American Chamber of Commerce in Slovenia has committed itself to at least one major charity event per year. This year’s main focus was 15^th of October, when for the 6^th time the Night of 1000 Dinners was organized jointly by the US Embassy, Canadian Embassy and ITF (International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims). The honorary guest of the event was Dr Mitja Gaspari, who in his address welcomed the noble cause and generosity of the donors.

Ajša Vodnik, M.Sc., Executive Director of American Chamber of Commerce greeted more than 200 guests in her welcome speech. The esteemed audience was also addressed by Mr. Tomaž Lovše, the President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Slovenia, Mr. Bradley Freden, temporary Charge d` affaires at the US Embassy in Ljubljana, Mr. Richard Martin – Nielsen, political adviser to the Canadian Embassy in Ljubljana and in the name of the donation recipient, Mr. Goran Gačnik, director of the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims, ITF.

This year’s donation has been meant for demining purposes in a place, called Rosići in Karlovac County, in Croatia. ITF began its mission in our country after signing of the Memorandum about Understanding on 30^th September 1999. Between the years 1991 – 2006, there were 1764 mine victims registered, among them 492 in the post-war time. There are approximately 954,5 km² of mine fields in Croatia2 of mine suspicious surfaces in Karlovac county, which means a threat for 110.000 inhabitants living there.

The Charity Ball guests have collected 36.000€, the sum has been doubled by the American authorities, so there was altogether 72.000€ donated for the demining project in Karlovac, Croatia.

Our most grateful thanks go to the following donors: CENTRALOG d.o.o., Koper; ENERGOPLAN d.d.; DELOITTE d.o.o.; DINERS CLUB SLOVENIJA d.o.o.; INŠTITUT REPUBLIKE SLOVENIJE ZA REHABILITACIJO; KARLOVAČKA ŽUPANIJA; LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 129; MERCK SHARP & DOHME d.o.o.; MICROSOFT d.o.o.; MIRO SENICA IN ODVETNIKI; PETROL d.d.; PROMPT d.o.o.; RIKO d.o.o.; SI.MOBIL d.d.; THE HUMPTY DUMPTY INSTITUTE; ZAVAROVALNICA TRIGLAV d.d. OE Ljubljana.