Mission
There are numerous ways to show your country that you love it and how much you are willing to do for it. The Karić family has chosen charity, presentation of national culture around the world, promotion of tolerance, coexistence of different nations, religions and cultures – not only in Serbia but also in the region and the world. And thus for more than four decades.
Not only in response to the nowadays widely accepted term of social responsibility, but above all feeling the human and patriotic necessity, back in 1979. Bogoljub Karić created the Social Council in Peć which would later grow into the Karić Brothers Foundation, with the idea to proudly promote his country. Despite all the difficulties, the Karić family continued their work convinced that good intentions, love for country and all people in it, commitment to benevolence and humanitarian work are necessary today more than ever. Also, the activities of the foundation from its establishment until today are in accordance with the growing need for care of people and the general provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948 by the General Assembly of the United Nations, as well as with the maxim: “ All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.“
It is precisely for these reasons the foundation’s decades-long work includes the defense of international principles of protection of human rights and freedoms, in all its humanitarian and social activities.
Also, the activities of the Foundation from its establishment until today are in accordance with the growing needs of caring for people and the provisions of the General Declaration on Human Rights adopted in 1948 by the General Assembly of the United Nations, and the quote from it: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in the spirit of brotherhood.” It is for these reasons that the Foundation’s decades-long work, in all its humanitarian and social activities, includes the defense of international principles of protection of human rights and freedoms.
Vision
“Let the Karić Foundation be a modest contribution of the Karić family to their fatherland. Maybe this way we shall take one step closer to the great historical names such as Captain Miša, Tekelija, Kolarac, Spasić, Dunđerski or Luka Ćelović, famous among their descendants not for the salt trade or manufacture of beer, but for the material and spiritual benefits that are their legacy built for their own people. Therefore, let this just be another brick in the imposing building of national legacy.”
Speech by Milanka Karić, founder, at the first Karić Brothers’ Award ceremony in 1998.
Letter from the President of the Foundation
Dear friends,It is said that there is no big or small benevolence. It is important that there is will, desire and a good heart to help others and save from oblivion all the material and spiritual goods of our people`s culture.
It is my great honor to be unanimously elected by my family to be the president of our family foundation – the Karić Brothers Foundation.
The time has come for the younger generation of the Karić family to take over this important role. I proudly accept the responsibility to carry on with the preservation of Serbian tradition, family life and cultural heritage. I wish to continue to foster the idea of my family that we all are responsible for our society, country and the planet. I never intend to forget my roots and, what`s more, I intend to keep the foundation as a family nest that has always been the soul of the company.
I believe that I will abide on the road of charity, conveying to future generations what I have been taught from my early age: “The hand that gives will never be empty.”
Some will say that I am an idealist, but I firmly believe that all our aspirations, dreams and desires can be achieved only if we have the courage and faith to follow them. That’s why I listen to and follow my inner voice, not speaking in words, but in the silent language of the heart. Like Martin Luther King said:”Faith is when you take the first step. You do not have to see the whole staircase, just take that step.” As contemporaries of current global challenges and increasingly frequent and numerous human tragedies caused by neglect of civilizational and social frameworks that should ensure respect for human rights and freedoms, we contribute to strengthening the collective social awareness in all our activities, by constantly emphasizing publicly that an independent and free person is the backbone of every happy family and every modern and progressive society.
As contemporaries of current global challenges and increasingly frequent numerous human tragedies, caused by neglect of civilizational and social structure that should ensure respect for human rights and freedoms, in all our activities we contribute to strengthening collective social awareness through constant public emphasis that independent and a free man is the backbone of every happy family and every modern and progressive society.
Danica B. Karić
President of the Karić Brothers Foundation
Letter from the founder of the Foundation
Dear friends,
It has been more than three decades since my family started helping our employees and fellow citizens through the Social Council, regardless of nationality, religion or skin color. The size, number and diversity of the Foundation’s endeavors are proof that in the tradition of our family there is an ingrained responsibility towards the state and society. I taught my children that nothing is given forever by destiny, neither wealth nor poverty, that those who do not have should be respected and helped, and that at the same time means supporting the deepest meaning of human hopes.
