Via Bona Award

The Via Bona Awards for Philanthropy are annual awards presented by the Via Foundation to acknowledge exemplary philanthropy of companies and individuals who have a history of strong support of the work of non-profit organizations in the Czech Republic. The Via Foundation supports community and philanthropy development in the Czech Republic. Via Foundation focuses on growing the number of people in the Czech Republic working collaboratively to improve their communities and giving to help others. “Every act of charity is a story – which can motivate other people who are thinking about giving back but don’t know how to start,” says Executive Director Jiří Bárta about why Via Foundation presents the Via Bona awards.
The Via Bona Awards are one of the two major annual awards in the Czech Republic to honor philanthropy and philanthropists. The other major Czech philanthropy award is the TOP Corporate Philanthropists Award presented by Donors Forum to award companies which have given the highest total monetary amount to charitable causes over the course of one year.
Since 1997, The Via Bona Awards are held each year under the auspices of the Embassy of the USA in Prague and the general partner is Nadace Vodafone Česká republika. The Via Bona Award is given to those who serve as an example to others through their material and financial support, as well as their willingness to tread untried paths.
The Via Bona Awards are nominated by Czech nonprofit organizations and are chosen by an independent jury.
For the 19th year in a row, Via Foundation recognized individuals and companies who help improve their communities by giving their time, energy, expertise or money to help others. Via announced the winners of the 2016 Via Bona Philanthropy Awards. Juries selected winners in six categories.
The 2016 award winners include people such as Zdeňka Mocňáková, who helps disabled people and senior citizens despite being bound to a wheelchair herself. She is the recipient of the "Personal Engagement Award".
In the "Young Personal Engagement" category, the jury selected two winners: Jakub Trefný, who despite being just nineteen years old, is an experienced volunteer nad helps senior citizens, homeless people and refugees, and Milan Dzuriak, who undertakes “Journeys against Pain” to raise money to make disabled children’s dreams come true.
"The Patron Award" was presented to businessman Sanjiv Suri, owner of Zátiší Group, for his numerous philanthropic activities both in the Czech Republic and around the world. 
"The" "Good Company Award" went to Dušan Hopp’s company Auto Díly Servis s.r.o., based in Nový Jičín, whose owner and employees helped remodel a Home for Pregnant Women in Crisis.
"The Loyal Donor Award" is a new category this year. It went to Asaf Auerbach, a regular donor to children’s charities whose own life was saved by Sir Nicholas Winton during World War II.
"The Bequests Help Award" draws attention to bequests, which are still an uncommon form of giving in the Czech Republic. Via Foundation recognized microbiologist Ludmila Šilhánkova in memoriam. She left over CZK 2 million to help disabled children and young people.
"The Public’s Choice Award" is a special seventh category presented under the auspices of Czech TV, the main media partner of the Via Bona Awards. Members of the public chose from among the 15 nominated philanthropists on the Via Foundation website. The winner of the voting was Zdeňka Mocňáková.
List of Award Winners.
2016.
Personal Engagement Award and Public's Choice Award: Zdeňka Mocňáková
Young Personal Engagement Award: Milan Dzuriak and Jakub Trefný
Good Company Award: Dušan Hopp, Auto Díly Servis s.r.o.
Patron Award: Sanjiv Suri
Loyal Donor Award: Asaf Auerbach
Bequests Help Award: Ludmila Šilhánková
2015.
Personal Engagement Award: Zdenka Wasserbauerová
Young Philanthropist Award: High school student Kateřina Vaňáková
Award for a Bequest: Professor Kateřina Šmídková
Forging a New Path Award: Vojtěch Sedláček
Individual Donor Award: Libor Winkler
The Small and Medium-Sized Company Award: Konzum, obchodní družstvo v Ústí nad Orlicí
Large Corporation Award: NET4GAS, s.r.o.
The Public’s Choice Award (public online voting at www.umimetouzoddetstvi.cz): First, third, fourth and 4C classes, Gymnázium Jateční, Ústí nad Labem
2014.
Personal Engagement Award: 
Journalists' Individual Donor Award: Kvido Štěpánek
Young Philanthropist Award: Martin Kučera and Vojtěch Paukner
Forging a New Path Award: Aleš Jeník
Small and Medium-Sized Company Award: GALVAMET spol. s.r.o.
Large Corporation Award: AVAST Software s.r.o.
2013.
Forging a New Path Award: JUDr. Hana Machačová
Personal Engagement Award: Tomáš Slavata
Academic Philanthropy Award: students of the Third Faculty of Medicine - Charles University Scott Keel and Petr Oliva
Journalists' Individual Donor Award: Martin Hausenblas
Small and Medium-Sized Company Award: Z - Trade s.r.o.
Large Corporation Award: Česká spořitelna
Honorary Award: Olbram Zoubek
2012.
Journalists' Individual Donor Award: Jana Bečvářová
Academic Philanthropy Award: students of grammar school Broumov and their teacher Šárka Rambousková
Personal Engagement Award: Ondřej Horecký
Forging a New Path: Adastra, s.r.o.
