, wonderful meetings and cooperation with our Purple team colleagues and all our favourite organizations. We managed to divide an amazing sum of 4 401 455 Kč (€178 514). Wondering which projects we decided to support in 2023? Check them out below!\nNemocnice Milosrdných bratří, p.o.\nSum donated: 1 110 137 Kč (€43 827)\n\nWhat a year we had with the NMB! We purchased two massage chairs for patients with chronic pain and a pocket ultrasound for the hospital; and equipped a beautiful new Purple room for mothers and their newborn babies.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nJanus, z.s.\nSum donated: 224 000 Kč (€8 843)\n\nOffering help and guidance to children from children's homes on their way to adulthood - teaching them about finances, housing, relationships, and much more.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nČlověk v tísni\nSum donated: 400 000 Kč (€15 793)\n\nThe largest project helping both on the spot in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees in Czechia.\nFind out more\n \nhere\n.\nMezi námi, o.p.s. \nSum donated: 270 000 Kč (€10 660)\n\nPurple Foundation is the single donor to the Brno branch of Mezi Námi, who run a program for seniors where they read and spend time with kindergarten kiddos. It is the cutest thing ever.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nDětská nemocnice Brno\nSum donated: 650 250 Kč (€25 671)\n\nWe purchased a panoramic X-ray machine for the stomatology department of the Children's hospital in Brno.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nKrtek, nadační fond dětské onkologie\nSum donated: 50 000 Kč (€1 974)\n\nThe foundation helps children oncology patients and their families.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nPATRON\nSum donated: 25 000 Kč (€987)\n\nThe project connects children from children's homes with buddies who offer guidance in their lives. The sum helped find, establish and support a new pair for a year.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nLinka bezpečí, z.s.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€3 948)\n\nAssisting children and young people in dire need of help. Among other things, we supported recording of their podcast Utržené sluchátko for children, too.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nKlub svobodných matek z.s.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€3 948)\n\nHelping single mothers in need with financial and material support. The NGO also runs three successful charity shops that we supported, too!\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nMasaryk Institute of Oncology\nSum donated: 380 427 Kč (€15 020)\n\n\nWe purchased 12 new infusion pumps that are used to deliver chemotherapy drugs in oncology patients of the Masaryk Institute of Oncology in Brno.\nFind out more \nhere.\n\nCafé D'Astra\nSum donated: 50 000 Kč (€1 974)\n\nA café in Prague employing people with Down syndrome and mental disabilities and their assistants.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nCesta domů, z.ú.\nSum donated: 50 000 Kč (€1 974)\n\nA hospice in Prague with exceptional services for their clients and their own publishing house we love to support.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nPozitivní zprávy z.s.\nSum donated: 50 000 Kč (€1 974)\n\nA Czech news portal bringing positive news to brighten up your day and focus on the good around!\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nSOS dětské vesničky, z.s.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€3 948)\n\nWe are so happy\n \nto support the amazing organization SOS Dětské vesničky, helping and offering guidance to foster and socially disadvantaged families.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nNový Prostor, z.ú.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€3 948)\n\nHelping unhoused people get back on their feet by employing them as magazine vendors and through their social support program.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nDOBRÝ ANDĚL, nadace\nSum donated: 200 000 Kč (€3 948)\n\nFinancially helping families affected by a serious illness in the Czech Republic.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nDům pro Julii, z.ú.\nSum donated: 107 641 Kč (€4 250)\n\n\nDům pro Julii are building the first hospice for children in Czechia. We sent their employees for an internship in the Bluebell Hospice in England to find inspiration on how to run it!\nFind out more \nhere\n. \nProFem, o.p.s.\nSum donated: 204 000 Kč (€8 054)\n\nWe are proud to have supported the reconstruction and opening of the first ever centre for victims of sexual violence and abuse in Czechia!\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nSpolečnost E - Aranžerie\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€3 948)\n\nEmploying people with epilepsy and mental disabilities in their flower arrangement studio.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nHospic sv. Alžběty o.p.s.\nSum donated: 130 000 Kč (€5 133)\n\n\nOur support will finance the equipment of a new room for terminally ill patients and their family members in the largest hospice in Brno.\nFind out more \nhere.\n\nAND, OF COURSE, A HUGE THANK YOU!\nTo our amazing Purple team. Without their hard work and dedication they show every day, none of this would be even remotely possible. \n\nLove, \nYour Purple Foundation team D + F + J +K

2023 in Purple Foundation

Martin Smatana je nielen môj spolužiak zo strednej školy, ktorý neprepadol z angličtiny len vďaka mne, je to aj svetoznámy a oceňovaný animátor. V čase pandémie vyslal do sveta knihu \nRok dobrých \n\nspráv\n, ktorá každý týždeň opisuje niečo pozitívne, čo sa stalo doma alebo v zahraničí. Pri jednej knižke nakoniec neostalo a dnes si môžeme vychutnať celú trilógiu dobrých správ. Poďme sa s Martinom povyprávať o jeho knižnej tvorbe, dobrých správach, či plánoch do budúcna – tretie pokračovanie Roku dobrých správ sa objavilo v kníhkupectvách len 2 týždne dozadu! \nAutorka rozhovoru: Dana Ševčíková\nOdkiaľ prišiel nápad na Rok dobrých správ? \nNápad prišiel v čase začínajúcej pandémie, teda v marci 2020. Pre mnohých to bolo obdobie zlých správ. Pandémia zasiahla negatívne do života každého z nás, vrátane mňa. Čas od času som ľahko začal upadať do predstavy, že svet je každým dňom horší. Cítil som, že u mňa začína prevládať negatívna nálada. Musel som si teda nájsť rozptýlenie, niečo čo ma potešilo, nadchlo a inšpirovalo v týchto neľahkých dňoch. Začal som preto aktívne vyhľadávať dobré správy z celého sveta, ktoré sa okolo nás stále dejú, len o nich nie je niekedy tak počuť.\nKaždý týždeň som si našiel jednu dobrú správu zo sveta a vyrobil k nej obrázok. A keďže ja príliš kresliť neviem, vyrobil som obrázok zo starého oblečenia. Takto som si priebežne udržoval dobrú náladu. Keď som však videl, ako pozitívne medzi ľuďmi rezonujú, povedal som si, že ich skúsim novým obrázkom potešiť každý týždeň.\n\nDobré správy sú nádherne ilustrované a je vidno, že sa v nich ukrývajú stovky hodín práce. Odkiaľ si mal všetky materiály a textílie na ich tvorbu? Kde si ich tvoril? \nPri práci na textilných ilustráciách do knižky mi pomohli skúsenosti z práce na animovaných filmoch. Asi pred tromi–štyrmi rokmi, keď som pripravoval scény do môjho animovaného filmu Šarkan, som si uvedomil, že textil je skvelý materiál, ako na animáciu, tak na ilustráciu. Celé prostredie filmu je vyrobené z látok a oblečenia, ktoré som zrecykloval namiesto vyhodenia. Pri animácii sa dá pohybovať s jeho štruktúrou, vlasmi, a vzniká tak veľmi pekný pohyb. Rovnakou technikou je vytvorená aj táto netradičná knižka, ktorej trojrozmerné ilustrácie vyrábam z recyklovaného oblečenia. Tie potom pekne nasvietim, nafotím, doplním o text a vložím do knižky. Textilné ilustrácie vyrábam v našom štúdiu v Trnave. \nVyrobiť jednu ilustráciu mi trvá približne 5 dní. Najviac mi paradoxne trvá nájsť vhodnú správu. Niekedy prelistujem aj desiatky či stovky správ, kým nájdem takú, ktorá vo mne vyvolá radosť, niekedy ma až dojme alebo mám z nej husiu kožu. Vtedy viem, že je to tá pravá, začnem si o nej čítať viac, hľadať k nej fotky, overovať si skutočnosti, potom k nej nakreslím pár skíc na papier a snažím sa hľadať kompozíciu a tvar. Keď som s ňou spokojný, vyfarbím ju, aby som vedel, aké farby látok mám hľadať. Potom sa hodiny hrabem v starom oblečení a vyradených látkach, a až potom sa pustím do strihania, šitia, lepenia. Následne už len všetko pekne osvetlím, nafotím, upravím a doplním o text správy.\n\nKoľko vydavateľstiev si oslovil s publikáciou knihy a aká bola cesta vydávania s vydavateľstvom Monokel?\nS nápadom na ilustrované dobré správy som prišiel sám, postupne mi začali kamaráti a rodina posielať dobré správy, ktoré čítali alebo počuli. Tak mi pod rukami postupne vznikalo čoraz viac príbehov. Keď som o tejto mojej aktivite povedal Petrovi Michalíkovi zo slovenského vydavateľstva Monokel, navrhol, aby som tak spracoval celý rok: 52 týždňov = 52 ilustrovaných príbehov. Monokel vydal všetky tri ročníky knižky a tiež zabezpečil vydanie v zahraničí - v \nAmerike, Anglicku\n, Nemecku a Južnej Kórei.\n\nKtorá dobrá správa z tvojich knižiek ťa najviac chytila za srdce? \nMojim favoritom je vždy príbeh, na ktorom aktuálne pracujem. Z poslednej knižky napríklad správa o tom, že keď sa 84-ročný vojnový veterán z Taiwanu dozvedel, že jeho rodná štvrť bude čoskoro zrovnaná so zemou, vymaľoval každý dom veselými farbami, čím sa celá štvrť zakrátko stala kultúrnym dedičstvom, ktoré nebolo možné zbúrať. Jeho dielo sa dnes volá Rainbow Village a hrdo reprezentuje mesto Taichung.\nTiež som sa pri čítaní dobrých správ dozvedel, že ak chcem poslať poštou list alebo pohľadnicu na Island do odľahlej farmy alebo domčeku bez adresy, stačí, ak na obálku nakreslím mapku, podľa ktorej poštár nájde príjemcu. Túto správu i s ilustráciou nájdete, medzi inými, v najnovšom Roku dobrých správ.\n\nKtorá recenzia, alebo ocenenie ťa najviac potešilo?\n \nVždy ma veľmi poteší, keď čitatelia vďaka knižke povedia, že aj v tomto objektívne náročnom období sa udialo aj pár dobrých vecí, a pri listovaní knižkou nadobudnú pocit, že čas od času môžu urobiť malý dobrý skutok aj oni sami.\nTu je jedna recenzia z amerického School Library Journal (preklad z anglického originálu):\n“Počas prvého roka pandémie, keď sa zdalo, že svet ovládol chaos, smútok a zlé správy, Smatana vyhľadával pozitívne správy a príbehy, ktoré dopĺňal originálnymi textilnými ilustráciami (viď. napr. ilustrácie Salley Mavora v My Bed od Rebeccy Bond). Príbehy sú krátke, zvyčajne popísané jednou či dvoma vetami s ilustráciou na vedľajšej strane. QR kód na konci knihy zobrazí zainteresovaným čitateľom pôvodný zdroj správ. Smatanove očarujúce postavy a scény sú vyrobené zo zvyškov látok, vlny, plsti a stužiek. Mnohé z príbehov sa týkajú priamo pandémie, iné sa zameriavajú na životné prostredie, komunikáciu napriek spoločenským spektrom a umenie.”\nObjavili sa v knihe postavičky, ktoré sme už mohli vidieť v tvojich predchádzajúcich projektoch? \nMyslím že nie. Pre každý projekt, či už animovaný alebo knižný, sa snažím vymyslieť a navrhnúť nové charaktery na mieru príbehu. \nNaučila ťa kniha sústrediť väčšiu pozornosť na pozitívne veci v tvojom živote a okolí? \nÁno, a veľmi to na sebe cítim. Hlavným posolstvom knižky je totiž posilniť vnímavosť voči malým, často nenápadným pozitívnym príbehom, ktoré sa dejú okolo nás. Pretože na to, aby sme videli pozitívne príbehy, sa často stačí rozhliadnuť okolo seba. Verím, že po tom, čo si čitateľ takúto knižku prelistuje, si uvedomí, že napriek záľahe negatívnych správ sa nielen vo svete, ale aj v našom bezprostrednom okolí, deje každý deň veľa dobrého.\nAk by si mohol s niekým spolupracovať na ďalšej knihe dobrých správ, kto by to bol a ako by tvoju tvorbu obohatil? \nVeľmi rád by som znovu spolupracoval s niektorým európskym mestom a vystavil dobré správy vo verejnom priestore mesta. Prvé dve série ilustrovaných pozitívnych príbehov sa okrem knižky objavili aj na citylightoch a panelových výstavách vo viacerých mestách na Slovensku a v Česku. Vedenie hlavného mesta Bratislava sa rozhodlo potešiť pred vianočnými sviatkami obyvateľov mesta a skrášliť jeho rozmanité miesta dobrými správami zo sveta vo forme citylightov. Počas tohtoročnej veľkej noci boli vďaka spolupráci so žilinským primátorom a kultúrnym vedením mesta tieto ilustrované dobré správy vystavené formou dvojmetrových panelov na námestí v Žiline, aby mohli potešiť ľudí v týchto náročných časoch. A vďaka spolupráci so Slovenským veľvyslanectvom v Turecku si budú môcť túto výstavu pozitívnych správ pozrieť na jeseň aj obyvatelia Ankary a Istanbulu. \n\nPodelíš sa so mnou o nejakú dobrú správu z tvojho života z posledného obdobia? \nS mojou manželkou Simonou sme koncom septembra privítali do našej animátorskej rodiny syna Alberta, ktorý rastie každým dňom a i keď sa sem-tam nevyspíme, je to tá najlepšia správa tohto roku.\nKniha Rok dobrých správ 2023 sa objavila v kníhkupectvách 16.11.2023 a lepší vianočný darček by ste ťažko hľadali! Zaobstarajte si svoju kópiu \ntu\n. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

O sile pozitívnych správ s animátorom Martinom Smatanom

Not only is Martin Smatana my high-school classmate who had only passed his English classes thanks to me, he is now a world-renowned and much-awarded animation artist. His book trilogy \nA Year of\n \nGood News\n has been documenting one
piece of good news every week since the pandemic times, bringing a little ray of sunshine to all of us when our days are feeling blue. Let’s dive into our conversation about the books, good news, his future plans and more!\nInterview by Dana Ševčíková\n\nWhere did the idea for A Year of Good News come from? \nThe idea came to me at the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2020. For many of us, it was a time of one piece of bad news after another. The pandemics negatively impacted all of us, myself including. It was easy to get caught in a downward spiral of negative thinking and watch the world get worse day by day. I had to find something to take my mind off things, something positive to cheer me up and inspire me to move forward. Thus, I set up to look for good news from all around the world of which there is always a ton, even though we don’t hear about them as often. \nEvery week, I found a piece of good news from around the world and illustrated it. As drawing is not my strong suit, I patchworked the picture out of old clothing and this process helped me keep afloat. When I saw my pictures making people happy, I decided to do it every week. \nA Year of Good News is a beautifully illustrated book and it’s obvious that it took hundreds of hours of work. Where did you get all the materials and textiles for the creation of the individual images? Where did you make them?\nWhen working on textile illustrations for the book, my experience from working on animated films came in really handy! About three or four years ago, when I was preparing the scenes for my animated film Šarkan (The Kite), I realized that textile is a great material, both for animation and
illustration. The entire setting of the film is made from fabrics and clothes that I recycled instead of throwing away. With animation, you can move with its structure, the individual threads, which creates lovely movement. The same technique has been used to make my non-traditional book, whose
three-dimensional illustrations are done using recycled clothing. When finished, I choose the best lighting for the individual images, take pictures, add the text and put them in the book. All of the illustrations are made in my workshop in Trnava.\nIt takes me about 5 days to finish one illustration. What’s interesting is that it takes even longer to find the right piece of news to illustrate. Sometimes I scroll through dozens, or even hundreds of headlines until I find one that makes me happy, moves me or gives me goosebumps. That's when I know it's the right one. I start studying the story, looking for photos, verifying facts, then I draw a few sketches and try to find composition and shape. Once I'm happy with it, I
colour it in, so I know what fabric colours to look for. Afterwards, it's time to take a deep dive in my huge collection of old clothes and discarded fabrics, and only after a few hours spent there, I start cutting, sewing and gluing.\n\nHow many publishing houses did you approach with the publication of the book? What was your
publishing journey with the Monokel publishing house like?\nI came up with the idea of illustrated good news myself. In no time, my friends and family started sending me positive headlines they had read or heard; and more and more stories thus came to life. When I shared this little project of mine with Peter Michalík from the Slovak publishing house Monokel, he suggested that I organize the book by weeks: 52 weeks - 52 illustrated stories. Monokel
then published the first two editions of the book and also ensured publication abroad in the \nU.S.A.\n, England, Germany, and South Korea. \n\nAre you looking to publish more books of good news in the upcoming years?\nI am, indeed. Right now, I am working on the finishing touches of the third edition of A Year of Good News that is coming very soon, on 16 November 2023.\nIs there a piece of good news from your books you’d call your favourite?\nMy favourite story is always the one I'm working on at any given time. Right now, it’s a story of an 84-year-old war veteran from Taiwan who learned that his hometown neighbourhood would soon be torn down. He decided to take action and paint all the houses in vibrant colours, and thus the entire neighbourhood became a protected cultural heritage. His project is called Rainbow Village and is still standing proud in Taichung city.\nLast week, while browsing the news, I learned that if you want to send a letter or a postcard to a remote farm or house without an address in Iceland, all you have to do is draw a map on the envelope, and the crafty postman will find the recipient!\n\nEvery fan of yours knows that you got tons of great reviews and awards for your Years of Good News. Are there any that stand out for you?\nI am always very happy to hear that the readers of my book realized that even in the hardest of times, there are still good things going on. What’s even better is when the book inspires them to do a good deed from time to time as well. Here is a review from the American School Library Journal that made me very happy:\nDuring the first year of the pandemic, when it felt like “doom and gloom and bad news had taken over the world,” Smatana sought out good news, and illustrated the stories he found with marvellous textile art (think Salley Mavor’s work in My Bed by Rebecca Bond). The stories are short, usually just one or two sentences on a page, with a facing illustration. A QR code at the end of the book takes interested readers to the original news sources. Smatana’s charming characters and scenes are made of fabric scraps, wool, felt, and ribbon. Many of the stories deal directly with the pandemic,
but others focus on the environment, communication across borders and barriers,
and the arts.\nIn your books, can we find any characters that had appeared in your previous projects?\nI don’t think so. I am trying to come up with new
characters for every story, be it animation or illustration. \nHas creating your book helped you focus your attention on positive things in your life and
environment?\nIt did, and it really shows. The aim of the book is to strengthen our perception of small, often inconspicuous positive stories. Sometimes, all it takes to find something positive is to take a look around. I believe that after browsing my book, the reader will realize that despite the flood of negative news, a lot of good is happening every day.\nIf you could choose someone to collaborate with on your next book of good news, who would it be and how would they enrich your work?\nI would love to work with large European cities againand display the good news in their public space. In addition to the book, the first two series of illustrated positive stories were displayed in large format in several cities in Slovakia and Czechia. The management of the capital city
of Bratislava decided to cheer up its residents before the Christmas holidays and adorn various spots with good news from the world in the form of city lights. At Easter time this year, these illustrated good news were displayed on two-meter-long panels on the main square of my hometown, Žilina. And, thanks to cooperation with the Slovak Embassy in Turkey, the residents of Ankara and
Istanbul will also be able to see the exhibition of positive news this autumn.\n\nIs there any good news from your personal life you can share with us?\nMy wife and I are extremely excited to welcome our first son Albert who is expected to join us at
the end of September. (Albert is now a proud member of an animator family, growing every day and making his parents 99% very happy and 1%zombie-like.)\n\nThe third edition of A Year of Good News is coming out on 16 November 2023, so make sure to get your own copy \nhere\n!\n


