Karel Komárek Family Foundation

✨ Inspiration for all of us! Osamu Okamura, a leading voice in urban planning and public space design, visited the House of Nature, a modern architectural landmark supported by our foundation in the South Moravian region of the Czech Republic. There, he led discussions with architects and officials on today’s most pressing urban challenges. 👨👨👦👦 He addressed the impact of monofunctional city zones, brownfields, and suburbanization, as well as the role of participatory planning in building resilient #communities. Osamu Okamura also highlighted the long-term process of landscape restoration and how thoughtful urban interventions can create meaningful spaces for future generations—just as we are doing in Hodonín following the tornado. 🎓 As an urban architect, former dean of the Faculty of Arts and Architecture at the Technical University of Liberec, and an influential figure in urban development, he has dedicated his career to improving the liveability of cities and #inspiring communities to rethink how we shape our shared spaces. 🌿 At the Karel Komárek Family Foundation, we believe that creating #sustainable, inspiring environments requires #visionary thinking and #collaboration. We are honoured to have hosted Osamu Okamura and to support discussions that drive forward smart, human-centred urban development.  

👏 Congratulations to Knihovna Václava Havla on their new director. The position has been taken up by economist, philosopher, and writer Tomáš Sedláček. Tomáš Sedláček is a former economic advisor to Václav Havel. The Presidential Office was his very first employer. He had already been involved with the library even before its establishment. "I was 24 years old, had long hair, and was excited about everything. Now I'm returning to my roots! I’m returning to Václav Havel. To what will remain of him forever," he says about his appointment. 💡 A respected global thinker with experience from prestigious institutions and international environments, he will lead the library with the aim of developing its legacy for future generations. He also plans to strengthen Havel's #optimism and values and build a platform of global significance that will engage a new generation and further develop Václav Havel’s legacy. 🤝 We wish Tomáš Sedláček much success and look forward to collaborating not only on the development of the Havel Channel platform, which we have long supported at the foundation.

🇺🇦 Prominent figures from business, culture, and politics gathered at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum to support our Ark for Ukraine initiative to protect Ukrainian culture from the devastation of war. But the Ark is much more than just a vehicle for 3D scanning rare cultural objects. This unique publicly & privately funded partnership represents a steadfast commitment to preserving the identity, dignity, and freedom of the Ukrainian people—and not just theirs! As our Ukrainian partners say, this war is not just Ukraine’s struggle, it concerns the entire civilized world. Now we must now stand together to defend its independence, culture, and history. That is why we launched the Ark project. Find out more about the preservation of Ukraine’s cultural heritage and join our initiative at: https://lnkd.in/eXxSDTA8 🤝 Partners: Ministerstvo kultury, Národní muzeum, Міністерство культури та стратегічних комунікацій України, International Council of Museums (ICOM)

Three Years of War. Three Years of Aid. Our Three Key Themes. The day after the Russian invasion, we began sending humanitarian aid. We dispatched a total of 16 trucks carrying 310 tons of supplies to Ukraine and assisted refugees in the Lviv region. In the following days, we provided shelter and a sense of security to mothers who fled the war to our country. And in the months that followed, their children were able to form new friendships at school, in extracurricular activities, and at summer camps that we organized. Now, we are helping to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage, where, according to UNESCO, nearly 500 cultural monuments have already been damaged by the war. We believe that culture connects the past and the future—and that it is our duty to help preserve it. We have stood with Ukraine since day one and we will continue to support them. 💙💛

🌿 Wonderful changes are coming to Třebechovická Kindergarten in Hradec Králové!   🌳 Thanks to our Transformations of Gardens program, a new educational garden will soon take shape, designed to spark curiosity, encourage movement, and inspire creativity in young children. 🌲 This beautifully planned outdoor space will offer a diverse landscape full of hidden corners, inviting children to explore, play, and find moments of quiet reflection. From playful uplands inspired by the region’s landscape to cozy nooks for storytelling and discovery, every element has been carefully designed with the children in mind.    🤝 We are grateful to the city of Hradec Králové and landscape architects Radka Matoušková and Tomáš Černý from Rehwaldt Landscape Architects for bringing this vision to life. 💚 At the Karel Komárek Family Foundation, we believe that a garden is also a classroom—a place where children can grow, learn, and build a deeper connection with the world around them. We can't wait to see the transformation begin.

