Foundation VIZE 97

The annual report

Review of activities of the VIZE 97 Foundation in 2010


JANUARY

  • A gala evening at the Prague Crossroads to mark the beginning of the Spanish presidency of the European Union, organised by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in association with the VIZE 97 Foundation.
  • The first screenings of a commercial about the Early Diagnosis and Prevention of Colon and Rectal Cancer programme, which was shown throughout the year on Czech TV channels.
  • The VIZE 97 Foundation donated the sum of 100,000 crowns via the public collection launched by the People in Need association to help the victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
  • Stocktaking of the Foundation’s assets and preparation of accounts for the 2009.
  • Official premiere of Schiller’s drama “Mary Stuart” at the Vinohrady Theatre in Prague, with Dagmar Havlová in the title role.

FEBRUARY

  • On behalf of the Foundation, Dagmar Havlová assumed patronage of the award ceremony of the “Nurse of 2009” prizes.
  • In the framework of its Early Diagnosis and Prevention of Colon and Rectal Cancer project, the VIZE 97 Foundation initiated cooperation with the ONKOMAJÁK civic association.
  • Start of negotiations with Czech TV about making and distributing to foreign TV stations a DVD of the concert “It’s Here at Last” held at the Prague Crossroads in 2009.

MARCH

  • The Board of Trustees of the VIZE 97 Foundation approved the Foundation’s financial management plans for 2010.
  • Official opening of the One World Festival, traditionally a partner of the Vize 97 Foundation at the Prague Crossroads. As part of the opening ceremony, the Homo Homini Award was presented.

Mr and Mrs Havel attended the banquet at Prague Castle with Their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, to whom they presented a copy of the Foundation’s annual report.

APRIL

  • The Board of the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97 Prize chose Konrad Paul Liessmann as the recipient of the 2010 prize.
  • The board of the Fund of Understanding assessed applications for financial and other aid.
  • The board of the Education Support Programme initiated this year’s application process, setting the criteria for 2010/2011, and it also selected Professor Jan Sokol, Ph.D., CSc. to receive the award “In Recognition of Contributions to the Philosophy of Education and the Renewal of the University Idea”.
  • Táňa Fischerová, a member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, christened a book on the use of mistletoe in cancer treatment, published under the auspices of the VIZE 97 Foundation. She also received, on behalf of the VIZE 97 Foundation, a cheque for 25,000 crowns from the publishers, Mladá Fronta.
  • The VIZE 97 Foundation hosted a meeting with Dagmar Havlová of representatives of five selected not-for-profit organisations (the Alliance of Women with Breast Cancer, the Wheelchair Users League, the Sdružení Podané ruce that helps drug abusers, Fokus Praha and the Podkrkonoše Regional Association of Friends of Handicapped Children), which had obtained funding from the Foundation either from the FIF or via a project of the Fund of Understanding.
  • The VIZE 97 Foundation donated a garden bench to the St Charles Borromeo Home at Řepy in Prague. The symbolic presentation of the bench was attended by Dagmar Havlová.
  • Dagmar Havlová presented the Magnesia Litera prize for poetry to the poet and translator Viola Fischerová for her collection “Domek na vinici” (A Cottage in the Vineyard).

MAY

  • Together with twenty other Czech women celebrities, Dagmar Havlová took part in a unique project of the Czech magazine “Story”, entitled “Celebrities Without Make-up”. The proceeds of an auction of photographs of Dagmar Havlová, Iveta Toušlová and Leona Machálková were donated to the VIZE 97 Foundation.
  • Work on the new annual report of the VIZE 97 Foundation.
  • Negotiations with artists who had performed at the concert “It’s Here at Last” about licensing rights for the production of a DVD and the distribution of the concert to foreign TV stations.

JUNE

  • The Board of Trustees of the VIZE 97 Foundation approved the annual report, financial statements and the financial management report of the VIZE 97 Foundation and decided on the distribution of the income.
  • The Prague Crossroads was the venue for the award ceremony of the Olga Havel Prize as part of celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the Committee of Good Will – The Olga Havel Foundation, which awards the prize annually. The recipient was Jiří Kříž, the head of the Spinal Cord Injury Unit at the Department of Rehabilitation and Sport Medicine, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and the Motol University Hospital. The VIZE 97 Foundation was a partner in the event.
  • The board of the Education Programme assessed student applications.
  • The board of the Education Programme presented the award “In Recognition of Contributions to the Philosophy of Education and the Renewal of the University Idea” to Professor Jan Sokol, an outstanding Czech philosopher and university teacher. The recipient also received a cash award of 97,000 crowns.
  • The Prague Crossroads was the venue for a gala evening held by the Prague Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design during which an honorary doctorate was awarded to the painter Jitka Valová. The VIZE 97 Foundation was a partner of the event.
  • The Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97 celebrated its 13th anniversary on the first day of summer.