On the power of positive news with animator Martin Smatana 

Adopt, don't shop! \nAnimal shelters in the Czech Republic and Slovakia are full of fluffy souls who have been abandoned, hurt or given up by their former owners. Adopting an animal from a shelter means bringing a new source of joy in your life and giving a second chance to a pet who wants nothing more than to love-bomb their new owners to bits, a.k.a. an absolute win-win situation. Some of our Purple colleagues decided to visit a shelter and adopt a pet for themselves; and even though the beginnings might have been a bit difficult from time to time, they wouldn't trade them for the world.\nRead about the Purple pets from shelters who made our colleagues' lives exponentially better and learn why shelter adoption is a great choice!\nDusty (and his owner Elizaveta)\n\nWhat’s your pet’s name and how old are they?\nDusty, approximately 3 years old.\nWhich shelter does he come from?\nWorld of dogs – helping Bosnian dogs and the Sarajevo “death shelter.” \nDo you know what his life was like before he got in the shelter?\nHe comes from a part of Bosnia and Herzegovina where there are a lot of abused dogs. Unfortunately, we don’t know anything else. \nWhat were the adoption process and the adoption day like? How did you communicate
with the shelter?\nI followed the shelter on facebook. Once I had decided to go for it and known what kind of a dog I can handle, I sent them a message and stated my criteria in detail. Then I received a picture of Dusty with a short introduction and main info: his
weight, approximate age and fur colour. Afterwards we had a call where I learned about the adoption process and answered questions aimed at finding out whether I’d be a good dog owner. Then I waited for a month or so before they got him ready to go and brought him to me. On 22 January 2022, he was transported to Prague together with other dogs from Bosnia for a fee of 120 EUR. The communication with the shelter was good, they answered all my questions about the adoption process and were even supportive during Dusty’s first weeks in his new home. \nWhat were your first days together in a new home like?\nThe first days were really sweet and fulfilling, but also difficult. Dusty was very scared and went into a panic mode when I attempted to take him for a walk. I decided to give him as much time as he needed to adapt to a new environment and
gave him a week or so without walks. He slept through his first couple of days and was afraid to lie down in his new bed, but then he started being curious and his trust in me grew stronger. \n\nWhat surprised you most about adoption?\nI had taken care of a golden retriever puppy from a breeder from the age of four months before and
I have to say that there is not much difference between taking care of a puppy and an adult, traumatised dog. \nWhat should one be careful about when adopting a pet?\nI think that the crucial thing is that the new owner is kind and patient. It is important to have at least some experience with dogs and their mentality before adopting one. It helps you understand what characteristics of a dog you are willing to
accept and what dog breed would prosper with you as their owner. It’s a two-way street. I knew I needed a calm and small dog that won’t stress me out and one that I can pick up in my arms if needed. \nWhat are some of your pup’s bad habits that keep you on your toes?\nHe doesn’t have any bad habits that I dislike or anger me, really. \nAnd what do you love most about Dusty?\nThe fact that he is a very special doggy who looks like a fox. It is funny how much he loves
sunshine and always finds a sunny spot to have a little rest. He is very independent and calm, he is not attached to me at all times, which makes it a lot easier. He plays in a really funny way and it is amazing to observe the way he is changing and his trust in me grows. We are a team. \n\n\nRonnie (and his owner Lucie Anna)\n\nWhat’s your pet’s name and how old are they?\nHis name is Ronnie and he is around 7 years old. \nWhich shelter does he come from?\nThe adoption was organized by Ms Knápková, a vet in Brno who takes care of animals in Brno shelters. I don’t know which particular one Ronnie comes from.\nDo you know what his life was like before he got in the shelter?\nHe was in the shelter for one year before I adopted him and before that, he had lived in the streets. It’s hard to say what kid of life he led there. \nWhat were the adoption process and the adoption day like? \nEverything was organized by Ms Knápková, the vet, so I didn’t have to communicate with the
shelter at all. She always accepts a couple of dogs into her office where they are getting ready for adoption for a couple of weeks. She also places them in foster care. Ronnie was a foster care puppy and he was a very scared and aggressive dog without basic hygiene habits. He had to learn all of it and how to socialize properly, too. The adoption itself was very fast – I went to see Ronnie for the first time, talked details with the vet and a week later I was driving him home. She said that he had been fidgety all morning, as if he knew something was happening. Ms Knápková is an amazing person, animals love her and there is something therapeutic in the way she communicates with people, too. \nWhat were your first days together in a new home like? \nThe first six weeks were difficult. He only went potty at home or in the office, because he couldn’t go outside. After a few weeks, however, things fell into place. I could tell on the way home from the foster care that all he needed this whole time was love. We became inseparable. You can see that he appreciates everything he has and he
doesn’t take all the care I am giving him for granted. He is coming from a troubled environment and that makes him even more grateful. It cannot be compared to a puppy born into a loving environment who considers all these
beautiful things normal. We are never apart; we spend all our time together and I wouldn’t have it any other way. If I leave him at home by himself for a couple of hours, he is fine, but I am the one who finds it unbearable!\n\nWhat surprised you most about adoption? \nThat it all happened so fast!\nWhat should one be careful about when adopting a pet?\nIt’s hard to say, because every shelter animal has their own painful story and many times not even the shelter staff know what they’d been through. The new owners have to be very patient and loving so that the animal can rebuild their trust
towards humans again. \nWhat are some of your pup’s bad habits that keep you on your toes?\nIt doesn’t really make me mad, but Ronnie must have had bad experience with homeless people – he is scared of them and doesn’t want to get near them. Another thing we are still working on is his aggression towards unfamiliar dogs, but once he
gets to know them, they become friends and happily play together. \nAnd what do you love most about Ronnie?\nAbsolutely everything! I wouldn’t change a thing about him, he is perfect the way he is. He came into my life just like it was supposed to be. \n\n


Purple rescues III: Dusty and Ronnie

Adopt, don't shop! \nAnimal shelters in the Czech Republic and Slovakia are full of fluffy souls who have been abandoned, hurt or given up by their former owners. Adopting an animal from a shelter means bringing a new source of joy in your life and giving a second chance to a pet who wants nothing more than to love-bomb their new owners to bits, a.k.a. an absolute win-win situation. Some of our Purple colleagues decided to visit a shelter and adopt a pet for themselves; and even though the beginnings might have been a bit difficult from time to time, they wouldn't trade them for the world.\nRead about the Purple pets from shelters who made our colleagues' lives exponentially better and learn why shelter adoption is a great choice!\nElla (and her owner Barbora)\n\nWhat’s your pet’s name and how old are they?\nElla, 10 months.\nWhich shelter does she come from?\nOZ Chlpáčik
Snina: \nhttps://chlpaciksnina.kapastudio.eu/\n.\nDo you know what her life was like before she got in the shelter?\nEllinka comes from a Roma settlement. The shelter knew of her owner for a very long time (they saw them together and hoped he would bring her to the shelter, as he was not even able to take care of himself, let alone a puppy). In the end, her owner threw her over the fence into a strangers’ house who had two giant dogs. Luckily, they didn’t cause Ella any harm. With a scratch on her nose and in a very neglected state, Ellinka finally got into the shelter and then into foster care.  \nWhat were the adoption process and the adoption day like? How did you communicate
with the shelter?\nWe stumbled upon Ellinka while browsing \nhttps://www.pesweb.cz/\n. We filtered out shelters closest to Brno and asked about a couple of dogs. In two days, a Slovak number called back. It was the owner of the Chlpáčik shelter who asked us why we were interested in Ellinka, about our experience with dogs and described the process of adoption. \nAre you wondering why it was a Slovak number that called? In order for Czech citizens to adopt a dog from Slovakia, a Slovak shelter with the pet in question needs to be sheltered by a Czech shelter. The filter thus showed a Czech animal
shelter, but in reality, Ellinka was located in the east of Slovakia! Because it wasn’t a regular shelter, but an organization more than 500 km away, the whole adoption process was quite strict. \nThe second call came from a Czech lady, who played the role of the bad cop we needed to
get through to. She was asking pretty personal questions, for example if we had saved enough money as having a pet is not cheap, or how long had we been together with my boyfriend and who would keep the dog in case we broke up. \nLooking back now I realise that their goal is to place the dog with good people without the risk of them being returned to the shelter, but this lady really had no mercy on us. She wanted to see pictures of our flat, offices where we planned to take Ella sometimes and even of our previous dogs. \nThank god we didn’t get intimidated and I told her openly that I didn’t understand why we felt like she’s trying to bust us and that we had previously had a shelter dog and thus know the responsibility it takes to have one. \nThe third round was a visitation by the Czech shelter lady. She came to check that the pictures of our flat were really of our flat and not, for example, our parents’. She also wanted to have a chat and get to know us a bit.\nThe next day, we got a call from the owner of the shelter saying that we proved ourselves to be good adoptive parents for Ella. She also said there was a family driving back to Brno that day who would bring Ella home for us and we didn’t have to drive all the way to eastern Slovakia to get her. \nIt was just meant to be.\nWhat were your first days together in a new home like?\nElla fit in immediately. She was only 5 months old back then and so it was enough to blackmail her with treats and tire her out before her first night. She was used to living in a flat. Because she was in foster care before, there were no shenanigans at home and she was taught all the rules of hygiene.\nIt was like she had always been here. \n\nWhat surprised you most about adoption?\nI think the very strict process did. But, as I said, you don’t have to be scared. Try to communicate openly. The reason the process is so strict is to filter out people who are not seriously interested. \nWhat should one be careful about when adopting a pet?\nDon’t get intimidated, definitely don’t lie about anything. Don’t send any money in advance.\nWhat are some of your pup’s bad habits that keep you on your toes?\nHer reactivity – she is not afraid of bad-tempered dogs and doesn’t hesitate to start a fight. She is a hunting dog, too, which means cats and voles are like a drug for her and she almost managed to dislocate my shoulder a couple of times. \nAnd what do you love most about Ella?\nI love everything about her! She is our little baby bat who loves to be active and adores being in the forest, just like her owners. \n\n\nSheva (and her owner Roman)\n\nWhat’s your pet’s name and how old are they?\nSheva is almost 3 years old.\nWhich shelter does she come from?\nShe comes from the Tuláčik shelter in Brezno, Slovakia: \nhttps://utuloktulacik.sk/\n.\nDo you know what her life was like before she got in the shelter?\nShe was found in a Roma settlement. Unfortunately, I didn’t learn anything more about
her story. \nWhat were the adoption process and the adoption day like? \nThe process was quite fast. The vet administered the rest of the necessary vaccinations, I signed a contract, paid a €100 fee and that was it!\nHow did you communicate with the shelter? \nThe communication was really easy. We talked through their Instagram page, where I actually saw Shevinka for the first time. \nWhat were your first days together in a new home like? \nOur beginning together was incredible, we were best friends from day one. \n\nWhat surprised you most about adoption? \nWhat surprised me the most was that I was not 100% ready for the adoption. Before you adopt a
pet, you need to learn a ton of things – read some literature on the adoption, watch videos, etc.\nWhat should one be careful about when adopting a pet?\nIt is very important to pick a dog who matches your lifestyle. Active dogs need a lot of exercise and action, they shouldn’t be locked inside for a long time.  \nWhat are some of your pup’s bad habits that keep you on your toes?\nAs she has a bit of hunting gene in her DNA, she loves to disappear and hunt for hares and cats. Luckily, she hasn’t brought me any trophies yet!\nAnd what do you love most about Sheva?\nShe is just an Energizer battery. She turned my life upside down and I am incredibly grateful
to her for that.\n\n


Purple rescues II: Ella and Sheva

Adopt, don't shop! \nAnimal shelters in the Czech Republic and Slovakia are full of fluffy souls who have been abandoned, hurt or given up by their former owners. Adopting an animal from a shelter means bringing a new source of joy in your life and giving a second chance to a pet who wants nothing more than to love-bomb their new owners to bits, a.k.a. an absolute win-win situation. Some of our Purple colleagues decided to visit a shelter and adopt a pet for themselves; and even though the beginnings might have been a bit difficult from time to time, they wouldn't trade them for the world.\nRead about the Purple pets from shelters who made our colleagues' lives exponentially better and learn why shelter adoption is a great choice!\nJake (and his owner Ivana)\n\nWhat’s your pet’s name and how old are they?\nHis name is Jake and he is 4 years old. In the shelter, they called him Cooper, but that name just didn’t fit him right. \nWhich shelter does he come from?\nHe is from the Tuláčik shelter in Brezno, Slovakia: \nhttps://utuloktulacik.sk/\n.\nDo you know what his life was like before he got in the shelter?\nMost of the puppies in the shelter have been rescued from an abusive environment. Jake was
brought there from a Roma settlement.\nWhat were the adoption process and the adoption day like? How did you communicate with the shelter?\nThe communication was amazing. I was originally interested in a different dog, but someone had already adopted him. The shelter then offered me puppies that hadn’t been posted online yet, because they had been rescued only a couple of daysprior. I have always wanted a puppy, as I didn’t dare to adopt an older dog, even though I had raised a couple of dogs before. Shelter pups are often traumatized and I was a bit scared of that. The shelter asked a lot of questions before the
adoption – where will the dog live, who will raise him, in what conditions, and I also had to send the shelter pictures of the place where Jake would live so that they could decide if it’s the right fit for him. On the day of adoption, we picked him up, I learned about his vaccinations and medical appointments that needed yet to be arranged, I got a passport for him and after paying a fee, I could take him home. \n\nWhat were your first days together in a new home like?\nDifficult. Because Jake came from a bad environment, he wasn’t your typical reckless and
playful puppy ready to explore the world. He was really scared of us, as he had horrible experience with people, and kept hiding away. I was hand-feeding him granules one by one and slept by his side on the ground so that he would get used to my presence and start trusting me.\nWhat surprised you most about adoption?\nIt is quite a demanding process, which is actually pretty great, as the shelter wants to ensure that the dog goes to good owners who won’t return him back to the shelter. \nWhat should one be careful about when adopting a pet?\nMake sure to find out as much about the dog as possible. Ask if they are good with other animals and whether there are any traumas from their past. If you don’t know this, you risk a lot, because working with a traumatized animal is hard and
requires 24/7 care to turn them around. In the end, however, it is absolutely worth it and the person gains the most faithful companion. \nWhat are some of your pup’s bad habits that keep you on your toes?\nNot really a bad habit, but the trauma that he’s been carrying with him since puppyhood. He is scared of new people and other dogs before he gets to know them, but I am trying to get him to socialise constantly so that he can let go of his fear. \nAnd what do you love most about Jake?\nEverything. Even though we haven’t spoken a single word in the 4 years I’ve had him, he is my best friend. If I don’t feel good, he will come to me and stay with me until I’m better. He makes me happy every day and is the best buddy one could ask for. \n\n\nMiata (and her owner Daniela)\n\nWhat’s your pet’s name and how old are they?\nMiata celebrated her second birthday this year.\nWhich shelter does she come from?\nFrom the Tibet shelter in Bučovice: \nhttps://www.utulektibet.cz/\n.\nDo you know what her life was like before she got in the shelter?\nShe was one of the many kittens saved from the tornado in Břeclavsko and Hodonínsko in 2021. Back then, she was not even a month old. \nWhat were the adoption process and the adoption day like? How did you communicate with the shelter?\nOne weekend we went to the shelter to take a look at their cats and this little minx completely won us over. We took her home two weeks later. The communication was amazing, there were no issues, we got very clear instructions and some dry food for the road. \n\nWhat were your first days together in a new home like?\nShe didn’t stop purring for the first two weeks and was the cuddliest little girl, always glued to someone’s side, she used to sleep on my head… She had no problems adapting to the new environment. William (her dog roommate) was the one who was terribly confused about the creature we dragged home. \nWhat surprised you most about adoption?\nNot much, really, except the fact that we were fostering Miata for a year and only then she became 100% mine. \nWhat should one be careful about when adopting a pet?\nTo really adopt, not shop.\nWhat are some of your kitten’s bad habits that keep you on your toes?\nShe is sometimes more stubborn than me and thinks she can do anything. These days, for example, she learned how to jump on the kitchen counter and when I try to get her down, she looks just about ready to call the animal protection services on me.\nAnd what do you love most about Miata?\nHow chatty and cuddly in the morning she is. She is my cute little lovebug who accompanies me even to the bathroom and will let me annoy her as much as I want. \n\n