Small and Medium-Sized Company Award: MIBCON a.s.
Large Corporation Award: KPMG Czech Republic
Award for Support Specific Project by Large Corporation: OKD, a.s.
2011.
Journalists' Individual Donor Award: Břetislav Tůma
Personal Engagement Award: PhDr. Jaroslav Šturma
Large Corporation Award: Vodafone Czech Republic
Small and Medium-Sized Company: LAW CZ
Award for Innovative Project: LMC s.r.o.
Award for Employee Involvement in Philanthropy: KPMG Czech Republic
Award for Long-term partnership with a Nonprofit: Telefónica Czech Republic, a.s.
2010.
Corporate Award (large companies): Ogilvy Group
Corporate Award (small- and medium- sized companies): College of Economics and Management (VŠEM)
Individual Award: Lubomír Kohout
Award for Innovative Projects: e|n|w|c Natlacen Walderdorff Concola v.o.s
Award for Employee Involvement in Philanthropy: PricewaterhouseCoopers Česká republika s.r.o.
Award for Long-term Partnership with a Nonprofit: Ogilvy Group
Journalists' Award: Lubomír Kohout
2009.
Corporate Award (large companies): Československá obchodní banka, a.s.
Corporate Award (small- and medium- sized companies): Josef Kvapil, a.s.
Individual Award: Marek Stanzel
Award for Innovative Projects: Jaroslav Sklenář
Award for Employee Involvement in Philanthropy: T-Mobile Czech Republic, a.s.
Award for Long-term Partnership with a Non-profit: Pavel Cindr
2008.
Corporate Award (large companies): Telefónica O2 Czech Republic
Corporate Award (small- and medium- sized companies): Bisport, spol. s.r.o.
Individual Award: Mr. Milan and Mrs. Marie Sourada
Award for Innovative Projects: Poštovní spořitelna
Award for Employee Involvement in Philanthropy/Volunteerism: Citibank Europe plc
Award for Long-term Partnership with a Non-profit: Kocián Šolc Balaštík
Honorary Award: Mrs. Marka Bednářová and Mr. Donald Hamer
2007.
Corporate Award (large companies): Isolit – Bravo, s.r.o.
Corporate Award (small- and medium- sized companies): Orbit, s.r.o.
Individual Award: Countess Mathilda Nostitzozová
Award for Innovative Projects: Vodafone Czech Republic
2006.
Corporate Award (large companies): Metrostav a.s.
Corporate Award (small- and medium- sized companies): Hobra - Školník
Individual Award: Vlastimil Venclík
Award for Innovative Projects: Skanska CZ Corporation
Honorary Award: Vaclav and Marie Hora
Honorable Mentions: Marten,s.r.o; Československa obchodní banka
2005.
Corporate Award (large companies): Stavební spořitelna České spořitelny, a.s.
Corporate Award (small- and medium- sized companies): Casta a.s.
Award for Innovative Projects: ECE Projektmanagement G.m.b. H & Co. KG
Individual Award: MUDr. Eva Hvížďalová
Honorary Award: Silva and Oldrich Vasicek
Honorable Mentions: Mrs. Marie Šenfeldová, Mr. Luďěk Zýka, Mr. Milan Havránek and Mr. Čeněk Zlatohlávek; Connex Morava, a.s.
2004.
Corporate Award (large companies): Eurotel Praha, spol. s.r.o
Corporate Support for Regional Activities: Osram Bruntál, s.r.o.
Award for Innovative Projects: Ing. Libor Holub
Long-Term Partnership Award: The Safari Family and the Roesel-Krum Family
Honorary Award: Dr. Alfred Bader
2003.
Corporate Award (large companies): Nokia ČR
Corporate Support for Regional Activities: Plzeňský Prazdroj, a.s.
Award for Innovative Projects: GlaxoSmithKline, s.r.o.
Long-Term Partnership Award: Mucos Pharma CZ
Individual Award: Mrs. Lada Martinézová
Honorable Mention: Česká Televize
2002.
Corporate Award (large companies): Philip Morris, a.s.
Corporate Support for Regional Activities: MEKS - Červenák
Award for Innovative Projects: Kateřina Dubská - Vydavatelství ERA
Long-Term Partnership Award: Jaromír Křivohlavý - Renesance, Třebenice
Individual Award: Jakub Blatský
2001.
Corporate Award (large companies): Veba, a.s.
Corporate Support for Regional Activities: MESIT Holding, a.s.
Award for Innovative Projects: Altik, s.r.o.
Honorable Mentions: Ladislav Čerych; Milan Horvát
2000.
Main Award: Ostravské kanalizace a vodárny
Honorable mentions:
1999.
Main Award (large companies): Dopravní stavby Holding, a.s.
Honorable Mentions: 
1998.
Main Award: Pekárny Jaromíra Středy
Honorary Award:
Honorable mentions: