4 071 498 SKK for the Children's Hospital
Rich, generous, full of good deeds and fulfilled wishes, but full of surprises too - such was the grand Christmas charity event named the Wishing Tree concert,
organized by U. S. Steel Kosice on Friday of last week, December 8th, in the Kosice State Theater. Lasting almost two hours, and rich in cultural but also emotional experiences, the
concert was opened by the President of the Kosice steelworks David H. Lohr. He observed that U. S. Steel Kosice tries to help those who are in greatest need, and foster homes and
hospitals definitely belong in this category. The fact that the steelworkers are glad to help others is borne out by their willing involvement in this year's voluntary collection.
"I am proud of them, and I would like to thank them for their generosity," said the President, addressing his words of acknowledgment to all who contributed to the
financial collection or who bought gifts for the Wishing Tree project. David Lohr emphasized the excellence of the cooperation with the Kosice State Theater, which is preparing high-quality
productions for the people of Kosice and this region, and he announced that U. S. Steel Kosice is donating 1 million Slovak crowns to this seat of culture to ensure the fulfillment of
next year's projects and plans. The same goes for the aims and objectives of four foster homes in Eastern Slovakia, whose principals were personally handed symbolic checks for 250 000 SKK each by
USSK Vice-presidents Miroslav Kiralvarga, James F. Connor and Anton Jura and General Counsel Kenneth Pepperney, while the latters' wives presented symbolic toys for the children. The next
announcement was the magnificent sum which could also be handed over thanks to the generosity of U. S. Steel Kosice employees who joined in the voluntary collection to enable the
University Children's Hospital to purchase anesthesiological equipment and a portable ultrasound machine. This year's collection was the biggest so far, producing 1 357 166 Slovak crowns.
The same amount was then contributed towards this humane cause by both the company U. S. Steel Kosice and the U. S. Steel Kosice Foundation,
which meant that Children's Hospital Director Ingrid Urbancikova received a symbolic check from President David Lohr for a combined total of 4 071 498 Slovak crowns. The same evening another of
the wishes was fulfilled which came from one of the four Wishing Trees set up around the USSK site last month. Apart from crayons and an encyclopedia, little Elenka had one more modest wish -
that the person who picked her card from the Wishing Tree would donate at least one crown towards cancer research. For this was the disease which took away from her and her three brothers and
sisters the person closest to them - their mother. The collection among the Concert audience in the Theater, initiated by President David H. Lohr, raised 61 594 SKK. But the support for cancer
research, which Elenka so wished for, will in fact be double that amount. "The same sum will also be contributed by U. S. Steel Kosice," the President announced. Highlights from the
Concert will be broadcast around Christmas time by six local television stations all across Eastern Slovakia.
USSK Hut at the Kosice Christmas market
For the first time in the history of Kosice Christmas market, there is a hut on the Main Street being run by U. S. Steel Kosice. There are several reasons for this, the first being that the Company and the city simply belong together. If you stop by the hut, you will also get a little free gift in the form of a card with a personal expression of gratitude and best wishes for the New Year from the President of U. S. Steel Kosice, a Christmas card to send some happiness to someone you love, and a candy horseshoe for luck as well. The hut also features presentations of the activities of non-profit organizations supported by the Company. The hut is open daily from 9am to 9pm until December 23rd.
Guests from Pittsburgh in Kosice
In recent days our Company was visited by United States Steel Corporation Executive Vice-president Finance Gretchen R. Haggerty, Vice-president and Controller Larry Schultz, and other top managers from Pittsburgh. As well as having meetings and conversations with U. S. Steel Kosice management, they also found time to look at the construction site and preparations for bringing into operation of the third galvanizing line. The details of its functioning and the preparation work were presented to Vice-president Haggerty and her colleagues by USSK GM Engineering Activities Mike L. Terry and USSK Final Production Projects Manager Jozef Skrivanek.
Christmas evening for former employees
Four hundred former steelworks employees were very pleased to accept the invitation from U. S. Steel Kosice to the now traditional Christmas evening, which took place on Wednesday of last week, December 6th 2006, in the House of Art in Kosice. This was an opportunity to remember things, to meet up again, after many years in a lot of cases, to tell each other what's new and share each other's joys and sorrows - all of these things were possible at this gala event to which all were welcomed by USSK President David H. Lohr and his wife Susan together with other Company top managers with their wives.