\n

Purple rescues I: Jake and Miata

In this series, I want to introduce my personal heroes who deserve recognition and inspire you to do right by the world, even though it sometimes feels like our efforts might not make even the smallest difference. Believe me, they all do. Happy reading!\nJan Richter is a doctor, business owner, first-aid trainer and author of LinkedIn articles that are educative, hit the nail on the head and, most importantly, really fun to read. He is also a long-time friend, collaborator and supporter of our foundation and a wonderful human being. How do so many talents and activities fit into his week and still leave him some time for his family and an occasional beer or two? What were the biggest lessons he learned in his medical practice and in which obscure location did he and his wife meet? Find out this, and much more, in the interview. \nIn your LinkedIn profile, the #LepšíLékař (#BetterDoctor) hashtag caught my attention. What does it mean for you to be a better doctor? Have you set any goals that will make you one?\nAllow me to add a bit to this, as I think it's very important. My profile says: "On the way to be a #BetterDoctor." I don't wish to nit-pick, but I wanted to highlight that it is, indeed, a journey. I don’t think that there is a particular goal I can reach that will magically turn me into a better doctor.\nI am convinced, however, that a better doctor should, first of all, treat their patients with great respect. Whenever I am in my office tending to a patient, I think to myself: " Honzo, how would you want to be treated if you swapped places with them?" After all, good communication makes up 70% of a doctor’s good impression. \nA better doctor never stops studying and educates themselves not only in the field of medicine, but also in soft skills. A better doctor is incorporating modern technology into their practice, which is why I am working on digitizing our ECGs, learning to work with the ultrasound and wish to deploy AI to discover hospital infections. I also use AI to evaluate some ECGs.\nA better doctor can save a person's life in times of illness, and the very best doctor makes sure that the illness does not occur in the first place.\nIn 2015, you and your wife founded the Učíme první pomoc (We teach first aid) company. How is it doing and what do you consider the most important milestones in its existence?\nWhen it comes to the financial side of things, we have grown every year so far, except for the covid years. Last year we had a record turnover. There have been two substantial milestones on our journey. The first one was hiring an operations
manager who makes the business run smoothly and doesn't require my wife or me to be as involved. The second milestone was definitely when we managed to pay off all the debt and got into green numbers. At one moment, we suddenly discovered that buying a new mobile phone, electronics or an expensive vacation every year does not really fulfil us; and we started donating a part of the profit to charity every year.\nLast year, we donated a total of 100,000 CZK. The majority went to help Ukraine in the form of medical supplies, medicine, disinfectants and other necessities, and 20,000 CZK was donated to the children's hospice – Dům pro Julii (House for Julia). After all, you were the ones who connected us with the hospice, for which I want to thank you.\nIn the midst of the pandemic, you started working in the Nemocnice Milosrdných Bratří (Hospital of the Merciful Brothers) in Brno. Did the pandemic change you in any way? Have you learned anything new about yourself?\nBefore the pandemic, I worked as a head doctor in a small pharmaceutical company producing medicine from blood plasma. There were definitely moments that I would consider stressful and on the verge of crisis in that environment, but it was always about money. None of this compares to a typical day in the ER. This is where life is at stake every single moment, be it the pandemic or not.\nHow do you take care of your mental well-being after a hard day in the hospital?\nEvery day, I come back home to my wife and our little Agátka. An occasional pub visit with my friends is, of course, equally as important. I like to ski in the winter and cycle in the summer. \n\nYou must have experienced situations in your practice that are forever written in your memory. Is there a positive experience that stands out which you could share with us?\nThere are many such situations, but as doctors, we have a very dark sense of humour, so I would rather not share them. However, I can perhaps mention one. This one time, I went to a room with three patients for a morning visit. According to the schedule, though, only two patients were supposed to be in. I examined them all and then went to ask the nurses if we happened to have a newcomer. They did not know of any new patients and did not see or hear of the third person. So, I went back to see this "stranger" elderly patient, who very confidently claimed that she was at home and not in the hospital. She tore off her name bracelet and introduced herself to me with three different names. In the end, we called all the LTC departments and found out that a patient was
missing from the C ward.\nWhat were your student days like and what advice would you give to medical students today?\nMy student days were beautiful, after all, it was in the autopsy room that I met my wife. However, the studies were demanding and we learned thousands of pages of material that we will never use in practice and, on the contrary, we were never
taught the practical things. I would advise students to apply for extracurricular internships and see the realities of the job, but this piece of advice probably applies in general to all fields.\nIf you weren't a doctor, what career path would you choose?\nI am a very ambitious person. Before I decided to go back to medicine, I used to manage 12 doctors and countless non-medical staff.\nI would probably choose a fast-growing environment with great scalability, transparent corporate culture and soft spot for charity, ideally in Brno. I think I might go for a fintech company. :D\nIs there a particular field of healthcare you consider often overlooked and deserving of more attention - one whose innovations would significantly contribute to improving the overall situation of the national healthcare?\nIn our country, it is certainly prevention. I would put the prevention of cardiovascular disease in the first place, as it is terribly neglected and thousands of people walk around with undiagnosed high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol. I don't even need to mention oncology prevention.\nWhat is currently the biggest challenge for you, work-wise?\nIt is, without a doubt, my work-life balance. According to my work schedule alone, I spend 240-260 hours a month at the hospital, plus teaching first aid, managing the company or writing articles on LinkedIn, which takes up another 40 hours. As you can see, I am not too successful yet.\nWhat do you consider to be your greatest professional success and what was, on the contrary, the greatest lesson learned for you?\nI will perhaps answer a little more in general. Thanks to my entrepreneurship, I have adopted a different mindset than most of my colleagues. For me, every problem has a solution, and every problem is an opportunity.\nIf I don't have a radiologist available in the ER at night, I learn to work with ultrasound. If there is no neurologist available, I sign up for a neurology internship. All this then makes me, bit by bit, a better doctor. One that I myself would like to have.\nI learn a different lesson every day. I consider it important to admit my mistakes, which is not really usual in our industry.\nTo sum up, I see my greatest success in the fact that I am always "hungry" for improvement, growing and using my professional lessons learned to do better next time.\n\n\n\n\n


People We Admire #3 Jan Richter

In this series, I want to introduce my personal heroes who deserve recognition and inspire you to do right by the world, even though it sometimes feels like our efforts might not make even the smallest difference. Believe me, they all do. Happy reading!\nOur paths crossed with Róbert Balušík from Slovakia for the first time in 2020, when we learned about his Joystick Car project – a chance for people with physical disabilities to independently drive a car. In 2021, we supported it with a sum of 50 000 CZK. In the meantime, he enchanted us with both his humility and ambition, which is the reason I decided to include him in our People we admire series. \nWhat is a joystick car? It is an adaptation of a car from driving with a steering wheel into driving with a joystick for physically handicapped people who cannot hold or reach the steering wheel, engine start, pedals, or other car parts. When finished, Róbert’s goal was to offer the best
practices to the target group and ensure homologation in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. What’s more, he wished to lend the car to a driving school in the Czech Republic for the possibility of physically disabled people to obtain a driving license for it. Róbert Balušík set on this journey at the age of 23 and finished it in August 2022, owning and getting his own driving license for the first joystick car in Slovakia and Czechia. \n\nRóbert is an entrepreneur who graduated in IT studies, currently working as a Strategic Projects Manager in LEAF Bratislava, focusing on uplifting start-up ecosystem in Slovakia along with providing mentoring & knowledge support for young professionals and students. Since his birth, Róbert has suffered with muscle and joint illness called arthrogryposis, but wished to lead as independent a life as possible. Arthrogryposis is a condition involving multiple joint contractures, where the range of motion of a joint is limited. It may be unable to fully or partially extend or bend. \nAfter four years of jumping through bureaucratic, legal, financial and systematic hoops, Róbert managed to both have his car adjusted to joystick
in Germany and obtain his driving license in Přelouč, Czechia. It might be very important to realize here that Róbert was willing to take the road less travelled and bring a prototype of a vehicle that will undoubtedly help thousands of people with physical disability drive a car independently. How exactly does it work?\n"I will control the car with a joystick. If I put my
elbow on it and pull towards myself, I increase the speed. I can brake by moving it forward and as soon as I tilt the joystick to the side, the steering
wheel turns. I use my voice to control the turn signals, wipers, horn, windows, engine start and air conditioning.” \nBefore the project got to a successful finish, Róbert had to: \n- Travel to Germany to try out driving a joystick
car, where he drove for five days and whopping 960 km.\n- Invest 2.5 million CZK to have his car adjusted.
Through his own efforts, he was able to collect 30 000 EUR out of this sum with a public donation campaign.\n- Travel back to Germany to have his own car
adjusted. The Paravan GmbH company fixed his vehicle up with a SPACE DRIVE II driving system, suitable for this purpose due to its sensitivity and
convertibility. \n- Find a driving instructor willing to undergo a
special, 2-week training in Germany to be able to guide him through the process of obtaining his driving license. Luckily, he found an instructor in a driving school in Přelouč. Finishing this course and helping Róbert was the swan song of his career, making it a really special moment. \n- And finally, travel to Czechia to obtain his
driving license, the first one of its type in Slovakia and Czechia. \n\nWatch a video of Róbert driving the car with his driving license for the first time \nhere\n.\nWhat’s next? After the completion of his project, Róbert knows there is still a long journey for people with a disability to get their hands on a joystick car and a driving license to use it. The main reason is the price – the whole journey is incredibly expensive and unimaginable for a person with a regular or lower-than-regular salary. He himself didn’t, unfortunately, get any financial support from the state. Another problem is the fact that even though there exists a way to adjust a steering wheel car to a joystick one, it
is still impossible to perform it in Slovakia and Czechia due to problems with safety permits and other bureaucratic obstacles. Germany remains the closest country to allow and perform this transformation.\nRóbert has the guts to fight for a systemic change now. The aim is to bring the best practices and the possibility of owning a joystick car and getting a license to drive it for affordable prices to people in Slovakia and Czechia. Róbert does not beat around the bush and tries to talk to and achieve change directly with the Slovak parliament. \nWhat incredible effort and results from a young man who is simply trying to help! I highly recommend keeping an eye on his professional
journey. I have a feeling we will be very surprised by his achievements in the future.\n\nSources: \nRóbert Balušík’s own photographs \n\nhopkinsmedicine.org\n\n\nlinkedin.com\n\n\nmuzes.cz\n\n\nsarm.pluska.sk\n\n


