In all countries where we do business, we care about ethical and transparent relationships with our contractors, distributors and clients. We contribute to the generation of long-term wealth in society, through our investments, technological innovations, creation of new jobs and our quality products and services. Being a leading manufacturer of food supplements, we are aware of our commitments to the society, and therefore we actively encourage people to be more interested in healthy lifestyle and adopt a responsible approach to their own health, as a necessary precondition of active and quality life in all of its stages. Also, we are voluntarily engaged and will continue to be engaged in public benefit projects in order to promote public welfare in society. We spend more than 1% of our gross profit a year on these projects. In the Top Corporate Philanthropist list, annually announced by the Czech Donors Forum, we ranked 20th among the firms active in philanthropy in the Czech Republic.
Our support to not-for-profit organisations and charity projects is focused on the location of our business activities, i.e. the North-Moravian and Silesian Region, while we also support projects and not-for-profit organisations whose activities span all over the Czech Republic. In the region where we are active, we support hundreds of organisations and projects with one common denominator the aid to people in need.
The current Czech society is quickly aging. The demographic developments indicate that the percentage of elderly people will increase significantly within the next 20 years. Seniors will make up one third of the Czech population. According to signals from sociological surveys, old age is associated with a number of wrong opinion stereotypes and false ideas. Direct and indirect discrimination based on age, what is known as ageism, is todays reality. Hence our company will continue to focus its philanthropic activities on neglected seniors.
Since 2005, we have been a partner of the SOCIETY FRIENDLY TO ALL GENERATIONS project, on which we work with the Diaconia of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren. The project actively strives to change the negative image of old age, and promotes activities that enhance all substantial components of full-value life in a higher age. This primarily includes active preparation for old age and efforts to address the most obvious problems of the traditionally complicated dialogue between generations. Since January 2007, we have been the main partner of the VESEL SENIOR foundation fund, which strives to change the existing stereotype view of old age and to overcome prejudices against the life, status and importance of seniors in society. Its aid also contributes to improving the quality, conditions and services in long-stay hospitals and old peoples homes.