Kesko scholarships to 41 talented young athletes and art students

Press release / 26.05.2004 13:00

Today is the 17th time that Kesko awards young talented athletes and students of fine arts universities. This year Kesko scholarships are presented to 17 young artists and 24 promising athletes. In addition, Kesko grants are given to a variety of scientific, research, educational and non-profit organisations, including pediatric research and education of working children in developing countries. The total value of the scholarships and grants is 195,637 euros.

The scholarship recipients were chosen on the recommendations made by fine arts universities, member federations of 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 Swedish Sports Federation in Finland. 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 UIAH and Theatre Academy.

This year, financial assistance is mainly directed at scientific targets, projects relating to the education of children and young people, and war veterans. Grant recipients include the Foundation for Pediatric Research, the association of the Kuusikoti housing service unit for war veterans and the Tammenlehvän Perinneliitto reservist association. Kesko also funds a Marketing Chair and an E-commerce Chair at the Helsinki School of Economics.

Kesko continues to finance a project implemented by UNICEF India to prevent the use of child labour, which it started in 2000. So far 2,471 working children have been able to start attending school either on a part-time or a full-time basis thanks to Kesko’s support. In addition, 699 young women have participated in training groups where they have been taught writing, reading and family care skills. Self-help groups for housewives have had over 1,000 attendants. Through UNICEF Finland, Kesko also participates in a campaign to promote the global education of girls.

Additionally Kesko supports the operations of the Young Finland Association and the Finnish Science Centre Heureka on the basis of long-term cooperation agreements.

Enclosed is a list of the recipients of the Kesko scholarships and grants presented on 26 May 2004.

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 195,637.


Organisation	Kesko scholarship	Domicile	Amount

Swedish Sports Federation in Finland	Tarmo Koskela (shooting)	Porvoo	1000
Swedish Sports Federation in Finland	Jonas Lindell (cross-country skiing)	Kristiinan- kaupunki	1000
Swedish Sports Federation in Finland	Heini Wennman (orienteering)	Kokkola	1000
Finnish Ski Association	Anssi Koivuranta (Nordic combined)	Oulu	1000
Finnish Ski Association	Marcus Sandell (alpine skiing)	Espoo	1000
Finnish Association of Sports for the Disabled	Maija Löytynoja (cross-country skiing)	Saloinen	1000
Finnish Association of Sports for the Disabled	Esa-Pekka Mattila (alpine skiing)	Espoo	1000
Finnish Association of Sports for the Disabled	Hannu-Pekka Torvinen (swimming)	Sodankylä	1000
Finnish Bandy Association	Jussi Aaltonen	Pori	1000
Finnish sports association of mentally handicapped people	Sampsa Kemppinen (riding)	Littoinen	1000
Finnish sports association of mentally handicapped people	Pauliina Vaitti (alpine skiing)	Lahti	1000
Finnish Wrestling Federation	Sarianne Savola	Lappajärvi	1000
Football Association of Finland	Tuomo Turunen	Karhula	1000
Football Association of Finland	Neea Berg	Kuopio	1000
Finnish Badminton Association	Sari Pallonen	Espoo	1000
Finnish Badminton Association	Kasper Lehikoinen	Espoo	1000
Finnish Figure Skating Association	Kiira Korpi	Tampere	1000
Finnish Figure Skating Association	Valtter Virtanen	Kerava	1000
Finnish Workers' Sports Federation TUL	Alisa Halinen (rhythmic gymnastics)	Helsinki	1000
Finnish Workers' Sports Federation TUL	Marjo Hienonen (swimming)	Raisio	1000
Finnish Amateur Athletics' Association	Elina Sorsa (triple jump)	Lappeenranta	1000
Finnish Amateur Athletics' Association	Petri Mättölä (hammer throwing)	Karhula	1000
Finnish Amateur Athletics' Association	Mia Hovi (walking)	Vihti	1000
Finnish Gymnastics Federation	Maria Ringinen (rhythmic gymnastics)	Helsinki	1000
Academy of Fine Arts	Markus Perälä	Helsinki	1000
Academy of Fine Arts	Jyrki Riekki	Vantaa	1000
Academy of Fine Arts	Vappu Rossi	Helsinki	1000
Academy of Fine Arts	Perttu Saksa	Helsinki	1000
Sibelius Academy	Lasse Penttinen	Saarijärvi	1000
Sibelius Academy	Jouko Kyhälä	Kirkkonummi	1000
Sibelius Academy	Marianna Henriksson	Helsinki	1000
Sibelius Academy	Outi Kulmala	Tampere	1000
University of Art and Design Helsinki UIAH	Zaida Bergroth	Helsinki	500
University of Art and Design Helsinki UIAH	Anu Keränen	Helsinki	500
University of Art and Design Helsinki UIAH	Piia Tiira	Helsinki	1000
University of Art and Design Helsinki UIAH	Katja Virtanen	Helsinki	1000
University of Art and Design Helsinki UIAH	Tiina Lamminen	Tampere	1000
Theatre Academy	Anna-Maija Tuokko	Helsinki	1000
Theatre Academy	Kasperi Laine	Tampere	1000
Theatre Academy	Mikael Strömberg	Helsinki	1000
Theatre Academy	Milla Koistinen	Helsinki	1000



Kuusikoti ry	grant		5000
Foundation for Pediatric Research	grant		15000
Tammenlehvän Perinneliitto ry	grant		10000
Civil defence and war veteran activities	grant		5000
UNICEF projects in India preventing the use of child labour / promoting global education for girls	grant		25000
Research, science and education, marketing and e-commerce chairs	grant		95637



		Total	195637