People We Admire #2 Róbert Balušík - a joystick car ambassador

2022 in Purple Foundation was a busy year full of changes, upgrades, wonderful projects and cooperation with our Purple team colleagues. We managed to divide an amazing sum of 3 596 483 Kč (€153 305). Wondering which projects we decided to support this year? Check them out below and send us an email to \ninfo@purple-foundation.com\n in case you know of any other projects worth supporting!\nČlověk v tísni\nSum donated: 825 119 Kč (€34 359)\n\nČlověk v tísni immediately launched the largest aid campaign up to date in the Czech Republic. Their staff operate in the west and east of Ukraine, where they provide humanitarian, financial and psychological assistance. They are also providing assistance in newly liberated areas and towns, such as Kherson and Lyman. Across the country, they continue to repair houses, water systems and makeshift power supplies. \nIn Czechia, ČVT help refugees to integrate, find accommodation, work, school and healthcare. 450,000 refugees have arrived in the Czech Republic since the start of the war - the highest number per capita of any EU country.\nFind out more\n \nhere\n.\nLinka bezpečí, z.s.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€4 164)\n\nLinka bezpečí is a helpline for children, parents, grandparents or educators that need help but cannot or are afraid to find it in their immediate environment. \nThe purpose of our donation is to financially support the organization's cooperation with Czech schools in the amount of CZK 50,000 - they help them cope with the arrival of new pupils from Ukraine and their integration, which is difficult especially for them, but also for Czech children and their teachers. Another CZK 50,000 was used for the operation of the children's crisis line, which records a significant increase in serious psychological problems among children.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nZajíček na koni, o.p.s.\nSum donated: 30 000 Kč (€1 266)\n\nCafé AdAstra in Prague, a lovely eatery run by organization Zajíček na koni, o.p.s., is a café employing people with handicaps. They work in the kitchen, behind the bar and as waiting staff. \nThe purpose of our gift this year was to support a project helping Ukrainian refugees - in cooperation with specialized organizations, Zajíček na koni delivered lunches, dinners and other meals to families from Ukraine. Mothers and children from UA are often accommodated in temporary dormitories and accommodations without access of hot (and other) food, and the organization provided assistance with delivery. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\nHedepy \nSum donated: 50 000 Kč (€2 082)\n\nHedepy is a provider of online therapy sessions all over the Czech Republic. \nThe donated sum helped the company finance their project  of offering free online therapy to citizens of Ukraine with Ukrainian-speaking, trained therapists . They provide therapy to people in Ukraine, in refugee centers, on the front line, and in the refugees' new homes.\nFun fact - hedepy is also one of the trusted businesses in our Purple Ventures portfolio!\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nRoman Pupkov \nSum donated: 30 000 Kč (€1 249)\n\nRoman Pupkov is our Purple colleague from Ukraine and a wonderful human being, as well as a great example of the fact that one can help in so many ways, if we only put our mind to it. Being an avid football player, Roman decided to help ease the burden and stress of the war in Ukraine of more than 22 children and started an afternoon football group for Ukrainian boys and girls aged 6-16 in Prague - Letná. The club is meeting once a week and as far as I know, the football club is getting popular and more and more children are joining! We are happy to have been able to support him in his charity endeavour.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nMasaryk Memorial Cancer Institute\nSum donated: 1 190 783 Kč (€49 586)\n\nMasarykův onkologický ústav Brno is always trying to ensure the highest possible comfort and care for their patients undergoing chemotherapy. A patient can spend 30 minutes – 8 hours on an armchair while the procedure is taking place which can be a highly uncomfortable ordeal. \nWe are happy to have provided 14 application chairs for chemotherapy for their new pavilion. These are equipped with 2 holders for IV poles, electric backrest and legrest, a push bar, a desk, and much more, keeping the patients nice and comfy. \nFind out more \nhere.\n\nCanisterapeutické centrum BELA\nSum donated: 36 021 Kč (€1 500)\n\nCanistherapy is a therapy with dogs, a.k.a. the dream of every person ever. \nThe purpose of our gift to the organization is to help provide free intervention with the assistance of dogs for families with medically disadvantaged children or for individual children with mental disorders. These interventions are either educational - dogs help children with learning disabilities, or therapeutic in combination with physiotherapy - children exercise with the assistance of a special dog. Canistherapy also helps children with autism spectrum disorder.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nRATOLEST BRNO z.s.\nSum donated: 70 000 Kč (€2 914)\n\nThe purpose of our financial gift to RATOLEST is supporting the Center for Prevention and Resocialization service, dedicated to the prevention of conflicts with the law among children and adolescents. This service includes two programs - Aristotle and Change Direction, that help reduce the risk of developing socio-pathological behavior or recidivism, teach clients to actively spend their free time and take responsibility for their behaviour.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nČlověk v tísni - Lepší škola pro všechny\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€4 164)\n\nLepší škola pro všechny - Better schools for everyone - is a fantastic educational program of Člověk v tísni. \nThe project helps children from socially disadvantaged families to successfully complete primary school or the transition from kindergarten to primary school through direct or online tutoring. Volunteers also act as a link between family and school. Convincing parents that they should support their children in learning is often just as important as the time spent on tutoring. Among other things, successful completion of elementary school will significantly increase the children's chances of getting a job as adults.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nCafé D'Astra\nSum donated: 150 000 Kč (€6 328)\n\nWalking alongside the riverside of Vltava in Prague, why not get some coffee at a café that helps people with a handicap get employed! Purple Foundation is a proud supporter of Café AdAstra, a lovely eatery run by organization Zajíček na koni, o.p.s. \nCafé D'Astra employs 20 people with various disabilities (both physical and mental). The organization receives allowance for disabled employees, but they lack money for assistants, without whom, for example, employees with Down syndrome cannot work. The donated amount is used to cover the costs of the assistants' wages.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nParaCENTRUM Fenix, z. s.\nSum donated: 200 000 Kč (€8 328)\n\nThe organization helps spinal cord-injured (SCI) people and their families make a safe return to an active life and they have been our trusted partner organization for a long time.\nThe purpose of our gift is to financially support the Personal Assistance service. Thanks to the help of a personal assistant, people with mobility disabilities are able to stay in their home environment without requiring constant care from their loved ones. The personal assistant takes on the job of personal care, personal hygiene, helps with food provision, maintains the client's household according to their requirements, but also accompanies them to sports or cultural activities.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nCesta domů, z.ú.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€4 164)\n\nSo many people deal with the need to take care of their terminally ill relatives and loved ones and they are definitely a group of those who need help. Therefore, we decided to support the home hospice Cesta domů, z.ú. that focuses on the often taboo theme of dying. It is a group of professionals who provide education on the topic, lend the tools needed to care for the long-term sick at home and run the hospice and community center themselves. \nThis time, our donation helped them with publishing activities, as well as financing the salary of the head of educational programs,who is in charge of all development of education for the professionals and public.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nSOS dětské vesničky, z.s.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€4 164)\n\nWe are so happy\n \nto support the amazing organization SOS Dětské vesničky! \nThis year, the purpose of our gift is to support their SOS Kompas social activation service for families with children, the aim of which is to prevent the breakup of families and the placement of children in institutional care. The goal of the service is to stabilize a family that is in a difficult social or material situation, so that they are able to independently manage the demands of everyday life and provide their children with an adequate environment for their all-around development and safety. Social workers help parents and children solve their adverse social situation and maintain family ties and a safe environment for raising children. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\nDům pro Julii, z.ú.\nSum donated: 150 000 Kč (€6 246)\n\nDům pro Julii is the first hospice for children in the Czech Republic and we have been supporting their activities for years. \nThe purpose of  our donation this time is a purchase of the necessary technical equipment for the organization's new office and covering  the salary of a full-time caregiver. The organization is working on the construction of a children's hospice in Brno, where experienced health professionals, caregivers, psychologists, clergymen, social workers and others will provide the best possible care during difficult times for the clients' families. \nFind out more \nhere\n. \nProFem, o.p.s.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€4 164)\n\nThe purpose of this financial gift is to contribute to the construction of the first center for victims of sexual violence in Czechia. The center will provide crisis assistance, i.e. social and psychological assistance to victims, at any time of the day; there will be a crisis room for a short-term stay if the client is interested in order to provide her with a safe space for stabilization; collection and storage of samples without the need to commit in any way to use these samples in the criminal-legal resolution of the situation; and an interrogation room in case the client decides to take legal action.\n Find out more \nhere\n.\nSpolečnost E\nSum donated: 72 000 Kč (€2 998)\n\nAn organization that has been supporting people with epilepsy since 1990 and their main goal is integrating them into society. \nIn 2022, we decided to support their project "People with epilepsy ease discrimination and stigma about living with epilepsy." The goal of the project is to have dozens of people with epilepsy experience less discrimination or stigmatization in their lives, The program takes place through Epizóna information portal, awareness-raising activities - discussions and webinars, and peer support in virtual groups for people with epilepsy and their relatives.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nSpolečnost pro ranou péči, pobočka Brno\nSum donated: 112 560 Kč (€4 687)\n\nThe organization helps families with children who are born with a visual or other disability; or endangered development - the parents are then more ready and comfortable in their kids' upbringing. \nThe purpose of our donation is to support the provision of personnel capacity for client families, The complex work of a counselor includes regular personal consultations in the family's home approx. 4 - 6 times a year and constant support of the counselor by phone and email; professional visual stimulation of the child, etc.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nReplug me\nSum donated: 50 000 Kč (€2 082)\n\nThis wonderful organization is dealing with the influence of digital technologies on the mental health, especially with young children. \nReplug Me created the Digital Education in Schools program which is being piloted in South Moravia. They built the methodology on their own research and work in the field and aim to make the program a subject of the regular school curriculum. The donated amount will finance the introduction of the program to the Gajdošova elementary school in Brno (chosen by Dana as she did her teaching practice there and loved the school).\nFind out more \nhere\n\n.\n  \nHospic sv. Alžběty o.p.s.\nSum donated: 130 000 Kč (€5 413)\n\nHospic sv. Alžběty is the only inpatient hospice in Brno, taking care of as many as 400 patients a year. In the last year, they built a respite care wing as well helping family caretakers get some much needed free time - their loved ones are taken care of there for up to 3 weeks.\nThis time, our donation helped the facility purchase protective clothing for hospice employees and the renewal of outdated computer technology.\nFind out more \nhere.\n\nPURPLE GROUP HELPS\nSee what we were up to in 2021 below! \nGardening with ADRA \n\nThe senior home at Podpěrová in Medlánky needed some help tending to. This is where company volunteers organized by ADRA enter the game!\nThree of our Purple colleagues decided to spend the afternoon raking leaves, defeating insidious weeds and expanding tomato beds, cheered on by a couple of seniors enjoying the garden on a nice autumn day. We will definitely do it again in 2023!\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nRun for Hospic sv. Alžběty, Brno\n\nThe run for Hospic sv. Alžběty is becoming our tradition with 3rd year successfully finished - our ladies-only Purple team managed to crush their 5.7 and 11.4 km runs like it was nobody's business! \nThe participants helped the hospice build and equip their new wing - it will give the hospice enough space for a daily care unit where families of terminally ill patients can place their beloved and run errands or enjoy some much-needed time off.\nFind out more \nhere.\n\nKlub svobodných matek charity collection \n\nThe club of single mothers needed help with collecting clothes and accessories for their client mothers and their children, as they had a huge influx of Ukrainian families in their organization. I want to thank our wonderful colleagues for collecting the mountain of items in the picture with me for scale. \nThe organization provide single-parent families with financial, material and professional legal assistance, as well as finances to ensure food and housing costs. They also pay for children's lunches in kindergartens and schools, summer camps and Christmas gifts. \nFind out more \nhere.\n\nVesna charity collection \n\nIf Purple Foundation organizes an event, you can be sure it has charitable intentions!\nAfter our clothes SWAP 2022 where we traded clothes, shoes & accessories over cookies and bábovka, we packed all the unchosen items up and brought them to Spolek Vesna who then sent it to Ukrainian women fleeing the war. The same thing will be done after our Purple SWAP 2023 we will make our wallets and planet Earth happy and send all the unhoused clothes to someone in need.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\nSant Egidio charity collection \n\nAs is our yearly tradition, the Purple group have joined forces and supported Sant Egidio Community who are collecting  necessary items for homeless people, such as tinned food, hygiene items, clothes, sleeping bags, duvets, etc. This year we saw a rise of donated formal wear and bags - it is important for the people who are planning to attend interviews!\nDid you know that the most needed yet least donated thing in charity collections are socks? \nFind out more \nhere\n.\nAND, OF COURSE, A HUGE THANK YOU!\nTo our amazing Purple team. Without their hard work and dedication they show every day, none of this would be even remotely possible. \nLet´s see what 2023 brings!\nLove, \nYour Purple Foundation team D + F + J +K

2022 in Purple Foundation

In our new column, we are celebrating the unsung heroes –
people in our surroundings that do good and help out without expecting anything in return. In my short four years in Purple Foundation, I have met a huge number of them – be it someone who puts effort into recycling even though no one around does; or someone who regularly donates their clothes to people in need without giving it a second thought. \nIn this series, I want to introduce my personal heroes who
deserve recognition and inspire you to do right by the world, even though it sometimes feels like our efforts might not make even the smallest difference. Believe me, they all do. Happy reading!\nRoman Pupkov is our Purple colleague from Ukraine and a
wonderful human being, as well as a great example of the fact that one can help in so many ways, if we only put our mind to it. Being an avid football player, Roman decided to help ease the burden and stress of the war in Ukraine of more
than 22 children and started an afternoon football group for Ukrainian boys and girls aged 6-16 in Prague - Letná. The boys are meeting once a week and as far as I know, the football club is getting popular and more and more children are joining! \n\nRoman took it upon himself not only to organize this club,
but finance it as well. Everything from stadium rental fees to equipment and jerseys - not an easy task at all, if you ask me, but he does it all in a nonchalant way and with the widest smile on his face that we all love so much. Roman, thank you for being so amazing and making these kids focus on something enjoyable when everything around them feels wobbly and uncertain. If you wish to find out more about Roman’s football club or support him, find all the information here: \nhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3107499002857064\n.\n\n

People We Admire #1 

We welcomed our favourite organizations in our headquarters and it was amazing!

Purple Foundation MeetUp Vol 1

What is your position in the company?\nI currently act as an HR sponsor, which means that I try to keep an overview of how HR works in our group of companies and consult when needed.\nHave you always inclined to charity and charity work?\nI have, at least a little bit for most of my adult life. When I couldn’t donate any money or time, me and my colleagues at least donated blood, so I think there is always a way to help.\nWhat is your role at Purple Foundation and which of our charity endeavors are currently your favourite?\nI have been active in my Foundation role for only a little over a year, which makes me officially the “youngest serving member” and thus I try to bring in an “outside perspective”. I do not have a specific role, but I tend to believe in helping others help themselves - giving a helping hand, so that the other can stand on their own two feet and learns to move forward without further outside help.\nWhich area of charity work should, in your opinion, get more attention and support from the public?\nThere are so many, but to name one, I would say physical health and stability of young people, be it children or teenagers. It’s important to learn to cope with the ever-changing world and environment we all live in. One’s personality is shaped immensely at a young age and it is harder to change one’s habits later on.\nWhat do you like to do in your free time?\nApart from work that I love, I am a family person and I am grateful for any time I can spend with my family. I also find it very important and relaxing to do sports or walk in the nature.\nWhat are some of your personal goals for 2022?\nAside of my constant goal which is peace, health and overall happiness of my family, these days my aim is the completion of the location where we live and are building a house. I wish that other happy families could live there and, above all, the area would be as pleasant as possible to live in. I believe that it will also have quite an impact on nature and the surrounding area. It's nice that people are slowly realizing that even houses and areas for living can be connected with nature.

Our Team - Filip

Talking about the joys and hardships of family life and parenting using a wheelchair with a FENIX client.

Raising a baby when using a wheelchair

In the last introduction, you told us a bit about your position in the Purple Team. I would like to ask about your journey to Purple – what were your studies focused on and how did you find out that Purple would be the best fit for you? \nI have a Master's degree in Mechatronics Engineering. In the last year of my studies, I took an internship in an international corporation, but was quite unpleasantly surprised to see how people behaved to each other and I somehow lost motivation and liking not to the subject of my studies itself (that is a very interesting field!), but to the idea that I would have to work in such environment my whole life. Together with certain personal problems I was going through at the time, I decided to follow a completely different path and I stumbled upon an ad for Purple which was unique and very different from the typical job ads from the engineering area. So I tried to apply (in the beginning just for fun), but when I met several people from the company in person, I felt that this was the place. And I have not regretted my decision ever since. \nWhich charity endeavors are currently your favourite in Purple Foundation?\nMy all-time favourites are \nDům pro Julii\n, \nSOS Dětské vesničky\n, \nSpolečnost E\n and \nSpolečnost pro ranou péči\n. But, of course, all the projects we support make sense to me.\nIs there any charity event you attend outside of PuFo that you would like to recommend?\nI like the \nDr Clown\n initiative of my home town's Trenčín foundation - its goal is to make the stay for the children who are in medical or social facilities long-term (often without a regular contact with their parents) more enjoyable by doing various theatre and fun performances, because it is said that laughter and good mood can heal and give hope to the sick.\nOtherwise, in general I am trying to help people around me that I know who got into trouble, be it financially or by other means.\nWhich area of charity work should, in your opinion, get more attention and support from the public?\nI think that children hospice care deserves a lot more attention than it gets, however, I must say it is slowly getting better in my opinion, very much thanks to Dům pro Julii and their activities.\nA year ago, I was asking about your goals and plans for the next couple of months and yours were visiting a Nordic country, finish the Fjällräven Classic trek and have a beer in a beer garden. Have you managed to make any of these dreams come true?\nWell... I didn't manage to achieve any goals from the list except for having a beer(s) in a beer garden, but they sufficed. Seriously though, those are long-term goals and I think I have still a couple of years
before I won't be able to do anything, so I believe it will happen eventually, sooner or later. \nWhat are some of your personal goals for 2022?\nBased on my previous answer to this question, I would rather not set any goals for this year, since the answer next year could be the same...:)\n
\n


Our Team - Krištof - A year later

Heaps and heaps of clothing for those who need it most!

Charity collection for Klub svobodných matek

Our third run with our lovely Purple team!

Running for Hospic sv. Alžběty

In the last introduction, you told us a bit about your position in the Purple Team. I would like to ask about your journey to Purple – what were your studies focused on and how did you find out that Purple would be the best fit for you? \nMy field of study has very little to do with my current job – I studied teaching English. English language has always been my big passion,
but after a couple of semesters I found teaching children too demanding. I do, however, enjoy teaching adults and from time to time I take on a student or two. Studying English also helped me in Purple – I do translations for the company and help my colleagues with any questions they might have in my famous “Lingvistické okienko.”\nI started in Purple as an HR Assistant, then moved on to event
management for a couple of years and now work full time in Purple Foundation. It embodies everything I look for in a job – charity, creativity, socializing, event management, meeting new people and places, English, ecology, hands-on work, and much more. I truly feel it is the perfect fit for me!\nWhich charity endeavors are currently your favourite in Purple Foundation? \nAny connected with helping Ukraine which is a huge topic in our foundation these days. I am also rooting for \nProFem, o.p.s.\n who are building the first centre for victims of sexual violence in the Czech Republic. And I know that it is very soon, but I already cannot wait for the first ever Charity Christmas market at our company’s headquarters!\nIs there any charity event you attend outside of PuFo that you would like to recommend? \nAn area very close to my heart is helping animals and animal
shelters. Animals cannot express their needs, pain and hardships like we can, which is why we should focus on them all the more. I have been helping in animal shelters in Slovakia and Czechia, organized collections for them, making gift packages and toys for the dogs and cats. \nIf you wish to help animals, there are so many ways to do so
– helping with a clean-up or taking dogs for a walk at the spot, helping organize charity shops and flea markets, donating financially, donating much needed items such as towels, nappies, food, duvets, bowls, and much more! Another way to use your talent and help support them is offering your social media, programming or photography skills – just ask at your local shelter. Get creative – once I contacted a tennis centre in Brno and they donated 150 used
tennis balls for the dogs to play with. 😊 To name some of them that definitely deserve our help – \nTuláčik\n, \nVeľké Kapušany\n, \nKočičí tlapky\n, \nTibet\n, etc.\nWhich area of charity work should, in your opinion, get more attention and support from the public? \nMental health support and ensuring dignified conditions for seniors nationwide – be it in their own homes or social housing. I feel that too many of our seniors live under the poverty line and they are not granted the comfort and rest they deserve. I also feel that the current technology-oriented society is not fit for them and oftentimes they might feel confused, misunderstood and lonely. I wish to see a change in this area soon. That is why I am really happy that Purple Foundation is supporting Mezi Námi who connect
seniors with kindergarten children, has supported the Ježíškova Vnoučata program and regularly donates to hospices and hospitals. \nA year ago, I was asking about your goals and plans for the next couple of months and yours were I to stop shopping uncontrollably, go to nature more often, cook more often and take more dogs for walks. Have you managed to make any of these dreams come true? \nI have definitely been working on my mental health – therapy, meditation, actually sitting down and taking a good hard look at my
habits and relationships. It’s not always easy, but I can already see a lot of progress! 😊 I am cooking a lot more, which I am immensely proud of, the shopping sprees are, fortunately, less frequent, but the
one thing that I need to work on is walking more dogs still.\nWhat are some of your personal goals for 2022? \nAs I am turning 30 this year, I have compiled a list of 30 things I want to do before this big birthday and I am following it religiously! Some things I have already checked are driving a tractor, trying tlačenka,
visit Adamov or bake a bábovka in my own bábovka form. The biggest one is happening in only a couple of days – I am having my own art exhibition and after months of preparation, I cannot wait for the vernissage! For the rest of the year, I would like to spend more time with my family, take every possible chance to travel to a seaside and I have been flirting with the idea to learn to play the violin. \n


Our Team - Dana - A year later

Lenka, in the last introduction, you told us a bit about your position in the Purple Team. I would like to ask about your journey to Purple – what were your studies focused on and how did you find out that Purple would be the best fit for you?\nMaybe my studies are a bit out of topic as I studied Aesthetics. Anyway, my first job experience was in an online bank and I found
my passion for FinTech there. Purple is a very natural result of my years spent in this industry. I wanted to know more and now I am really satisfied as I get to learn something new every day.\nWhich charity endeavors are currently your favourite in Purple Foundation?\nI personally love a hospice called \nCesta domů\n as they help
directly and also they have great educational project which helps breaking the taboo of facing death in our society.\nIs there any charity event you attend outside of PuFo that you would like to recommend?\nNot really an event, but every Christmas I support a different charity as it has been a part of the Christmas holidays for me in my adult years.\nWhich area of charity work should, in your opinion, get more attention and support from the public?\nI think Czech people are doing very well in this area and we are generous donors. In general, I think our society should pay more attention to people struggling with mental diseases from depression to Alzheimer´s. I am afraid it is still a taboo in our society. In this regard I don´t mean only financial help but also public education which will help to change the system.\nA year ago, I was asking about your goals and plans for the next couple of months and yours were improving your driving skills and learn to pickle sauerkraut using your grandmother's recipe. Have you managed to make any of these dreams come true? What are some of your personal goals for 2022?\nWell, I haven´t achieved any of them for 100%. Anyway, my main goal this year is family as I am pregnant. And I assume my driving and
cooking skills will come along smoothly with maternity.\n


Our Team - Lenka - A year later

We found out with Společnost pro ranou péči

What is it like living with a visual impairment?

Milá Joy is now being printed in Czechia through the publishing house of Cesta domů thanks to our financial support!

