Telefónica O2 and its employees donate one million crowns to flood victims

Jul 7, 2009

The O2 Foundation has set up a special employee collection fund to assist in the cleanup of the first results of the floods. In just five days since it announced this collection, 909 Telefónica O2 employees have donated CZK 460,000. O2 increased this sum by the same amount and is donating it to Člověk v tísni (People In Need). This organization will use the funds to clean up the results of the floods in afflicted areas.

"I truly appreciate the approach being taken by our employees, who have demonstrated great solidarity in this time of crisis and contributed such a high sum. They have even more of my gratitude because many of them contribute to the projects of our corporate foundation on a regular basis, and even now they have not hesitated and have once again sent contributions during this emergency," says Salvador Anglada, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Telefónica O2 Czech Republic, adding, "Thanks also to all our customers who have sent Donation SMS to help during the floods. Thanks to them, 240 thousands DMS for a total of more than CZK 6,5 million have been sent through the O2 network."

Člověk v tísni is using these resources to dry buildings, for sanitation work, securing first aid during debris removal, purchasing shovels, bags, wheelbarrows, and other necessary materials, and cleaning sources of water.

"O2 has made what is now the biggest single donation to the total collection, which now amounts to over 40 million crowns. I wish to thank the O2 Foundation for organizing the collection, Telefónica O2, and especially its employees," says Marek Štys, Director of the Humanitarian Aid and Cooperation Development section of Člověk v tísni, adding, "I can assure everyone that their contributions will be used in the most effective ways where they are needed most."< /em>

Employees can contribute by using a simple internal online system through which they normally contribute to publicly beneficial projects. Telefónica is adding to employee contributions and passing the money on to the O2 Foundation for the support of long-term projects, such as the Safety Line or the Trust Line for Seniors. At the same time, it is helping other projects outside of the O2 Foundation, such as the international Pro?ino program, which fights against child labor in underdeveloped countries of Latin America, and Donate Blood with O2.

Every year Telefónica O2 donates over 30 million crowns to charity and publicly beneficial projects. Most of the financial resources it donates to these projects come through its corporate O2 Foundation.

Contacts
Martin Žabka
Spokesperson
Telefónica O2 Czech Republic, a.s.
public.relations.cz@o2.com
tel: 800 163 342 (800 1 media)