JULY

  • The closing ceremony of the 16th International Oral History Congress took place at the Prague Crossroads. The VIZE 97 Foundation was a partner in the event.
  • The ballet film “Sirael” was shot at the Prague Crossroads by its director and cameraman Martin Kubala. The film is a Czech TV production
  • Issuing of the Annual Report of the VIZE 97 Foundation for 2009, including financial statements and plans for 2010.
  • Peak of shooting of the film “Leaving” directed by Václav Havel.

AUGUST

  • Restoration work continued at the Prague Crossroads on the frescoes and the reconstruction of the church.
  • Official announcement that the VIZE 97 Foundation Prize was to be awarded to Professor Konrad Paul Liessmann.
  • Shooting of the film “Leaving” completed
  • Continued negotiations with artists who had performed at the concert “It’s Here at Last” about licensing rights for the production of a DVD and the distribution of the concert to foreign TV stations.

SEPTEMBER

  • Prague Crossroads held its now traditional Open Day as part of the European Heritage Days.
  • Dagmar Havlová attended an informal meeting of 25 women politicians and politicians’ wives at Lány Castle, the country residence of the President of the Republic, on the invitation of Mrs Livia Klausová.

OCTOBER

  • Announcement of the selection process to distribute grants from the Foundation Investment Fund.
  • A visit to the Foundation by the recipient of the VIZE 97 Foundation Prize, Konrad Paul Liessmann.
  • On the occasion of the award of the VIZE 97 Foundation Prize, Prague Crossroads hosted a press conference in the presence of the laureate, Konrad Paul Liessmann.
  • In connection with the award of the VIZE 97 Prize, Prague Crossroads hosted a discussion on the topic “The Value of Man”.
  • To mark the presentation of the VIZE 97 Prize, the Foundation published a Czech translation of Konrad Paul Liessmann’s book “The Value of Man”.
  • Konrad Paul Liessmann received a diploma and the Crosier of Saint Adalbert from Mr and Mrs Havel, and became the twelfth laureate of the VIZE 97 Foundation Prize.
  • At the Prague Crossroads President Václav Havel opened a conference of Forum 2000 held under his patronage.
  • The German violinist Julie Fischer performed at a concert at the Prague Crossroads as part of the Strings of Autumn festival.
  • At the closing ceremony of the Golden Prague International Television Festival, Dagmar Havlová presented The VIZE 97 Foundation Award to the film “Drž rytmus!” (Keep the Rhythm) directed by Olga Sommerová. The winner also received a symbolic cheque in the sum of 30,000 crowns.
  • Kahan Kalhot & Brooklyn Rider performed at the Prague Crossroads as part of the Strings of Autumn.
  • At Prague’s Luxor bookshop Dagmar Havlová christened a Czech translation of Madeleine Albright’s book “Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box”.

NOVEMBER

  • The Endowment Fund of Czech Radio held the "Aneta pro Svetlušku" (Aneta for the Firefly) charity concert at the Prague Crossroads.
  • The board of the Fund of Understanding programme ruled on the applications received as part of the selection process to distribute grants from the Foundation Investment Fund.
  • Work on graphic design of the Foundation’s New Year Card.
  • Meeting of the Supervisory Board of the VIZE 97 Foundation.

DECEMBER

  • The sixth St Nicholas Charity Bazaar was held at Prague Crossroads. In addition to twelve not-for-profit organisations and invited guest associations, the event was attended by numerous celebrities, including President and Mrs Havel, who also assisted the VIZE 97 Foundation with the sale of gifts.
  • For the second time at the Prague Crossroads, the Ministry for Human Rights and National Minorities held the annual award of the Gypsy Spirit prizes there.
  • The partners and friends of the VIZE 97 Foundation were sent the Foundation’s New Year’s card, which was also published on the Foundation’s website.