A wonderful book published

Find out about the device helping chemotherapy patients in Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute in Brno

What is a chemotherapy application chair?

ProFem, o.p.s. is building the very first centre for victims of sexual violence in Czechia

A very important new cooperation!

We donated the rest of the clothes to Ukrainian refugees in Brno!

What happened after the swap?

In Purple, we serve 1. the planet 2. dem looks 3. bábovka!

Purple Clothes Swap

How to help animals in Ukraine?

We are happy to have supported Člověk v tísni with 500 000 Kč. We always trust them to make informed decisions!

Helping Ukraine

We supported the organization and helped purchase new bags and card terminals for them!

New Nový Prostor merch is here

Mr Jan Richter from NMB organized a webinar for us where we were discussing all things COVID. 

COVID-19 webinar with Mr Richter

See all the projects we helped and attended in 2021!

2021 in Purple Foundation was a busy year, full of changes, upgrades, wonderful projects and cooperation with our Purple team colleagues. We managed to divide an amazing sum of 5 089 085 Kč (€207 945). Wondering which projects we decided to support this year? Check them out below and send us an email on \ninfo@purple-foundation.com\n in case you know of any other projects worth supporting!\n\nLinka bezpečí, z.s.\nSum donated: 50 000 Kč (€20 041)\nLinka bezpečí is a helpline for children, parents, grandparents or educators that need help but cannot or are afraid to find it in their immediate environment. Approximately 400 children reach out to the helpline daily. \nThe purpose of our donation is supporting production of videos - a form of passive counselling that serves as a first aid when a child cannot or  does not want to call the helpline while dealing with one of the addressed topics. The sum covers the costs of the agency which implements the video project; and salaries of the employees of the helpline who carry out this agenda beyond their usual workload.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nDětská Nemocnice Brno\nSum donated: 56 680 Kč (€2314)\nThe wonderful doctors from the Clinical psychology and psychiatry ward at \nDětská Nemocnice Brno\n have started using a brand new Bayley Scale we helped them purchase. The scales are developed to help identify babies and children with developmental delays (i.e. autism) early on and helps assess the five key developmental domains of cognition, language, social-emotional, motor and adaptive behaviour.\nWe hope the tool helps as many children and families as possible and makes the amazing work of the department easier! \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nFakultní Nemocnice Brno\nSum donated: 412 247 Kč (€16 831)\nLet me use this space to thank all the amazing collectives of doctors, nurses and the rest of the hard-working staff in our hospitals - they have been dealing with the pandemic for two years now on top of their regular work and we are so grateful for their services! This is the reason we dedicate a large sum of our budget to hospitals every year. \nAs all the hospitals deserve to have all the help to take care of their patients available, we decided to purchase four plasma-based air disinfectant machines for the hospital, helping across several wards. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nKlub svobodných matek z.s.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€4083)\nThe organization provides financial, material and professional legal assistance to single families. In their helping programs, they aid with food and housing costs, pay for children's lunches in kindergartens and schools, summer camps and Christmas presents. They cooperate with field social workers, shelters and branches of the Labor Office.\nOur sum will support single-parent families and the Fashion Charity Shop of the organization. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nProgram BUDDY\nSum donated: 120 000 Kč (€4899)\nThe program provides support to children who cannot grow up in their families. BUDDY employees seek, select and connect volunteers with children from social or foster care. Each child is paired with a volunteer who is offering their time, support, helping hand and guidance. \nThe sum was used for a recruitment campaign to find new volunteers.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nJanus, z. s.\nSum donated: 296 000 Kč (€12 085)\nJanus is an organization helping children and young adults leaving institutional care start their adult life - be it help with accommodation, work, finances, or mental health. \nThe sum is partially financing the annual lease of the client center which is the background for attendance (outpatient) services and partially financing supervision service which provides care for maintaining the mental health of employees, prevention of burnout and ensuring professionalism and quality of services to clients.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nNový Prostor, o.s.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€4083)\nAn organization giving people without their own homes a chance to get back on their feet and teach them employment skills through selling a quality magazine. \nOur financial contribution supports their new project aimed at professionalization and career advancement of the retailers (introduction of payment terminals at retail outlets, equipment such as work vests, bags on wheels to facilitate the carrying of magazines and incentive rewards in the form of trade vouchers, transport allowances, etc.). The current salespeople will also be employed as instructors to train new employees. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nImpulz, o.z.\nSum donated: 25 000 Kč (€1023)\nPart of organization's mission is to try to bridge the world of people with mental disabilities with the world of mainstream society in a natural way. They train their clients in various skills and employ them in their workshops.\nThe sum will help with material and technical equipment of the workshop, so that the association can continue its operation and thus secure the work of the employees of the workshop.  The bought material will be stearin (material for making candles), new molds, wicks, and similar equipment. If you are looking for some cute gifts for your loved ones, make sure to check their e-shop!\nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nMezi námi, o.p.s.\nSum donated: 245 000 Kč (€10 003)\nWe have been supporting the organization's reading program Přečti between seniors and kindergarten children for three years and enabled them to start connecting these two age groups in Brno and create a social platform beneficial for all the people involved .\nOur contribution will help the organization run the program in Brno for another year. In 2021, they even started cooperating with MUNI Volunteer center who are helping them recruit more Fairytale grandmas and grandpas! \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nZajíček na koni, o.p.s.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€4083)\nWalking alongside the riverside of Vltava in Prague, why not get some coffee at a café that helps people with a handicap get employed! Purple Foundation is a proud supporter of Café AdAstra, a lovely eatery run by organization Zajíček na koni, o.p.s. The 39 employees with a handicap work in the kitchen, behind the bar and as waiters. \nThe gift from the Foundation helps them pay the salaries of disabled people and their assistants, purchase material for their e-shop products and promote the organization on social networks. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nParaCENTRUM Fenix, z. s.\nSum donated: 165 500 Kč (€6757)\nThe organization helps spinal cord-injured (SCI) people and their families make a safe return to an active life and they have been our trusted partner organization for a long time.\nThe Foundation has decided to support their client rehabilitation program. Kudos to every person working for Fenix that creates a safe space that is there for people in need! \nYou might recognize Mr Náhlík in the picture - he was the one who visited us in 2020 and offered a wonderful EDU Session sharing his life story.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nCesta domů, z.ú.\nSum donated: 200 000 Kč (€8166)\nSo many people deal with the need to take care of their terminally ill relatives and loved ones and they are definitely a group of those who need help. Therefore, we decided to support the home hospice Cesta domů, z.ú. that focuses on the often taboo theme of dying. It is a group of professionals who provide education on the topic, lend the tools needed to care for the long-term sick at home and run the hospice and community center themselves. \nThis time, our donation helped them cover labour costs, protective equipment and publishing activities. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nSOS dětské vesničky, z.s.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€4083)\nWe are so happy to support the amazing organization SOS Dětské vesničky! They help children at risk and their families, providing anything from food and other everyday necessities, psychological and social help to organizing summer camps. \nHelping these families means preparing the children for their future and offering them possibilities for their growth, education and happiness. Our donation covers the financial costs of psychological counseling for children and parents from foster families. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nDům pro Julii, z.ú.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€4083)\nTaking care of and dealing with the loss of a terminally ill child is something unimaginable for most of us but, unfortunately, there are families for whom this situation is a reality.\nWe have have been supporting the organization for years and this time, our contribution supported financing of field social, therapeutic and other services in families who are clients of the organization.\nTheir stuff are doing such a wonderful and difficult job - not only are the children taken care of, the organization also navigates the tough process of dealing with and mourning the loss for the family. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nRichard levie srdce, o.z.\nSum donated: 47 729 Kč (€1950)\nRiško Fidluš is the sweetest little boy with a diagnosed congenital myasthenic syndrome. He spent a large portion of the year breathing only through a tracheostomy cannula and after its removal, he needed to complete a two-week recovery stay at the Hendi rehabilitation center in Piešťany, Slovakia.\nWe managed to help his family finance the stay where he was be offered a program focused on children with neurological disorders. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nAuto na joystick\nSum donated: 50 000 Kč (€2043)\nWe are happy to support innovative projects and ideas that might help tons of people in the long run. Such is the projects Joystick car realized by Róbert Balušík. \nThe output of the project is adaptation of a car to driving with a joystick instead of a steering wheel for physically handicapped people. The modification of the car will also provide best practices to the target group, ensure homologation in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and the car will be lent to a driving school in the Czech Republic for the possibility of physically disabled people to obtain a driver's license for such type of a car. We are looking forward to seeing the future and success of this project! \nFind out more \nhere.\n\n\n\nyourchance, o.p.s.\nSum donated: 470 000 Kč (€19 189)\nThe program of the organization called Start Right (Začni Správně) helps young people from social or foster care to stand on their own two feet after leaving the care and be able to live a full and independent life. The financial contribution will be used to cover the remuneration of staff working as coordinators in the regions. This activity is a key aid for young people who do not have another trustworthy person with whom to deal with issues related to the start of independent living.\nFind out more \nhere.\n\n\n\nSpolečnost E\nSum donated: 114 000 Kč (€4654)\nAn organization that has been supporting people with epilepsy since 1990 and their main goal is integrating them into society. They have established their own workshop Aranžérie, where they employ them and create beautiful flower decorations and arrangements.\nWe have decided to support the organization by purchasing a car that helps them deliver their decorations and also managed to support the workshop itself. Furthermore, our contribution helped them complete a new \ne-shop\n. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nZákladní škola Otrokovice, Komenského\nSum donated: 55 275 Kč (€2277)\nZŠ Komenského is an extraordinary school teaching pupils with mental or physical disabilities. Its aim is to equip students with basic knowledge, skills and habits needed to achieve the maximum possible degree of independence and social integration according to their physical and mental abilities. When finished, students can apply in the field of social services, for example in a sheltered workplace or social therapy workshops. \nOur financial contribution will support the motor and sensory perception of pupils by purchasing the tools for equipping their activity room, such as a swing, trampoline, slide, etc.\nFind out more \nhere\n. \n\n\nSpolečnost pro ranou péči, pobočka Brno\nSum donated: 30 000 Kč (€1225)\nThe organization helps families with children who are born with a disability or endangered development - the parents are then more ready and comfortable in their kids' upbringing. \nThe contribution was used for design and custom production of stimulating aids for the development of vision or other senses and the overall support of psychomotor development of the children. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nJežiškova Vnoučata\nSum donated: 35 000 Kč (€1430)\nWhat a beautiful project to support!\nThe purpose of the donation is financial support for the Santa Claus' grandchildren project of the Czech Radio Endowment Fund. The aim is to meet the wishes of seniors in Czech retirement homes, hospitals and specialized centers who, for whatever reason, have lost the interest of their own families and, in addition to attention and experience, also lack material things. You can also help by purchasing or sending gifts of your choosing - oftentimes they are little things that will make the elderly really happy!\nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nLiga vozíčkářů z. ú.\nSum donated: 120 000 Kč (€4899)\nJust like paraCENTRUM Fenix, Liga vozíčkářů is taking care of wheelchair users. \nThis time, our contribution supported their Sheltered Housing project, specifically adaptation of their flat for sheltered housing for persons with severe physical and combined disabilities in Brno. Sheltered housing is an intermediate stage between trying to live independently in a training apartment and completely independent living with the use of field social services. This model gives people a chance to live as independently as possible outside of institutional care. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nČlověk v tísni, o. p. s.\nSum donated: 500 000 Kč (€20 414)\nNot only are we in Purple Foundation trying to help proactively, we are also working on our reactive and immediate help, which meant discussing helping people affected by the tornado in South Moravia in June as soon as possible. We were happy to have been able to send 500 000 Kč to \nČlověk v tísni\n (an organization helping people in need) to make it easier to cope with the aftermath. \nWe are still  in awe of the extent of voluntary help - the human empathy shown after the tornado was much stronger than we could have expected! \nFind out more \nh\n\nere\n.\n\n\nDOBRÝ ANDĚL, nadace\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč (€4083)\nAccording to our Purple values, we hand-pick individual, local projects that we feel happy to support.\nThere is one amazing exception, though, and that has been from the very start Dobrý Anděl, an organization who helps families affected by serious illnesses. Our financial support of the organization has already improved lives of 140 families and counting! We are 100% sure that they will make an informed decision and divide the money fairly among families who need it the most. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nHospic sv. Alžběty o.p.s.\nSum donated: 50 000 Kč (€2043)\n"I'm not exaggerating when I say I couldn't have picked a better place. They are doing an excellent job taking care of me under more than favorable economic conditions." These are the words of one of the patients in \nHospic sv. Alžběty\n in Brno taking care of 400 patients a year.\nThis time, our donation supported the improvement of facilities for the stay of immobile patients in the hospice and facilities for people with reduced self-sufficiency - completion of the residential part of the garden, pergola equipment, garden furniture, parasols on terraces and replenishment of existing greenery for meetings of patients with their loved ones. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nPURPLE GROUP HELPS\n See what we were up to in 2021 below! \n\n\nSant Egidio community & SOS dětské vesničky charity collection \nAs is our yearly tradition, the Purple group have joined forces and supported two organizations - Sant Egidio Community who are collecting  necessary items for homeless people, such as tinned food, hygiene items, clothes, sleeping bags, duvets, etc. and SOS Vesničky - an organization supporting children and families from socially disadvantaged environment. We managed to collect plenty of items for their day-to-day lives as well as arts & crafts materials for the children summer camp.\nA huge thank you to everyone who joined in and supported our collections! \nFind out more \nhere\n (Sant Egidio) and \nhere\n (SOS Vesničky).\n\n\nSchizandra garden\nAdd a number of crafty colleagues, a good cause and a great organization team and you have a perfect recipe for a teambuilding!  \nThis year, we helped with finishing touches at the Schizandra garden of \nPráh jižní Morava, z.ú.\n where people with schizophrenia meet up, have workshops and therapy sessions and much more. It was our third and last time at the venue, as it is all done and ready to be serving those who need it soon! \nA huge thank you goes to \nDobrokar\n for organizing this event for us and we will be on a lookout for a project where we can help hands-on in 2022. If you scrolled until this picture, send an email to info@purple.foundation.com with the password "Schizandra," the first person to do so wins a little present from PuFo.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nRun for Hospic sv. Alžběty, Brno\nThe run for \nHospic sv. Alžběty\n is slowly becoming our tradition and this year, our Purple team grew a bit and welcomed two young sportspeople - they proudly ran their 600 m in their prams, while the adults section managed to crush their 5.7 and 11.4 km runs like it was nobody's business! \nThank you all for participating and thus helping the hospice build their new wing - it will give the hospice enough space for a daily care unit where families of terminally ill patients can place their beloved and run errands or enjoy some much-needed time off while their loved ones are being taken care of by professionals. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\nAND, OF COURSE, A HUGE THANK YOU!\nTo our amazing Purple team. Without their hard work and dedication they show every day, none of this would be even remotely possible. \nLet´s see what 2022 brings!\nLove, \nYour Purple Foundation team 

2021 in Purple Foundation

The favourite grandpa-reader of one of Prague's kindergartens

Jirka - a Fairytale grandpa from Mezi Námi, o.p.s.

Dearest colleagues and friends of Purple Foundation!\nThank you for helping us help others for another wonderful year! May our Holiday triceratops bring you a healthy and content 2022!\nLove,\nYour PuFo team Dana + Filip + Jakub + Jiří + Krištof + Lenka

Happy New Year 2022!

Taking care of our mental health with Nevypusť duši z.s.