Today, proudly, without doubt or fear and with full confidence, I pass the difficult and responsible task of managing the Foundation, to my youngest daughter. The family unanimously elected her Chairwoman of our family foundation. I am sure that she will perform the function of the Chairwoman of the Karić Foundation with absolute dedication, with a strong sense of humanity and responsibility. She knows very well that only with a lot of work and effort and with well-organized team can he achieve top results. I would like everything she does to leave a mark in history, for future generations to be proud of her deeds!
Milanka Karić
Founder of the Karić Brothers Foundation
1. Humanitarian work of the Foundation
Although several centers are thematically classified within the Foundation: the Center for Child Care, the Center for the Promotion of Family Values, the Center for the Promotion and Development of Science and Education, the Center for the Promotion of Culture and Creativity, the Center for Publishing and the Center for International Cooperation – all the diverse activities of the “Braća Karić” Foundation have a unique – humanitarian character. Whether they are directly determined by the provision of concrete financial aid to institutions and individuals, the raising of endowments and monuments or events in the field of culture – organizing concerts, exhibitions, book promotions – in the essence of all the actions of the “Braća Karić” Foundation, there is charity.
The Foundation’s humanitarian work includes: Care of children, Family values, Assistance to institutions, Endowments, significant investments and monuments.
2. Protection of human rights
The Human Rights Initiative of the Braća Karić Foundation is an independent, non-governmental, non-partisan and non-profit organization. This branch of the Foundation strives to remove obstacles to democratic development and the realization of basic freedoms established by the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia and other internationally recognized instruments related to human rights. This is achieved by spreading knowledge, respecting human rights and promoting the exchange of information and best practices through training, education, research, legislative advocacy and strategic partnerships. Awareness of basic freedoms will contribute to the formation of a strong and democratic culture in the field of human rights. Such a culture will promote shared decision-making and thus create a solid and effective foundation for democratic governance.
3. Publishing
For more than forty years, we have been guided by the idea of preserving and nurturing our roots and customs, the material and spiritual culture of the Serbian people. We deeply believe that preserving the alphabet, language, history and cultural heritage is the safest and best promotion of a nation. As long as the mother tongue lives, as long as history lives, as long as the art and traditions of a people live, so does its national identity.
The Braća Karić Foundation has been engaged in publishing for almost three decades, thus preserving the cultural heritage of their country. The size, number and diversity of the Foundation’s publishing ventures are proof that responsibility towards the state and society is rooted in the tradition of the Karić family.
4. International cooperation
“Braća Karić” Foundation has established clear criteria and goals of its international cooperation since the beginning of its work. Its intention is to promote and support broad international contacts in all areas: culture, humanitarian actions, science, economy and media and thereby contribute to more meaningful communication and better understanding between people, nations and states, with the aim of affirming peace and friendship as supreme values. The Foundation has always considered the inclusion of Serbia in the European and world integration processes as a particularly important task in that area.
5. Science and education
The “Braća Karić” Foundation is the founder of the first private university in our country, which indicates the fact that it attaches great importance to the improvement of education and science. By implementing the activities of the University, its faculties and institutes, the “Braća Karić” Foundation realizes its policy in education: top knowledge, excellent professors and lecturers, the best prepared young experts – professionals for the challenges of the times and the needs of further development of our economy and the country as a whole.
6. Art and culture
Connecting art and humanity, the “Braća Karić” Foundation year after year painted a cultural portrait of Belgrade and the entire country, made up of unforgettable concerts by local and foreign artists, significant exhibitions, projects that, relying on tradition, built bridges to the hearts of new generations . Respecting and helping the true bards of our cultural scene, giving space to young artists, the “Braća Karić” Foundation protected our art.
7. Award „Braća Karić”
According to the idea of its creator and founder Bogoljub Karić, 25 years ago one of the most important activities of the Foundation was launched – the “Braća Karić” Award. The award – to which Karić gave its name and all the attributes of that name – is awarded every year for exceptional achievements in the fields of scientific and research work, culture and art, journalism, journalism and publishing, economy and economy, as well as humanitarian activities that strengthen peace, cooperation and friendship between nations.
The “Braća Karić” award was established as a result of faith in the inexhaustible intelligence and value, above all, of our own people. The “Braća Karić” Foundation intends that in the future this award will be an incentive and motivation for all those who create, who shape values that will make all of us, and the space we live in, better.