📍 A significant milestone in the Ark for Ukraine project has been reached. The specialized mobile unit, Ark I, has now been formally handed over from the Czech side to our partners in Ukraine, marking a crucial step in the preservation of Ukraine’s cultural heritage.     🤝 Developed through international cooperation, Ark I is equipped to safeguard rare manuscripts, books, and archival documents that are at risk due to ongoing conflict. In addition to the physical transfer, comprehensive training for Ukrainian experts by Czech specialists is now underway, ensuring that this invaluable resource is used to its full potential.     🙏This initiative would not have been possible without the dedication and collaboration of our partners. We extend our deepest gratitude to the Czech Ministry of Culture (Ministerstvo kultury), the Ukrainian government, the National Library of the Czech Republic (Národní knihovna České republiky), the National Museum of the Czech Republic (Národní muzeum), the Yaroslav Mudryi National Library of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Library Association, MND, Allwyn, entrepreneur Libor Winkler, and all those who have contributed to this effort.

🔎 A recent STEM study found that 85% of young people want the #1990s to be a firm part of #history education. 👉 That’s why the Václav Havel Library (Knihovna Václava Havla) is launching "Devadesátá", a new online #educational series bringing this #transformative decade to life through engaging video lessons, lectures, and podcasts. 👐 At the Karel Komárek Family Foundation, we believe that #democracy, #freedom, and civic engagement must not be taken for granted. That’s why we proudly support initiatives like this, ensuring that the lessons of the past remain relevant for the next #generation.

🏡 Three years after a devastating tornado, the Children's Town in Hodonín is coming back to life! Construction has begun to restore this beloved space for children, scouts, and nature lovers of all generations. The renewed space will serve as a gathering place, bringing the community together once again and fostering a stronger, more resilient future. The project was designed by Studio Maaus, and its realization has been made possible through the collaboration of key partners, including Nadace Via, the Ministry for Regional Development (Ministerstvo pro místní rozvoj), and the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic (Státní fond životního prostředí ČR). 💙 A huge thank you to all partners and donors who contributed to this transformation, whether through direct support or initiatives like the charity run Běh Bažantnicí.  🙏 Special thanks to Aricoma, SAZKA a.s., UniCredit Bank CZ & SK, STAVEBNÍ FIRMA PLUS, MND, Mindsquared, Art of Finance, Klimabott, and Petr Lunak for their invaluable contributions. 

📜 A milestone for Ark I: This specialized mobile unit, designed to safeguard rare manuscripts, books, and archival documents in Ukraine damaged during the war or threatened by external conditions, has now been delivered to Kyiv. Ark for Ukraine project exemplifies how innovation and collaboration can address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. 💙 We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Czech Ministry of Culture (Ministerstvo kultury), the Ukrainian government, the National Library of the Czech Republic (Národní knihovna České republiky), the National Museum of the Czech Republic (Národní muzeum), the Yaroslav Mudryi National Library of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Library Association, MND, Allwyn, entrepreneur Libor Winkler, and all our partners for their steadfast commitment to preserving what defines and uplifts communities during their most difficult hours. 🌏 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has documented significant damage to over 450 cultural sites across Ukraine. This includes 32 museums and 17 libraries, along with their invaluable collections, which stand as cornerstones of Ukrainian history, culture, and national identity. These losses represent not only physical destruction but also a profound threat to the heritage and collective memory that define and sustain a nation.

At Artium by KKCG, partners gathered to discuss and support the Donating Groups to Children initiative. This vital project ensures that no child is left behind, providing financial support to families who struggle to afford extracurricular activities. Since its launch in 2022, the initiative has:  ✅ Supported nearly 11,000 children  ✅ Distributed over 19 million CZK  ✅ Partnered with 1,000+ organizations offering 10,000+ activities In the most recent phase, 3 million CZK was allocated, helping families access extracurricular programs in the second semester of the 2023/2024 school year. Families were able to apply for up to 1,500 CZK in vouchers, which were used for memberships, materials, camps, and more. We are deeply thankful to SAZKA a.s., Prague City Hall, ŠKODA AUTO Endowment Fund (Nadační fond Škoda Auto), Eva Pavlová Endowment Fund (Nadační fond Evy Pavlové), and the Ministry of Education (Ministerstvo školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy (MŠMT)) for their dedication and support, demonstrated during this inspiring gathering at Artium by KKCG. Together, we’ve created opportunities for every child to thrive. 💙