Burn-out prevention webinar

An interview with one of our favourite philanthropists

“We can't direct the wind but we can adjust our sails”\nAt the age of 17 Libor Hoření founded and successfully ran the largest cooking website in the Czech Republic - \ntoprecepty.cz\n - for 12 years. Try and see for yourselves - I am sure it has saved your butt in the kitchen before. More than that, he co-founded the Donio website that helps people raise money through crowdfunding campaigns and most of it subsequently goes to charity. Libor's philanthropic tendencies did not end there - he also invested in the creation of the Nesnězeno application which aims to save as much food as possible from being thrown away. Later on, he took over the non-profit project pozitivni-zpravy.cz which offers quality positive newscast designed to brighten our days. Many of you associate him with his magical project Dobrokáva - a café on wheels where coffee was served to passers-by in Brno at Zelný trh in exchange for a good deed. I remember the café fondly from my own experience and am excited and flattered that a couple of years later, Libor made some time to answer a few questions for Purple Foundation.\nLibor, it is quite fascinating that you decided to take control over your professional life at the age of seventeen and started a website called toprecepty.cz despite the fact that you knew next to nothing about cooking, as you have confirmed yourself. Has your relationship to cooking changed? Has it grown on you?\nTo be honest, it hasn't really changed. What happened at the time was that I stumbled upon the largest cooking website in Czechia visited by 100,000 people a week and I was thinking that a website about cooking shouldn't be green, that the color doesn't match food, that there could be more attractive pictures and photos of the food, that there was a discussion space missing, etc. Thus, I decided to create such a website. I didn't understand cooking then and I still don't understand until now but, fortunately, I had a bunch of wonderful cooks lending me a helping hand and toprecepty.cz came to life.  \nWhat is your decision-making process in the area of philanthropy based on? What are your criteria for choosing and starting projects?\nI dare say that I am pretty skilled in thinking out of the box and I can often come up with unique solutions and ideas. Such ideas attract more attention than those people have seen many times already. Things we pay attention to tend to grow, which is why I am trying to start unique projects that gain the attention of people and thus have a huge positive effect. With ready projects, I try to intuitively support those that have the greatest potential impact on as many people as possible. On occasion I get excited about an opportunity to support young skilled people who create even more useful projects, other times I like to support Dobrý Anděl, or, for example, the Tymosia.cz project where one can arrange therapy online, which I find really useful nowadays… All in all, I tend to decide based on my emotions.\nMany of us know the Dobrokáva project and I am no exception. Did you come across any memorable good deeds that got stuck in your mind? How did you deal with those enthusiasts who would come for a good deed coffee a bit too often?\nEvery good deed is special, since it might have motivated the person to do even more of them when they had been rewarded by joy and excitement. They might have shared their joy with others and inspire them to do something similar. The funny thing about it is that we might never know now and can only imagine the impact of Dobrokáva. :)\nIf someone happened to visit a bit too much, we told them that usually we hand out one cup of coffee per deed and that we are happy with how many good deeds he had done, but for their next one, we would like to see our favourite good deed completed and that is a confirmation that they had donated blood. If they couldn't donate blood, we asked them, for example, to bring a Nový Prostor magazine or a proof of a real and completed good deed. This managed to keep the swindlers away and left more coffee for those who were serious about our project. \n\nBesides your entrepreneurial and philanthropic activities, you are also lecturing at your alma mater - Newton University in Czechia. What is your subject of choice? What are the values you want to pass on to your students and what type of a teacher would you characterize yourself to be?\nI am teaching the Business and business planning class, which essentially means I am trying to guide my students through the process of starting their own business - i.e. how to find a business opportunity, how to find out whether the customers are willing to pay for their solutions, how to create a simple business plan or start their first Facebook campaign. I am trying to awaken or strengthen their entrepreneurial spirit which might come useful even beyond their businesses. I am a friendly teacher who is on first-name terms with everyone and will share any experience from my own life. \nIs there a particular area of charity and philanthropy that deserves to be recognized and improved?\nEvery human being is trying to survive and have as high a quality of life as possible. Charity for me thus means everything that helps live beings survive and improves the quality of their lives.\nRight now, I am interested in opportunities to support young and talented students. I would like them to feel appreciated and supported in Czechia and prevent them from taking their talents abroad. These are the young people that will be forming the future of the Czech Republic and if we manage to spot and support the skilled ones, they will be starting really useful projects with great positive impact in the future.  \nWhat do you consider your biggest success so far? \nBeing born to my parents. They have always gifted me with both their advice and freedom to gain my own experience and choose my own path. I inherited plenty of useful skills from them as well. \nWhat, on the contrary, has been the biggest life lesson of yours?\nIt's hard to rate the experiences, but from time to time a project of mine failed and I had to close it, other times someone wanted to take over a company I had built and I had to fight a long and expensive battle to protect it, sometimes a relationship with a person had become a life lesson. I am intentionally trying to learn from every experience and be grateful for it, as it makes me stronger and prevents me from repeating the same mistakes. \nHow does it feel to be awarded the 2018 Laskavec (Kind-hearted person) award for your Dobrokáva project?\nI appreciate it enormously. Anytime someone notices the effort of others to be useful, selfless or kind and appreciates it, it generates energy, motivation and inspiration to keep it up. The more kind people there are, the better the world around us. \nPhilanthropy is a wonderful, but sometimes emotionally (and physically) draining job. What motivates you to keep working in the area? How do you unwind? \nEven when doing charity work, I am trying to do things that charge me with positive energy. I am not one of the people who are walking shelter dogs at the weekend, such deeds are not my forte. I rather prefer to find hidden potential in useful projects and then fulfill it using what I'm good at. That is what happened when I took over the NGO \npozitivni-zpravy.cz\n (positive-news.cz), a news provider who delivers only positive news - success stories, good news from the Czech Republic, scientific breakthroughs, etc. - no violence or disturbing images. It is simply a website whose purpose is to brighten your day. Before I had taken it under my wing, Pozitivní zprávy used to have around 7 thousand readers a month and today we are reaching an incredible several hundred thousand views a month.\n\nPozitivní zprávy offers a variety of topics. Have you ever been in a position to choose the content? What type of content is your personal favourite?\nWe have a team of ten redactors, an editor, a chief editor and our social media experts who create the content. My job is to occasionally send them something I find interesting and brainstorm possible interesting news for our readers together. As for me, I like to follow Czech companies' success stories or, for example, a photo story of ZOO younglings.\nDo you have any philanthropy plans in the next couple of months? \nI am impressed by the Highschooler of the year award who appraises extracurricular high school activities. They do not necessarily need to be business activities - success stories in areas such as science, art, etc. are noticed and the talented highschoolers are offered support. This is a type of charity I would like to support more. :)\n \n




\n \n

Talking with Libor Hoření

A wonderful barrier-free project of Liga Vozíčkářů 

Introducing BARKA Theatre

Donating a tool that helps identify developmental delays (i.e. autism) in children early on

Bayley Scales for Dětská Nemocnice in Brno

An unusually happy visitor at our headquarters

Our assistant puppy-to-be Caira

Helping children with visual impairments learn

New learning aids for Raná péče

See how we helped build a garden for clients with schizophrenia

Schizandra Vol 3!

This wonderful occasion is slowly becoming our Purple tradition

Run for Hospic Sv. Alžběty 

How we Marie Kondoed our homes and helped a good cause

A charity collection for SOS Dětské vesničky Morava 

Enjoy an interview about one of our cutest and most impactful projects!

Ms Jirglová, could you briefly introduce the Mezi Námi (Between Us) project?\nMezi Námi is a non-profit company whose mission is to interconnect generations. The goal is for them to get to know each other, pass on energy, joy and knowledge and gain mutual respect.\nWhat is the story that led you here and how long have you been operating as a non-profit?\nThe idea came from our children, when their kindergarten teacher organized an event with a retirement home. We were sorry that such activities would not happen again, which led to a meeting of a few interested people and thus the organization was established. Last
year, we celebrated its 7th birthday.\nAfter the first meetings within the Povídej (Talk) program in 2015, the Přečti (Read) program was added. Our seniors started visiting children in kindergartens and primary schools and reading fairytales for them and gradually created a fairytale grandmas and grandpas club.\nAre there any specific conditions for seniors to participate in the Přečti program?\nOur seniors should be enthusiastic and have a good relationship with children. For most of them, this is their first experience with volunteering and they need to be appreciated and supported.\nIt goes without saying that there are conditions of medical fitness and criminal integrity. In addition, everyone must pass our Reading Techniques course guaranteeing the quality of the program. The most important thing, however, is their belief and desire to do something useful for the society. Enjoying the fact that children are looking forward to seeing them and being someone special to them - a fairytale grandma or grandpa.\nDo you organize any other activities besides Přečti? Could you tell us more about them?\nIn Mezi Námi, we try to connect generations in several programs. As part of the Povídej program, children from kindergartens or primary schools regularly meet grandmas and grandpas from retirement homes and clubs for the elderly throughout the Czech Republic. Together they
participate in regular meetings, which have a varied content of activities (together they craft, sing, dance, play sports, etc.). The meeting also includes storytelling, sharing experiences and celebrations of various holidays. We have already managed to connect 160 intergenerational groups throughout the Czech Republic.\nThe Help (Pomáhej) program was established in 2019 and its goal is to reward seniors who wish to be useful in kindergartens and schools beyond the scope of reading or creating together. They can become a
helping force or staff in kindergartens where they otherwise act as volunteers.\nThe Education (Vzdělávání) program - its goal is to help everyone who wants to participate in intergenerational activities not only in the Czech Republic. As a part of European cooperation, we offer an educational program for coaches to prepare and lead intergenerational activities. We also regularly organize conferences dedicated to intergenerational activities and best practices sharing. We offer a seminar accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to teachers who want to participate in intergenerational activities. Additionally, we organize seminars, workshops for our reading seniors and they also have the
opportunity to use personal therapy.\nIntergenerational workshops are another type of our events. Children passing by can stop by our fairytale tent to craft a little with our seniors at various cultural or community events in the cities and see what an intergenerational meeting looks like.\nIs there any aspect of your initiative you did not expect at the beginning that pleasantly surprised you?\nWe are still pleasantly surprised by the great interest of other organizations in embarking on intergenerational activities.\nI always admire the commitment and amazing energy of all those involved in the programs - my colleagues, volunteers from the ranks of teachers and activation staff of senior facilities and reading seniors. It feels amazing that the atmosphere we manage to set at the individual events of the program inspires their participants to further activities.\nSuppose I am a kindergarten principal and interested in Mezi Námi - what steps do I need to take for the children in my kindergarten to have their own fairytale grandma / grandpa?\nThe only thing you need to do is pick up your phone and call Mezi Námi, or send an email. :-) The Přečti program coordinator will provide all the information. They will then start the process of finding a reading senior, contractual sponsorship with your organization, introduction of a fairytale grandma or grandpa, the first reading, and establishing it a regular activity.\nAnd now the other way around - what if I want to involve seniors from a retirement home where I work as a director, for example? \nIn both cases, the easiest way is to contact us. If it's for the Povídej program, we can create an intergenerational group together and involve all the seniors from a retirement home at once. If one of your clients wishes to read, that’s great, too. We shall find a nearby kindergarten and discuss the logistics.\nIs there a way to support your organization?\nThere are several ways, from promotion and sharing of ideas of intergenerational activities, involvement as a voluntary group coordinator, becoming a reading senior or with a material or financial gift that helps keep the whole organization running and expanding our
programs throughout the Czech Republic.\nWhat has been the most difficult part of developing the project? What were the biggest obstacles you encountered?\nI am happy to say that we have been doing quite well so far. Step by step, we are building something we can be proud of. The biggest obstacle was probably the fact that our programs evolved into a nationwide organization and it was necessary to set up a firm structure
in the organization after the initial enthusiasm and sharing all the tasks
within a small team. The great prosperity forced us to divide our powers and ensure that everything runs as it should, since there are now 160 intergenerational groups in the Czech Republic and together we take care of more than 150 reading seniors. We are still growing and trying to spread the message that representatives of all generations, even the oldest ones, still have a lot to pass on to others.\nIs there a story you like to remember from your history with Mezi Námi?\nExperiences and smiling or touching moments appear at every meeting. I like the seniors' conversations with kids, such as when a little boy boasted to his fairy grandma that he had lost a tooth and she smiled and said that the day before yesterday she lost one too. :-)\nOr the time our reading grandma proudly boasted that her children had told her she didn't even look like a grandmother. She was excited as no one had flattered her like this for a long time. I am also happy for the story of our reading grandpa who had found himself caught in serious life problems and homelessness. Thanks to his regular attendance at the kindergarten, he discovered meaning in his life. There are a lot of stories and I am glad that every day, thanks to our intergenerational meetings, more and more are being experienced.\nWhat was establishing Přečti program in Brno like and how is it doing today?\nTwo years ago, thanks to a financial gift from the Purple Foundation, we managed to successfully establish the Club of Fairytale Reading Grandmas and Grandpas in Brno and introduce the first senior volunteers to the participating kindergartens. After a great start and
involvement of the first 13 volunteers came the pandemic period. Despite difficult times, we managed to keep the existing volunteers and involve some of them in an online version of the program. We recorded Video Tales for the children which you can find on our Mezi Námi YouTube channel. More and more seniors are ready to participate and the only thing we are now waiting for is the final lifting of COVID-19 measures in kindergartens. We are also working to involve more kindergartens and believe that our program coordinator and the newly established cooperation with the volunteer center of Masaryk University will successfully enhance what has been built so far and the Brno Club will continue to grow.\nHow did your organization deal with the pandemic? Were there any struggles to overcome?\nIt was all new to us. We were constantly adapting and looking for new ways of intergenerational connection. In the spring, during the first wave of the pandemic, we prepared a Pohádka pro radost (Fairytale for joy) project as a reaction to the complete isolation of seniors in retirement homes. The children painted pictures that we printed out and delivered to all clients of senior facilities (15,000 seniors). The Czech Television also joined the project with their UčíTelka program. In the months afterwards, the Radost na dálku (Long-distance joy) program was running. The children sent crafted products and gifts to seniors through the coordinator, in order to maintain the established relationships, and we also supported virtual activities. We sang with the children under the windows of retirement homes, painted on the sidewalks, or built snowmen in the winter. Every month, we prepared a monthly fairytale intergenerational activity called "Activity of the Month" with the possibility of participating in a Fairytale Competition. And thus, seniors were crafting in their homes, children in their kindergartens and exchanged and sent their works of art to each other through our coordinators. We also met during our online meetings via video conferencing, and kindergartens and homes filmed some video greetings. We showed the world that where there is a will, there is a way. I like the motto of one of the participating kindergartens - "distance is not the enemy of a friendship" – it shows that the intergenerational friendship of children and seniors built in the programs, on the contrary, became stronger during the challenging times. For now, however, we cannot wait to meet in person again!\n


Interview with Ms Jirglová of Mezi Námi

Quite a popular happening in Purple with those who help employ people with epilepsy

 Moss frame workshop with Společnost E

Read more about our help with four plasma-based air disinfectant machines to deal with COVID-19 aftermath

Cooperation with Fakultní Nemocnice Brno

Helping the affected area through Člověk v tísni

Dealing with the South Moravian tornado aftermath 

We are infinitely happy to have been able to help the little ones in need

Cooperation with Children's hospital in Brno 

And how we are aiming to help hospitals in these trying times 

Cooperation with Nemocnice Milosrdných Bratří

Find out more about one of our team members!

Krištof, what is your position in the company?\nI currently perform two functions in Purple Technology - I am a team leader of the Global Operations team and, within the FinTech department, I take care of the technical side of our partners' business infrastructure (it sounds complicated and difficult to explain, I know:)). Simply put, I try to lead people and at the same time solve technical problems associated with our clients' servers and systems.\nHow did you get into charity work and are you proud of any accomplishments in this area?\nFrom an early age, I was led by my parents to help people who are worse-off than me or have different kinds of problems that I can help them deal with. It was, therefore, a natural thing for me and I try to keep it up as an adult, too - I firmly believe that it will last until the end of my days, because it gives me a sense of fulfillment.\nI don't know if accomplishments is the right word here - for me, success is when I manage to help people wherever and whenever needed. The deeds themselves do not have to be heroic at all - oftentimes even insignificant things or details have a great effect for and a huge meaning to the other party.\nWhat do you like to do in your free time?\nIn my free time I like to do sports, I read about various interesting things worldwide, I study, I like to go to nature and spend time with friends. When I need to relax after a hard day, I prefer to play some music, play the guitar and sing in the shower, which is the ultimate way to unwind for me.\nWhat is your role in and what are you looking forward to in Purple Foundation this year?\nLike some of my other colleagues in the Foundation, I look for and collect ideas for new projects where we as an organization can help from people around me and maintain relationships with projects that are already under our wings.\nThis year, I have been most pleased about the fact that we started helping inwards as well, i.e. our colleagues. I am also very happy about the Dům pro Julii project who managed to gain financial support of the city of Brno.\nWhat are your personal life projects you have planned for the foreseeable future?\nI would like to do about a million things, but, unfortunately, I don't have that much spare time. Of the short-term goals, I would definitely like to fulfill my dream and visit one of the Nordic countries I have not been to yet. I would also like participate in the Fjällräven Classic trek, so we'll see when the current covid situation allows it. A super short-term project is to finally have a beer in a beer garden.:)

Our Team - Krištof

Dana, what is your position in the company?\nI am the Purple Foundation coordinator, meaning I take care (with my amazing PuFo team) of its projects, events and workshops, cooperation with our whole Purple Team, spreading awareness of many issues, social media and much more. Sometimes I get to take a picture with a giant cheque, pet assistant dogs or do an interview with myself. :)\nHow did you get into charity work?\nI have been raised up to help others since I can remember, but I started being initiative during my university studies. I taught children from disadvantaged social background, collected waste from natural sites, volunteered in a dog shelter, organized collections for shelters, etc. Helping others is as natural to me as breathing and I have my wonderful mum to thank for that. \nWhat do you like to do in your free time?\nI love literature, dancing in the privacy of my flat, taking care of my plants, spending time with my wonderful friends, doing embroidery, taking care of animals, I love cable cars and beautiful views and, of course, watching my guilty pleasure series on Netflix, which currently means Glee and Bridgerton.\nWhat are you looking forward to in Purple Foundation this year?\nThe project I was looking forward to most was probably an EDU Session about living with depression for our colleagues and some of our friends from other organizations. It is beautiful to watch the impact it had on the viewers. Other things are finally visiting a reading of Mezi Námi, where senior people get to read, talk and craft with kindergarten children. I also wish to visit our friend organizations in Prague that I haven’t seen in a long time or see which educational projects we support this year. I can’t wait to see our new website we are planning. There are just too many projects to name and plenty of amazing things on the schedule for us. \nWhat are your personal life projects you have planned for the foreseeable future?\nI have been focusing mostly on improving my mental and physical health, which is going to be a long road, but so worth it! I would like to stop shopping uncontrollably, which has become my number one hobby during quarantine, I want to go to nature more often, cook more often and take more dogs for walks. 

Our Team - Dana

Lenka, what is your position in the company?\nI'm in charge of payment methods integration for our partners. It is a very complex area, and so I need to understand banking, product / project management and compliance. There is not a week when I don't learn something new.\nHow did you get into charity work?\nI don’t remember the particular moment, but the main impulse was great upbringing in my family. I managed to arrange financial support for an organization called Cesta domů (Way home; an organization offering professional care to people with terminal diseases and their loved ones), which is my favorite non-profit organization whose activity I admire. \nWhat do you like to do in your free time?\nI am a culture enthusiast, so I'm most happy at concerts, exhibitions, or cinema.\nI like to mix city life with trips to the nature and almost all my leisure time activities are accompanied by good food and beer.\nWhat are you in charge of at Purple Foundation and what are you looking forward to at Purple Foundation this year?\nI am looking for new projects for the foundation. Last year, we financially supported a new car purchase for Cesta domů and I am looking forward to seeing it drive around decorated with our logo.\nWhat are your personal life projects you have planned in the near future?\nI would like to improve my driving skills and learn to pickle sauerkraut using my grandmother's recipe.

