KESKO SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATHLETES AND YOUNG ART STUDENTS
Today is the 16th time that Kesko awards young talented athletes and students of fine arts universities. This year a Kesko scholarship is given to 16 young artists and 24 promising athletes. In addition Kesko grants are given to a variety of Finnish scientific, research, educational and non-profit organisations, including war veteran activities. The total value of the scholarships and grants is about 177,000 euros.
The scholarship recipients were chosen on the recommendations made by fine arts universities, The Young Finland Association and The Finnish Workers’ Sports Federation TUL, and include Finnish Amateur Athletics’ Association, Finnish Sports Association of Mentally Handicapped People, Finnish Association of Sports for the Disabled, and Finlands Svenska Idrott CIF rf. The recipients of the Kesko culture scholarships represent four fine arts universities, namely Academy of Fine Arts, Sibelius Academy, University of Art and Design Helsinki and Theatre Academy.
Financial assistance is increasingly directed at projects relating to children and young people, not forgetting our war veterans. Grant recipients include the Foundation for Pediatric Research, a project by The Finnish Association for Mental Health titled ’Strength from mental health in childhood and adolescence’, The Guides and Scouts of Finland, the association of the Kuusikoti housing service unit for war veterans, the Tammenlehvän Perinneliitto reservist association, and the 2003 fund collection for war veterans. Kesko also funds a Marketing Chair and an E-commerce Chair at the Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration, and an E-business Chair at the University of Jyväskylä.
UNICEF India is implementing a project preventing the use of child labour in the town of Bhiwandi, near Mumbai. This project supported by Kesko was started in 2000. Bhiwandi is a centre of weaving industry, which employs about 12,000 children, mainly boys aged from 7 to 14. According to the annual report by the project management, the finance provided by Kesko has so far enabled about 1,000 working boys to start attending school on a part-time basis.
Enclosed is a list of the recipients of the Kesko scholarships and grants presented on 20 May 2003.
Further information:
Erkki Heikkinen, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 1053 22721
This release can also be read at www.kesko.fi/pressinfo
Kesko scholarships and grants, totalling EUR 177,045
| Organisation | Recipient | Domicile | Amount, EUR |
| Finlands Svenska Idrott CIF r.f. | Matias Strandvall (skiing) | Vöyri | 1,000 |
| Finlands Svenska Idrott CIF r.f. | Pernilla Tunis (orienteering) | Vöyri | 1,000 |
| Finlands Svenska Idrott CIF r.f. | Jonathan Åstrand (track & field/sprinter) | Närpiö | 1,000 |
| Finnish Association of Sports for the Disabled | Ulla Kulju (ice sledging) | Keminmaa | 1,000 |
| Finnish Association of Sports for the Disabled | Maria Paavola (sitting volleyball) | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| Finnish Association of Sports for the Disabled | Taneli Tenhunen (wheelchair tennis) | Kiuruvesi | 1,000 |
| Finnish sports association of mentally handicapped people | Sami Hakala (judo) | Pori | 1,000 |
| Finnish sports association of mentally handicapped people | Juhaseppo Rantala (alpine skiing) | Tampere | 1,000 |
| Finnish Volleyball Association | Merja Korhonen | Savonlinna | 1,000 |
| Football Association of Finland | Turo Simolin | Vihti | 1,000 |
| Football Association of Finland | Minna Meriluoto | Turku | 1,000 |
| Finnish Floorball Federation | Jarno Ihme | Oulu | 1,000 |
| Finnish Orienteering Federation | Saara Turkka | Valkeala | 1,000 |
| Finnish Orienteering Federation | Hannu Airila | Kerava | 1,000 |
| Finnish Dance Sport Association | Saana Kivinen | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| Finnish Dance Sport Association | Katri Mäkinen | Oulu | 1,000 |
| Finnish Workers’ Sports Federation TUL | Manu Mäntymäki | Nummela | 1,000 |
| Finnish Workers’ Sports Federation TUL | Sanna Kaaria | Hamina | 1,000 |
| Finnish Swimming Association | Marjo Hienonen | Raisio | 1,000 |
| Finnish Swimming Association | Eetu Karvonen | Tampere | 1,000 |
| Finnish Amateur Athletics’ Association | Sari Keskitalo | Pello | 1,000 |
| Finnish Amateur Athletics’ Association | Pauliina Paunu | Riitiela/Ikaalinen | 1,000 |
| Finnish Amateur Athletics’ Association | Aki Nummela | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| Finnish Gymnastics Federation | Kiira Kokko | Tampere | 1,000 |
| Academy of Fine Arts | Ilona Valkonen | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| Academy of Fine Arts | Antti Oikarinen | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| Academy of Fine Arts | Milja Viita | Karkkila | 1,000 |
| Academy of Fine Arts | Tatu Tuominen | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| Sibelius Academy | Juho Pohjonen | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| Sibelius Academy | Maija Kauhanen | Järvenpää | 1,000 |
| Sibelius Academy | Markus Virtala | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| Sibelius Academy | Kati Kuusava | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| University of Art and Design Helsinki | Sirpa Fourastié | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| University of Art and Design Helsinki | Minna Nurminen | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| University of Art and Design Helsinki | Yuan Long | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| University of Art and Design Helsinki | Sandra Kantanen | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| Theatre Academy | Leena Määttälä | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| Theatre Academy | Tuomas Timonen | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| Theatre Academy | Johan Rönneholm | Helsinki | 1,000 |
| Theatre Academy | Tanja Kuisma | Espoo | 1,000 |
| Kuusikoti ry | grant | 5,000 | |
| Tammenlehvän Perinneliitto ry | grant | 10,000 | |
| 2003 veteran collection | grant | 20,000 | |
| The Foundation for Pediatric Research | grant | 15,000 | |
| The Guides and Scouts of Finland | grant | 10,000 | |
| The Finnish Association for Mental Health | grant | 10,000 | |
| UNICEF India’s project preventing the use of child labour | grant | 25,000 | |
| Research, science, education, Chairs | grant | 42,045 | |
| TOTAL |
|
| 177,045 |
