Kellner Family Foundation donates 170 million crowns to Ukraine

Prague, Feb 4 (CTK) - The Kellner Family Foundation is donating 170 million crowns to the foundation of the Ukrainian president's wife, which helps children and families affected by the war, Tomas Perman, head of external communications for the Foundation, told CTK today.

The Kellner Family Foundation has joined the ranks of donors to help Ukrainian civilians facing long-term power, heat and water cuts due to Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.

NGOs have raised more than 175 million crowns to help Ukrainians suffering from the winter, while the government has allocated ten million crowns for this humanitarian aid.

The money from the Kellner Family Foundation, as well as from other collections, will go mainly to purchase generators, charging stations and batteries for schools, hospitals, homes for the elderly and local communities. It will also be used to provide humanitarian support to the foster families caring for children without parents and to equip air raid shelters and feeding facilities in schools and kindergartens.

"The funds will be provided to the Olena Zelenska Foundation, which focuses on early assistance to children and families affected by the war," Perman said.

The inspiration for the donation was a collection by Czech citizens, said Renata Kellnerova, co-founder and chairwoman of the foundation's board of trustees, in an apparent reference to the Gift for Putin initiative, which raised more than 175 million crowns in less than two weeks.

"After consulting President (Petr) Pavel, we decided to focus our help on those most in need - children in kindergartens and schools, patients in hospitals, foster families and the elderly," Kellnerova said.

Kellnerova, who owns the PPF investment group with her family, was the richest person in Czechia, according to the latest published rankings. However, she was apparently dethroned this year by Michal Strnad, the owner of the Czechoslovak Group (CSG) arms manufacturer, after the value of his assets increased when CSG was listed on the Amsterdam and Prague stock exchanges.

President Pavel previously praised the results of the Gift for Putin initiative. He said the money raised proved that Czech society was capable of showing solidarity in difficult times and targeting support where it was most needed.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the foreign ministers of the European Union countries also appreciated the support of Czech citizens and NGOs. Martin Ondracek, of the Gift for Putin initiative, told CTK last week that he would also welcome a similar recognition from the Czech government.

($1 = 20.600 crowns)

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