Our Team - Lenka

An interview with Ivan Sakin whose project connects volunteers and children leaving social care

In Purple Foundation, who has the same founders as other Purple companies (see \nhttps://www.purple-technology.com/\n for more info), we decided to let their employees vote for a charity Christmas donation at the end of 2020. They chose the BUDDY program that helps children in institutional care. The kids build long-term relationships with volunteers who make it easier for them to start their lives after leaving the institutional care. The program was introduced to us by Ivan Sakin – a person that helps with its development. I was surprised that Ivan had a common past with the founders of the Purple Foundation, so I decided to introduce his story and the BUDDY program itself.\n\n\n\nIvan, how did you find yourself in the Purple team at the very beginning?\nI studied at the NEWTON College, the alma mater of the founders of the Purple team. When I found out that they were starting the first joint project of a brokerage company, I saw it as a great opportunity to establish something with truly skilled people. It was an exceptional experience to participate in building a great corporate culture.\nAfterwards you decided to teach at a primary school in eastern Slovakia, which is quite a radical decision. How did this idea come to life?\nI found out that the Teach for Slovakia program was being launched, which is the local version of  a worldwide program where young people are applying to teach at an elementary school for two years. They have to make the most of their skills, gain experience and try to improve the education system. I was really excited about it and gained the courage to join the program, because I knew that the hardest part would be the start.\nSchools from socially disadvantaged backgrounds are mostly selected for the program. I taught Roma children aged 11-15 in Dobšiná (a small Slovak town with a population of circa 6 000), where half of them lived in settlements and the other half in shanks in the town.\nIs pedagogy something you had inclined to before?\nNot at all, it was a huge challenge for me and I was really scared (laughs). I knew, however, I had the experience of starting a brokerage company with global ambitions, where I had learned a ton. This gave me the confidence that I could manage in a different area as well. The fact that it was just starting was a challenge for me and I wanted to help.\n\n\n\nWere there moments when you wanted to leave Dobšiná or the whole program?\nI'm quite persistent and the last thing I wanted to do was to leave, but there were a few moments when I wondered whether I can finish the program. Sometimes I was extremely exhausted, however, we formed a strong bond with the children and I promised them I would persevere until the end.\nWhat are your proudest moments from this stage of your life?\nPerhaps the most touching were the moments when the children praised me. When they thanked me or told me that I was like their father, that they respected me and they loved me very much for what I was doing for them. Sometimes I couldn't help but cry. These were the strongest moments that gave me the energy when I could no longer go on. \nWhat do you consider to be the biggest issue in the Slovak education system?\nFor many years, education has been generally neglected. If we want the best educators to teach, we must also be able to motivate them so that they can afford it in the long run. We lack talented youth in the education system - where there is talent, people can get inspired and level up. \nWhat was your path to the BUDDY program?\n \nAfter two years of teaching, I returned to Bratislava and joined a start-up called Slido. At the same time, Progressive Slovakia, which I evaluated as the most meaningful socio-political start-up in Slovakia was established and I decided to join in. I was in charge of volunteers, members and building the structures of the movement from the ground up.\nAfter some time, I met Laci Kossár (founder of the BUDDY program). I knew Laci understood how to build something solid. He experienced success and wanted to share it. He cares a lot about children. I have experienced how difficult it is to lose a parent at an early age and I can understand, at least in part, how difficult it must be to grow up without a family. Joining the program was a bit like a band-aid for my soul - I felt that I was really helping someone again.\n\n\n\nWhat were the beginnings like?\nThe BUDDY program has been up and running for almost fifteen years now and is one of high quality and impact on children's lives. I had to learn a lot about its works and the best ways to really help children from institutional care. Like most non-profit projects, this one is fuelled by donations from individual donors and companies. The most important for the program's growth are regular donations, as supporting children must also be stable and long-term.\nThe more financial resources the program has, the more children we can help, so I started focusing on building relationships with new donors. \nWhy should people support your project, why is it exceptional?\nIt's always about people. Laci and his team are building the BUDDY program to be sustainable, measurable and have a real impact. Everything is done thoughtfully and from their hearts.\nFeedback from children and volunteers is regularly collected. Research is also underway in collaboration with a US university and the Slovak Academy of Sciences to determine the program's real impact on children's future in the long term.\nHow can you prevent the BUDDY volunteers from forming too strong an emotional attachment? \nWe have high-quality psychologists who are in touch with our volunteers every month. Their relationship with the children is limited - they spend a few hours once a week together, during which the children's home and psychologist know where they are going and what they are doing.\nThe strength of the friendship depends on each pair, but first and foremost, there must be trust. The longest friendship I know of has been 10 years in the making and the 26-year-old boy and his BUDDY have become friends for life. However, a BUDDY does not have to support the child financially - they can sometimes treat them to something, but the child should return the favour. When a child gets into trouble, the volunteer does not try to resolve the situation directly, but teaches them how to do it.\nDoes it ever happen that the BUDDY volunteer and the child simply don't click?\nThere are very few such cases, because we try to assign a volunteer to a child through a very thorough process. They both have to agree with the match. If they really don't click, we find a replacement for the volunteer. Sometimes it can take a few weeks or months for a child to let the BUDDY volunteer into their world. The longest case we experienced was when the child did not speak for 6 months, but still wanted to meet up. After half a year, they finally started talking and behaved friendly; the volunteer was thrilled. Their child suddenly gave them their trust and it was a huge victory.\nHow are the volunteers prepared for the first meeting with their kid? Can you describe the process?\nThe volunteer goes through a selection process where they learn how the program works. Then they are trained to know what to expect and what problems the child may face. It is also important to prepare them not to experience enormous joy in the beginning, as building trust takes time. The whole process from registration to the meeting takes three to six months. The first meeting takes place in the children's home and is accompanied by a coordinator-psychologist who mediates it. It can either be a short meeting, or the pair start talking and bonding right away. The BUDDY volunteers know what to expect and are ready for it. It is both fear and joy.\nIs their time together planned according to the child's interests?\nWe are trying to match the children with their volunteers so that they have some hobbies in common. Usually, they go for a walk first, talk and find out what the child likes doing and whether there is anything the BUDDY is interested in that the child could enjoy as well.\nI guess I wouldn't be too successful with my composting and embroidery, would I?\nYou never know! On the contrary, for the child, the time spent together is so precious that they are oftentimes just happy to be involved.\nWhat is the thing you are the proudest of in the scope of your work?\nDoing something that can change or improve another person's life. Sometimes we don't fully realize how lucky we are that we grew up in families, that we have the background and parents who support us. Ending up in institutional care could have easily happened to anybody. Talking to people and them realizing it is a huge progress itself. Being able to empathize with someone who is struggling more than us.\n 

A young man's journey from Purple to BUDDY program

A wonderful organization whose aim is to help children and young adults leaving institutional care start the adult life

Introducing Janus, z.s.

We are supporting the assistance dog training of our Purple puppy Caira

Important puppy news!

An organization helping families with children who are born with a disability or endangered development

Helping Společnost pro ranou péči, z.s.

We are happy to support saving unwanted food and delivering it to those in need!



Introducing Potravinová banka pro Brno a Jihomoravský kraj, z.s.

Read about all the help, stories and challenges of the COVID year.

The whole world seems to have come to a standstill in this strange and challenging year. Everything suddenly changed and so did our plans and expectations, but we did not give up. Our Purple Foundation team rolled up their (pyjama) sleeves and set out to help where help was needed! We focused on both organizations that dealt with the course and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and other amazing charity pursuits.\n This year, we have been lucky enough to: \ndonate a sum of over 3 000 000 Kč \nhelp more than 25 organizations and individuals \ncollect enough clothing, hygiene items and food to provide for dozens of people without their own homes and\nseen and heard more than 20 suggestions from our purple colleagues & friends on where to help. \nWho were our chosen organizations and what causes did we support? See below!:)\n\nFakultní nemocnice u sv. Anny v Brně\nSum donated: 319 440 Kč\nThe faculty hospital of St Anne was activated as one of the few in the Czech Republic where the gravest causes of COVID-19 were treated. We are happy to say we were able to support them with a purchase of eight videolaryngoscopes which are machines that help monitor the speed and accuracy of intubation with affected patients, and thus making it less risky for the doctors or nurses to get infected by the virus. \nWe want to thank the hospital staff for being so amazing and brave during the pandemic, they deserve our huge respect! \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nNemocnice Milosrdných bratří, příspěvková organizace\nSum donated: 181 193 Kč\nThe same praise goes to the amazing collective of doctors, nurses and all the other hard-working staff in the Brothers of Charity Hospital in Brno. \nAs all the hospitals deserve to have all the help to take care of their patients available, we decided to purchase an AIRVO 2 Nasal High Flow machine. It is used for the treatment of spontaneously breathing patients who would benefit from receiving high flow warmed and humidified respiratory gases. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\n#ktopomôžeslovensku\nSum donated: 104 819 Kč \nA wonderful group of people in Slovakia who joined forces to donate as much as possible to those most affected by COVID-19. \nWe were happy to donate €4000 to this organization, who have provided masks, gloves, respirators, disinfection, thermometers and other essential items to more than 1800 facilities! \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nAGAPI Limassol\nSum donated: 104 819 Kč \nWe didn’t only help in Czechia, but reached out and supported a Cypriot organization as well! AGAPI is supporting those in dire need of financial help – mostly impoverished families and individuals. The main source of their income is their Charity shop which was closed due to the coronavirus. \nThe organization delivered cooked food, dry food, such as rice, pasta, oil, tomato puree, beans, etc., helping as many as 1000 people a month! \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nPotravinová banka pro Brno a Jihomoravský kraj, z.s.\nSum donated: 50 000 Kč \nWe are always quick to support a project that solves more than one issue and connects people from various charity backgrounds! \nSuch is the Food collecion program in Brno and South-moravian region. Their aim is to collect unwanted food that is still in perfect condition through FoodBoxes in supermarkets, store it and then distribute it to organizations working with impoverished and socially disadvantaged people. They cooperate with some of our favourite organizations as well, so it was a no-brainer to donate to their cause!\nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nNový Prostor, o.s.\nSum donated: 60 000 Kč\nAn organization giving people without their own homes a chance to get back on their feet and teach them some employment skills through selling a quality magazine. \nDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of sold copies plummeted. Thus, the affected people lost the possibility of paying for a night in a dormitory, medicine, food, and other necessities. Donating a sum of 60 000 Kč, we helped them to partially cover the necessary costs. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nMezi námi, o.p.s.\nSum donated: 255 000 Kč\nWe have been supporting the organization's reading program between seniors and kindergarten children for two years and enabled them to start connecting these two age groups in Brno and create a social platform beneficial for all the people involved .\nWe were so delighted by the Fairytale program they developed during the pandemic times. Mezi Námi has asked children from all around the country to draw their favourite fairytales and sent their drawings to seniors in senior centres and here is the result!\nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nZajíček na koni, o.p.s.\nSum donated: 30 000 Kč\nWalking alongside the riverside of Vltava in Prague, why not get some coffee at a café that helps people with a handicap get employed! Purple Foundation is a proud supporter of Café AdAstra, a lovely eatery run by organization Zajíček na koni, o.p.s. The 39 employees with a handicap work in the kitchen, behind the bar and as waiters. \nBesides handmade souvenirs from the organization, you can enjoy here some fine French and Czech wines and beer! The gift from the Foundation helps them finance their staff.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nParaCENTRUM Fenix, z. s.\nSum donated: 400 000 Kč\nThe organization helps spinal cord-injured (SCI) people and their families make a safe return to an active life and they have been our trusted partner organization for a long time.\nThe Foundation has decided to support their client rehabilitation program and organization of a recondition stay in Březejc with a sum of 400 000 Kč. Kudos to every person working for Fenix that creates a safe space that is there for people in need! \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nCesta domů, z.ú.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč\nSo many people deal with the need to take care of their terminally ill relatives and loved ones and they are definitely a group of those who need help. Therefore, we decided to support the home hospice Cesta domů, z.ú. that focuses on the often taboo theme of dying. It is a group of professionals who provide education on the topic, lend the tools needed to care for the long-term sick at home and run the hospice and community center themselves. \nThis time, our donation helped them purchase a car which makes their work much easier! \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nSOS dětské vesničky, z.s.\nSum donated: 200 000 Kč\nWe are so happy\n \nto support the amazing organization SOS Dětské vesničky! They help children at risk and their families, providing anything from food and other everyday necessities, psychological and social help to organizing summer camps. \nHelping these families means preparing the children for their future and offering them possibilities for their growth, education and happiness - which is one of the goals we are aiming for in the foundation! \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nDům pro Julii, z.ú.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč\nTaking care of and dealing with the loss of a terminally ill child is something unimaginable for most of us but, unfortunately, there are families for whom this situation is a reality. We have decided to donate 100 000 Kč to support the social and therapeutic work of the organization in individual families during the corona crisis. \nNot only are the children taken care of, the organization also navigates the tough process of dealing with and mourning the loss for the family. \n\n\n\n\nHospicová péče sv. Kleofáše, o.p.s.\nSum donated: 50 000 Kč\nIn the area of hospice care, we have chosen the amazing Hospice of St Kleofáš. Why this one in particular?\nThe hospice cares about their clients and their families directly in their homes, where they can be surrounded by their familiar environment and loved ones. The organization also have a network of volunteers, psychologists ready to help and a place to borrow compensatory aids. All in all, they offer quality and complex care. The sum will help them purchase a car for one of their caretakers. \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nSpolečnost E\nSum donated: 129 000 Kč \nAn organization that has been supporting people with epilepsy since 1990 and their main goal is integrating them into society. They have established their own workshop Aranžérie, where they employ them and create beautiful flower decorations and arrangements.\nWe have decided to support the organization by purchasing a car that helps them deliver their decorations and also managed to support the workshop itself. This year, we even organized a moss frame workshop together and will definitely do it again! \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nSpolečnost pro ranou péči, pobočka Brno\nSum donated: 20 000 Kč\nEvery year, our Purple group get a chance to vote for organizations that caught their hearts during the year and pick one whose support would make them the happiest. \nThis year, the winning organization was Společnost pro ranou péči. They help families with children who are born with a disability or endangered development - the parents are then more ready and comfortable in their kids' upbringing. Let's see whom the purple colleagues choose next year! \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nLiga vozíčkářů z. ú.\nSum donated: 140 000 Kč\nJust like paraCENTRUM Fenix, Liga vozíčkářů is taking care of wheelchair users. They offer amazing opportunities for them to socialize and share their experiences.\nOne of them is Barka theater in Brno which is built to accommodate wheelchair users - both actors, audience and integrated theatre groups from the whole republic. During the pandemic times, they have been unable to finance the theatre, as well as their physiotherapy services. Our donation helped them keep both projects running!\nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nVODICÍ PES, z.s.\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč\nEveryone, meet Caira - an assistant-to-be puppy whose training we decided to financially support!\nShe is going to become a guide dog for blind or visually impaired people and her training is taking place in an open prison Jiřice under their special program.\nWe want to wholeheartedly thank the Vodicí pes, z. s. organization forgiving us an opportunity to support such a beautiful idea and we cannot wait to see all the help our Purple pupper will offer!  \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nDOBRÝ ANDĚL, nadace\nSum donated: 400 000 Kč\nAccording to our Purple values, we hand-pick individual, local projects that we feel happy to support.\nThere is one amazing exception, though, and that has been from the very start Dobrý anděl, an organization who helps families affected by serious illnesses. Our financial support of the organization has already improved lives of 97 families and counting! We are 100% sure that they will make an informed decision and divide the money fairly among families who need it the most.\nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nPurple group helps\nOur colleagues are amazing. \nThey are involved in a huge number of charity causes. They are not shy to approach Purple Foundation about any project they consider important and see if there could be anything done. They ask questions, appreciate the effort and, most importantly, they are always  quick to join us on any community-helping adventures!\nThis year, even though we have been working from home most of the time, was no different. See what we were up to below!\n\n\n\nKomunita Sant´ Egidio\nAs is our yearly tradition,  our Purple colleagues went out of their way to provide for people without their own homes again! The community is collecting all necessary items for them, such as tinned food, hygiene items, clothes, sleeping bags, duvets, etc. and then helps distribute them and support people without homes whose situation got even worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. \nI want to thank everyone who decided to support the cause by donating - we managed to collect quite a pile this year! \nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nKlinika dětské onkologie, Brno\nPurple Foundation is also about inspiring and getting inspired by our Purple family members! We are happy to share our workspace with an amazing young woman, who not only fought and won her difficult battle, but wished to help others as well. Our colleague decided to help the Children's oncology department in Brno by donating three wigs from the time she had needed them. The wigs will help several lucky girls to feel more confident and beautiful while gathering all their strength and courage to battle cancer. You are amazing!\nFind out more \nhere\n.\n\n\n\n\nNoční běh pro Světlušku\nThe team of Purple Foundation & families took some time out of their week day and ran the Run for Světluška in Brno in the dark! They were incredibly fast, sportsy and rewarded with quite a snack bar and a great feeling! \nThe fee will be used to support blind and visually impaired people.  Thank you so much for attending and hope to see you or even more of us at the event next year! \n\n\n\n\nAnd a huge thank you!\nTo our purple friends, fans, our amazing Purple team and all the organizations. Seeing their never-ending and selfless efforts and acts is the reason we work hard and try to support charity cases as much as we can. Thanks to you we are inspired, in awe of all the good that is in people around us and hopeful for help, humanity and kindness. \nLet us see more of those in 2021!\nLove, \nDana + Jakub + Krištof + Lenka \n\n

2020 in Purple Foundation

We tried to help as soon and as efficiently as possible – see the outcomes!

