„My family and I have been lucky in life. We've managed to build a successful business that gives work to many people, brings cutting-edge products to the world and pushes technological development.
I am very pleased that we are now in a position which allows us to fulfil my long-held vision of giving back to society and to support some important areas of life which often lack the means to fund their missions.
We support people and organizations with knowledge, experience and vision in areas that we consider important for the development of our society. We provide support in the form of an opportunity to receive funding from the Foundation and we leave it up to the beneficiaries to decide how to best use the support we grant. We hope to inspire other potential donors with our actions because we believe that giving back to society brings value to all of us.
As the founder, I have decided to donate a portion of my equity capital to ensure regular income for the Foundation. I have asked people who I value as experienced, respected, and value-driven professionals to administer the donation. Many of these people are my life-long friends whose judgment I respect deeply, and I have no doubt that their values will be reflected in the work of the Foundation.
I am happy that my vision to help others is shared by those closest to me. Our Foundation is a family foundation not only in name but reflects the shared beliefs of my family. We hope that we will be able to contribute, at least in a small way, to our society taking and maintaining the right course.“
René Holeček
We support people with knowledge, experience and vision in areas we consider important for the development of our society. We provide support in the form of an open opportunity to receive funding from the Foundation and we leave it up to the beneficiaries to decide how to best use the support we grant. We would like to inspire others with our actions, because we believe that giving back to society brings value to us all.
Our main area of focus is the Czech educational system. Educated people are a prerequisite for the development of any society and there is therefore a close focus on educational projects in the Foundation’s activities.
Good health is a prerequisite for a full and active life of each of us. Therefore, the quality of health care, social care and the health care system is also in the Foundation’s focus.
Last but not least, the Foundation supports science and research projects as the main driver of progress and development in any society.
The Foundation mainly supports organisations such as universities or hospitals, which already have a strong potential in the fields mentioned above, but their funding does not always allow them to fully develop their potential.
In addition to these main areas of focus, the Board of Trustees also looks at specific innovative projects with the potential of bringing new discoveries or practices. The Foundation is currently not an open foundation which would accept individual applications.
All grants are approved by the Board of Trustees at its regular meetings.
The Foundation publicly informs about all grants awarded in its regular reports and on this website.
The use of grants is monitored by standard legal tools available to foundations for this purpose. All beneficiaries must submit annual reports to the Foundation for approval. In addition, the Foundation uses a contractual control mechanism, and a responsible representative is appointed for each beneficiary, who ensures that the grant is used in compliance with the grant rules and other applicable rules and professional standards. The Foundation regularly exchanges information with this representative regarding the use of the funds provided.
Changes in Foundation
Prague, 11 August 2023
Barbora Holečková became a member of the Board of Trustees of the Holecek Family Foundation on 11 August.
Changes in Foundation
Prague, 28 December 2022
The Holecek Family Foundation Board Member Tomáš Pojar resigned from his position effective as of 31 December 2022. The reason for Mr. Pojar’s resignation is his appointment as a National Security Advisor from 1 January 2023. The Foundation’s Supervisory Board considered and approved the resignation to be effective on 31 December 2022.
Chairman of Board of Trustees
Petr Kolář is a widely respected figure in the Czech Republic and abroad. A former diplomat and high-ranking public officer, he has worked as a historian, journalist and Czech ambassador to Sweden, Ireland, USA and Russia. He served as the deputy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and as an advisor to President Vaclav Havel. His lifelong focus is international relations and security.
Vice-Chairman of Board of Trustees
The former fighter pilot and later senior executive is a long-time associate of the founder of the Foundation. He was a production manager and later the general manager of Škoda Praha, and in the last fifteen years he first headed Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod and later the entire Colt CZ Group. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Colt CZ Group and as the Chairman of the Defence Industry section of the Czech Chamber of Commerce.
Vice-Chairman of Board of Trustees, Foundation CEO
Ondřej Novák is a legal expert focusing on the Czech healthcare system, public health insurance system and pharmaceutical industry. He is the founder and CEO of Pharmservice s.r.o., a company operating in the field of clinical trials in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Member of the Board of Trustees
Tomáš Zima is a university professor in the fields of medical chemistry and biochemistry. He was the Dean of the 1st Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Prague. Currently, he is the head of the Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics of Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice v Praze. He served as the Rector of Charles University in Prague for two terms and was also the Chairman of the Czech Conference of Rectors.
Member of Board of Trustees
An expert in international relations, Eva Svobodová is a long-time associate of the founder of the Foundation. She has held various positions in the security sector, including the EU Police Mission in Afghanistan, the Czech Ministry of Defence, the Permanent Delegation of the Czech Republic to NATO and the NATO headquarters in Brussels. She was an advisor to General Petr Pavel when he served as the Chair of the NATO Military Committee. She is currently the External Relations Director at Colt CZ Group.
Member of Board of Trustees
Zbyněk Pavlačík is an expert in international security and public diplomacy. He is a co-founder and chairman of Jagello 2000, an association which runs the NATO Information Centre in Prague and organizes the annual NATO Days in Ostrava.
Member of Board of Trustees
Consultant in an international consulting firm. Barbora studied in the United States where she got a degree in economics, finance and management.
Chairperson of Supervisory Board
Manager and long-time close collaborator of the founder in his business and investment projects. Veslava Piegzová has worked in various financial and economic roles at Třinecké železárny, České loděnice, and since 2013, she has been with Česká zbrojovka, first as its CFO and later as the Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors. She has also served on the Supervisory Board of the Colt CZ Group.
Member of Supervisory Board
A close associate of the founder of the Foundation for many years, Jana Růžičková has held various management and executive positions in the founder's companies for over 15 years. She specializes in M&A transactions, audit and compliance. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Colt CZ Group and currently serves on its Supervisory Board.
Member of Supervisory Board
David Neveselý is a renowned M&A, corporate and finance attorney. He heads a specialized advisory team for private clients in the Czech Republic and Slovakia at the leading Czech law firm Havel & Partners.
Nadace rodiny Holečkových
Holecek Family Foundation
Opletalova 1284/37
110 00 Praha 1 – Nové Město
IČ 14100550