Czech Republic Pledges $237,437

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lubomir Zaoralek, of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington D.C., in response to the current natural disasters in the United States, has approved the provision of five million Czech crowns ($237,437) for humanitarian assistance to displaced families in La Grange.

The money will be deposited into the ministerial alliance fund here.

Retta Chandler, President of the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange said the donation “was a complete surprise. We are very grateful and this will go a long way. I am so proud of our ancestral homeland for doing this.”

Chandler said Fayette County Judge Ed Janecka and Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Texas, Brian Vanicek, were heading to Washington D.C. this week to accept the donation and a donation ceremony was going to be held Friday at the Czech Center in La Grange. 

The financial contribution is intended for the basic needs of people displaced by the hurricane (shelter, food and drinking water, health and hygiene). As a result of Hurricane Harvey, the State of Texas experienced devastating floods, leading to the loss of life and the temporary displacement of millions of people, including Czech compatriots.  The hurricane and resulting floods also had a severe impact on the infrastructure and environment. 

The assistance, which was prepared in close cooperation with the Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Texas, Brian Vanicek, represents an expression of the Czech Republic’s solidarity with the United States of America and the Czech compatriots during this disaster with far-reaching consequences. The Government of the Czech Republic is ready to continue with this support.