As the whole world seemed to come to a standstill for a couple of months, our Purple Foundation team rolled up their (pyjama) sleeves and set out to help where help was needed. We are so happy we managed to support these five carefully chosen organizations to directly deal with the outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic: \nFakultní nemocnice u sv. Anny v Brně\nThe faculty hospital of St Anne was activated as one of the few in the Czech Republic where the gravest causes of COVID-19 were treated. It was, therefore, our obvious first choice when it came to helping directly in medical facilities. The doctors, nurses, cleaning staff, and everyone in the hospital did a tremendous job dealing with the pandemics and we are happy to say we were able to support them with a purchase of eight videolaryngoscopes. Quite a big word, and we definitely needed an explanation when learning about them. A videolaryngoscope is, in short, a machine that helps monitor the speed and accuracy of intubation with affected patients, which makes it less risky for the doctors/nurses to get infected by the virus. They were put to good use and helped when needed, and knowing that is one of the best feelings our team in PuFo can have!\nFind out more at: \nhttps://iweb3.fnusa.cz/\n\n\n\n  \n\nNový Prostor\nNo one can deny the utmost importance of the Nový Prostor organization – giving people without their own homes a chance to get back on their feet and teach them some employment skills through selling a quality magazine is a beautiful and selfless job. I believe that many of us have their favourite seller, however, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of sold copies plummeted. Thus, the affected people without homes lost the possibility of paying for a night in a centre, medicine, food, and other necessities. Donating a sum of 30 000 Kč we helped them to partially cover the necessary costs. We wholeheartedly support and admire the activities of Nový Prostor and were happy to see that now everyone has an option to support their favourite seller directly – if interested, check out their website!\nFind out more at: \nhttp://novyprostor.cz/\n\n\n\n  \n\nMezi Námi\nWe have been a long-time fans of Mezi Námi, an organization that joins groups of seniors and children for activities such as drawing, reading, cooking, etc. Besides financially supporting their reading program for two years, which made it possible to start connecting these two age groups in Brno, we were moved and delighted by the Fairytale program they developed during the pandemic times. Mezi Námi has asked children from all around the country to draw their favourite fairytales and sent their drawings to seniors in senior centres who couldn’t meet their families and loved ones. More than 30 000 drawings and greetings from the little ones sure made many of them happy and less lonely, and that’s why we were quick to support this project as well!\nFind out more at: \nhttps://www.mezi-nami.cz/pohadka-pro-radost\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n#ktopomôžeslovensku\n A wonderful group of people in Slovakia who joined forces to donate as much as possible to those most affected by COVID-19. We were happy to donate €4000 to this organization, who have provided masks, gloves, respirators, disinfection, thermometers and other essential items to more than 1800 facilities! Besides that, their website is a great source of self-help techniques and advice for anyone affected by social, physical or mental difficulties during the pandemic. \nFind out more at: \nhttps://www.ktopomozeslovensku.sk/\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAGAPI\nWe didn’t only help in Czechia, but reached out and supported a Cypriot organization as well! AGAPI is supporting those in dire need of financial help – mostly impoverished families and individuals. The main source of their income is their Charity shop which was closed due to the coronavirus. The organization delivered cooked food, dry food, such as rice, pasta, oil, tomato puree, beans, etc. They also helped the poorest of the community who are not entitled to any help with medicine and baby diapers, female hygiene products and soaps. Together they helped circa 1000 people a month and we are happy to enable them to do so with our donation! \nFind out more at: \nhttps://agapi.org.cy/\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  

Our help during the COVID-19 pandemic

Join us with your thoughts and suggestions!

Purple Foundation is helping fight the coronavirus

Sometimes, in efforts to improve the world around us, it gets quite hard to decide who needs help the most, or even have a clear picture of all the people who need help – what if there is someone in dire need of assistance, but we don’t know about them? \nIn Purple Foundation, we love to do our research and scan our surroundings for interesting projects, but we also trust someone who has more skills and equipment to do so – and that is Dobrý anděl, an organization that helps families affected by serious illnesses, such as leukemia, spinal muscular atrophy, and many, many more. \nThat is the reason we have decided to help them for the second time already, this year with a sum of 200 000 Kč. We know that they have a full trust of people in difficult life situations who turn to them. They review each case carefully and when Dobrý anděl decide to help, the money is certainly in good hands – their reports of the families we have helped divided down to every last crown can confirm that. Last year, our donation helped as many as 61 families and we hope that this year's donation helps ease the burden of many more. \nIf you are interested in helping Dobrý anděl who will 100% make an informed decision for you, make sure to visit their website: \nhttps://www.dobryandel.cz/\n. 

Helping with Dobrý anděl

Dear colleagues, friends and supporters of Purple Foundation! \nOur team would like to thank all of you for working with us, keeping us informed about great charity projects in our surroundings and supporting us in 2019. 'Tis the time to summarize and see how we were doing in the past couple of months, but also introduce what are our plans and wishes for the year 2020. \nThe aim is to help as many people and organizations as possible, be it financially, or even manually, with the help of all of you, of course! And what are our criteria for picking the projects? \nLOCAL\nHelping in the places where we do business -  the Czech and Slovak Republic and Belize - we hope to influence and inspire people in our surroundings and thus spread ideas and help further on. \nEQUALITY\nWe understand that in life, your skills and talents might get you far, but one's circumstances can be sometimes unfortunate. We are here to enhance the equality of opportunities.\nVARIED\nWe try to keep an open mind and look out for those in need of urgent help, wherever they might come from and whatever their situation is. 	\nSHARED\nWe make the choices together as a company. The foundation is represented by a committee of a few, but the incentives and ideas come from all of us.\nHAND-PICKED\nWe do our research and opt for official organizations with transparent financing, in urgent need of help and a long-lasting impact.\nThis year, we were happy to donate almost 1 164 000 Kč for different projects with different wonderful purposes. Furthermore, with the help of Purple Foundation, Axiory Global is planning to support a student in Belize from a socially disadvantaged environment and a tutor for many other such students. Without further ado, then, let us look at the organizations we were happy to help in 2019:\nZajíček na koni, o.p.s.\nWalking alongside the riverside of Vltava in Prague, why not get some coffee and a great lunch at a café that helps people with a handicap get employed!\nPurple Foundation is a proud supporter of Café AdAstra, a lovely eatery run by organization Zajíček na koni, o.p.s. The employees with a handicap work in the kitchen, behind the bar and as waiters. Besides handmade souvenirs from the organization, you can enjoy here some fine French and Czech wines, traditional Czech beer Úněti, and plenty more! At the moment, the café employs (regularly or irregularly) 36 people with a handicap and the gift from the Foundation helped them finance an assistant for them. \nSum donated:\n 64 000 Kč\nFind out more at:\n \nwww.zajiceknakoni.cz\n\n\n\n\n\nParaCENTRUM Fenix, z. s.\nWe dare you to find a friendlier and more approachable person than the head of the ParaCENTRUM Fenix, z. s. - Mr Odstrčil! \nThe above mentioned non-profit organization helps spinal cord-injured (SCI) people and their families and close ones make a safe return to an active and exciting life. They came up with an ambitious project of a new Fenix center that can help four times as many people in Kníničky with an expected finish in 2021, which caught our attention and Purple Foundation has decided to support their employee training and organization of an annual family recondition stay in Březejc with a sum of 200 000 Kč. \nAlmost everyone knows a person who has been left wheelchair-bound after a spinal cord injury. It is truly unimaginable to fully comprehend how unexpected and life-changing thing that is. Every person working for Fenix knows that and together they create a safe space that is there for the people in need. Plus, their invitations for their ball, auctions and other happenings are impossible to refuse - try and visit one of their social events to see how joyful and fun group they are! \nSum donated: \n200 000 Kč\nFind out more at:\n \nwww.fenixcentrum.cz\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCesta domů, z.ú.\nSo many people deal with the need to take care of their terminally ill relatives and loved ones and they are definitely a group of those who need help. Therefore, we decided to support the home hospice Cesta domů, z.ú. It is a group of professionals who provide education on the topic of terminal illness, lend the tools needed to care for the long-term sick at home and run the hospice and community center themselves.\nThe purpose of the donation is to help finance the purchase of new aids for the hospice.\nSum donated:\n 40 000 Kč\nFind out more at:\n \nwww.cestadomu.cz\n\n\n\n\nMezi námi, o.p.s.\nWhat a beautiful idea it is to connect a group of elderly citizens and a flock of joyful kindergarten children! The organization Mezi Námi, o.p.s. has mastered a project called Přečti (Read) that has “fairytale” grandmas and grandpas meeting the little ones, reading fairy tales and stories together once a week. If an idea of the two together doesn't warm your heart, then I don't know what else will! \nThe benefits of connecting the two different social groups are numerous - a child without a grandparent suddenly having one, the elderly feeling a bit less lonely, getting to know people in your community, and plenty more. Purple Foundation managed to finance a coordinator of the project in Brno, where it did not take place until 2019. We are happy to say that we helped bring this beautiful tradition to the place that many of us call their home!\nSum donated:\n 204 000 Kč\nFind out more at:\n \nwww.mezi-nami.cz\n\n\n\n\n\nBěh pro paměť národa\nThough an unusual project when compared to others in this list, Purple Foundation have decided to donate 5 000 Kč to support the Run for the Memory of Nations organized by Spolek  Staroměští šohajíci.\nThe purpose of the donation was to support a run held on 18.5.2019 in Uherské Hradiště. The proceeds of the event are used to record and preserve hundreds of stories of the fate of political prisoners, war veterans, Holocaust victims, dissidents and all fighters for freedom.\nMemory of Nations is Europe's largest publicly accessible memorial database. On average, they publish two detailed witness stories daily, supplemented by a complete audio recording and short clips. \nWe believe it is important to know, remember and learn from the stories of all those mentioned. If you want to honor their memory by reading about their destinies, make sure to visit their website.\nSum donated: 5 000 Kč\nFind out more at: \nwww.pametnaroda.cz\n\n                              \nwww.behpropametnaroda.cz\n\nBěh pro Hospic sv. Alžběty 2019 (Run for Hospice of St Elizabeth in Brno 2019)   \nThey do tabata. They frequent the gym. They play badminton. They run. The Purple sport souls are unstoppable!\nAnd they also have a heart of gold, as our Purple team of colleagues and friends put on their running shoes and took part in the aforementioned run, organized by Hospic Sv. Alžběty, o.p.s. The money collected from the fee is used to reconstruct and complete the northern wing of the hospice, where a new Residential Relief Service will be placed with 23 beds and facilities for the provision of services of the hospice. We hope to make this a tradition and recruit an even larger team next year!\nBy the way, jogging with us was also our friend Kristýna from Dobrokar, s.r.o. and even with her baby bump, she managed to finish. Kudos for her motivation!:) \nSum donated: 10 000 Kč\nFind out more at: \nwww.hospicbrno.cz\n\n                              \nwww.behyprohospice.cz\n\n\n\n\n\nNadácia ADELI\nThis year, we were lucky enough to help two people in their difficult health situation - a young man whose dangerous fall caused him to become wheelchair-bound and a lady who ended up in a similar situation due to a stroke in her 30s. The foundation was able to help fund a part of their healing process in the NADELI centre in Piešťany which focuses on complex, intensive and individualized treatment programs for patients with neurological disorders.\nSum donated: 256 848 Kč\nFind out more at: \nwww.nadaciaadeli.sk\n\nKomunita Sant’Egidio Brno\nThis community in Brno is helping on many fronts and tries to improve lives of the poor, homeless, elderly and children in need.\n For the second year in a row, plenty of us from the Purple Team decided to clean out their closets and donate clothes they did not need anymore (and a lot of new ones!) to those who are not as fortunate as us to have a roof over their heads. Come winter, the everyday reality is even more harsh for them and we hope our collection of clothing, hygiene products and tinned food helped them ease the burden at least a little bit. \n If you wish to donate, the community still accepts such collections and you can also help by handing the items or serving meals to the homeless, all in the city center of Brno and other towns in the Czech republic. Please see their website for more info. From our experience, organizing a collection in your company or in your circle of friends is a really easy and helpful thing to do! \nFind out more at: \nwww.santegidio.cz\n\nTo help in Brno: \nwww.santegidio.cz/chci-pomoct/chci-pomoct-brno\n\n\n\n\n\nDům pro Julii, z.ú.\nThanks to the hard work of all Purple employees, the Foundation can keep helping a huge number of people. Though amazing and truly fulfilling, helping also brings moments when we are faced with issues that might be sad and hard to talk about. Life can throw our way world-shattering situations and in these moments, having someone there for you is very important.  \nTaking care of and dealing with the loss of a terminally ill child is something unimaginable for most of us but, unfortunately, there are families for whom this situation is a reality. To help them ease their financial burden, PuFo has decided to donate 100 000 Kč and plans to donate even more to support the process of building the first hospice for children in the Czech Republic. Upon meeting the two lovely ladies in charge of the project, it was easy to see that they are fighting tooth and nail for their project to happen and they fully deserve our continuous support!\nSum donated: 100 000 Kč\nFind out more at: \nwww.dumprojulii.com\n\nProjekt Schizandra \nAt the beginning of the year, we teamed up with Dobrokar s.r.o., who organize events with charitable overreach. The Foundation wanted to find a way to include some of our colleagues, in helping Práh jižní Morava, z.ú.  - an organization that helps adults with severe mental illness from the South Moravian Region and supports their integration into everyday life in basic areas such as independent living, health care, family and partner relationships, and more. \nDobrokar s.r.o. took it upon themselves to make this possible for us with their flawless knack for organizing and communication and thus, in April and May, around thirty of us rolled up our sleeves, grabbed drills, painting brushes and garden shears, and helped the organization get closer to finishing their Schizandra garden project - a place for their clients to hold therapeutic sessions, workshops and meetings with public.\nBesides raising a fence, painting chairs, building birdhouses and plenty other activities, we had a chance to talk to the amazing Mrs Veškrnová - the director of the place, spend a day outside together and were served really delicious food as well. We would definitely like to come back and help again!\nSum donated: 200 000 Kč\nFind out more at: \nwww.prah-brno.cz\n\n                              \nwww.dobrokar.cz/\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpolečnost E\n \nSpolečnost E is a Prague-based, non-profit organization that has been supporting people with epilepsy since 1990 and their main goal is integrating them into society.\nVery cleverly, they have established their own workshop Aranžérie, where they employ them and create beautiful flower decorations and arrangements. The workshop is full of staff that is truly grateful for their vocation and really handy as well - Dana decided to join them for a couple of hours this year and they bore with her clumsy half-attempts at Christmas wreaths in a truly heroic fashion.\nWe have decided to support the organization by purchasing a car that helps them deliver their decorations and arrangements fast and reliably all the way to their clients homes and locations. The organization have been keeping us updated about its use and we always love to hear from them!\nPurple Foundation loves the idea of connecting a beautiful, creative job and people who are great at it but find it difficult to navigate the job market due to epilepsy. If you, therefore, stumble upon an organization that fights for a good cause and is in need of financial help, don't be afraid to let us know!\nSum donated: 84 000 Kč \nFind out more at: \nwww.spolecnost-e.cz\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

2019 in Purple Foundation

Read more about one of our favourite organizations to help

The month of April came with a lovely opportunity to put on a fancy dress and enjoy the annual ball of ParaCENTRUM Fenix as one of the supporters of the organization. It has been historically the first ball we have been invited to and the largest barrier-free event of its kind in Czechia, when it comes to that!\nParaCENTRUM Fenix in Brno is a non-profit organization that helps spinal cord injured (SCI) people and their families and close ones to make a safe return to an active and exciting life and its head – the very humble and sweet Mr Odstrčil has instantly become a friend of our foundation.\nThe center offers various services – physiotherapy, personal assistance who can shop for a wheelchair-bound person or take them out for a concert, transport, and many more! If in need of a roof over their heads, borrowing an equipment, discussing their eating habits or even playing ping-pong, they can always turn to Fenix. \nAs large numbers of people have been reaching out for their help, they came up with an ambitious project of a new Fenix center that can help four times as many people in Kníničky with an expected finish in 2021. Purple Foundation has decided to support the new center, as well as employee training and organization of an annual family outing with a sum of 400 000 Kč. \n\nAlmost everyone knows a person who has been left wheelchair-bound after a spinal cord injury. It is truly impossible to fully comprehend how unexpected and life-changing thing that is. Every person working for Fenix knows that and together they create a safe space that is there for people in need. They reach out to so many and inspire even more – which are also the main reasons they caught our heart, just as I named them with a shaky voice in the microphone in front of hundreds of people at the ball. 😊 \nWe cannot wait to see what the future brings for the organization and will try our best to support them and stay friends for a long time to come. Thank you again for the invitation to the ball with amazing people, amazing food and program (plus an opportunity to bid in an auction, which was a first for all of us). \n\nIf you want to help Fenix, please see their website about making a donation or learn about other ways of helping, such as volunteering. The website also offers information about the new center and plenty of interesting stories of their clients: \nhttps://fenixcentrum.cz/en/new-center-fenix/\n.\n  

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