Silknet founded “Wounded Warrior Support Foundation” in 2018 and since then it became one of the large-scale long-term CSR projects of the company. The foundation supports veterans and military servicemen and service women, their underage children and spouses by taking care of their health and professional re-skilling needs as well as adapting houses for wheelchair users. By founding the fund, the ultimate goal of Silknet is to unite the efforts of government, business and society for supporting heroes, who fought for defending motherland. Silknet is the main donor of the fund with annual pledged amount of 300 000 GEL. Numerous companies and individuals joined Silknet over the years. Since 2018 the total amount spent for supporting hundreds of wounded warriors, makes around 2.5 Million GEL. This is the result of common efforts of business, society and government’s co-financing.

WWSF constantly makes transparent and responsible reporting to society by publishing periodic results of its activities. By the end of every year the fund declares full report of the past year during the charity gala dinner organized and financed by Silknet. This vent is usually attended by representatives of government, ambassadors, military attaches, businesses and representatives of different sphere of the society. Besides presenting the yearly activities by the management of the fund, new donations are raised during the event for the activities of the coming year, as number of companies and individuals make their donations to the fund.

This year WWSF summarizing charity gala dinner was held on December 2^nd. The event was attended by Minister of Defense of Georgia, Juansher Burchuladze, as well as high rank military officials of MOD, US Ambassador, HE Robin L. Dunnigan, NATO Military Liaison Officer, Col. Rusen Abidinoglu, Ambassadors, military attaches, business and other distinguished guests.

In his opening speech chairman of WWSF George Ramishvili addressed wounded warriors and thanked them for the sacrifice, they made for their country. He also extended his gratitude to all the contributors, who stand side by side with the fund. One of the main messages of his speech referred to the importance of the upcoming awaited decision about Georgia to be given the status of the EU member country. He mentioned that the key role on this path belongs to wounded warriors.

General director and board member of Wounded Warrior Support Foundation, David Mamulaishvili presented detailed report of 2023 activities. He also spoke about news initiatives. One of such initiatives is a polit program of phycological rehabilitation for veterans. WWSF co-financed this program together with LEPL State Service of Veterans Affairs.

„We’ve kicked off new pilot programs, which I hope, will be successful and very important for veterans. This is a group work with phycologist and veterans, who experience phycological problems of integrating in society. I believe this project will be very successful first of all for these people and their families. The purpose of this project is to help veterans overcome the difficulties behind the curtains, which veterans and their families face, while these difficulties stay unseen by the society”,-mentioned David Mamulaiashvili.

In 2023 “Wounded Warrior Support Foundation” supported 61 wounded warriors and spent 633K GEL for this. WWSF financed following cases:

• 22 surgeries and medical treatments abroad - 522 000 GEL
• 1 lower limbs prosthesis - 28 260 GEL
• 11 financing the needs of underaged children - 23 439 GEL
• 11 rehabilitation courses - 20 025 GEL
• 3 surgeries - 15 987 GEL
• 11 medical treatments - 8 839 GEL
• 4 purchasing of medical items - 3 180 GEL
• 4 financing of learning courses - 6 617 GEL
• 3 financing of medical researches - 2 465 GEL
• 1 financing of medical treatment of spouses - 593 GEL
• Miscellaneous - 2 400 GEL

The new donors were announced during the charity gala as well as on the following days. The total raised amount equal to 246K GEL:

• David Bezhuashvli’s Education Fund - 50 000 GEL
• Foodmart (Archil Gegenava) - 50 000 GEL
• Levan Chioreli and Levan Kacharava - 50 000 GEL
• Dimitri Abdushelishvili - 25 000 GEL
• Archi Promotion - 20 000 GEL
• Bacho Chinchaladze - 10 000 GEL
• George Mirianashvili - 10 000 GEL
• Yanick Arakelov - 8 070 GEL
• Zurab Shurgaia - 5 000 GEL
• UGT - 5 000 GEL
• Dio - 3 000 GEL
• Elene Machavariani - 2 000 GEL
• Theodore Charles Jonas - 2 000 GEL
• Total amount from auction - 1 600 GEL
• Nino Zambakhidze - 1 000 GEL
• Eka Bokuchava - 1 000 GEL
• Other individuals – 2 450 GEL

In addition to the above donations, Silknet, as the man sponsor of WWSF, will contribute yearly 300 000 GEL in 2024. Also, next year company will donate the one time contribution in the amount of 800 000 GEL.

During the event minister of defense mentioned the big importance of the existence of WWSF. He thanked the fund for fruitful cooperation during the year. US Ambassador, HE Robin L. Dunnigan also underlined the big importance of the activities of WWSF and the contribution Georgian soldiers fulfilled in international peace keeping missions.

A very special and powerful message from United States was shared to the guests gathered specially for WWSF charity gala. General Wesley Clark addressed Georgia’s wounded warriors and their supporters:

“As you honor the wounded warriors and veterans of Georgia, please convey our deepest respect for their patriotism and service to their native land.

All warriors and patriots share a common bond, across oceans and centuries - a commitment to service to others, a willingness to take risks and sacrifice, a quest for a better future for their families and loved ones, and above all, courage.

Today Georgia is again at the center of humanity’s struggle for the future. So many geostrategic forces converge on Georgia. Your sacrifices and dedication have already and will continue to have a decisive effect far beyond your borders.

Know that we in the United States see you, admire your courage, service and sacrifice, and pray for our common future.

Best wishes to comrades in arms.

Wesley K Clark

General, US Army (ret.)”

From the scratch the fund seeks different ways of cooperation with experiences foreign charity funds and organizations. Continuing this good tradition, WWSF was addressed with kind initiative from the British Embassy in Georgia and HMA of Great Britain in Tbilisi, Mark Klayton. Within its educational program, the embassy financed English language courses for 26 underaged children of Wounded warriors through British Corner English language learning program. Wounded Warrior Support Foundation highly values this support from the British Embassy and is committed to cooperation of this type, which takes the fund activities to the extent, where more parties get involved in supporting the distinguished members of Georgian society. By the decision of HE, Mark Klayton, the language courses will continue next year as well.

Cooperation with the International British Charity Fund „Invictus Games Foundation” is another important milestone in the history of WWSF. Within this cooperation the Georgan fund is a grantee of „Invictus Games Foundation”. With this grant WWSF purchased sitted basketball chairs for the wounded warriors team of Georgia. „We are proud to be a part of the Invictus Games Foundation effort of helping our team in their recovery through sport, but more importantly enable us to provide year-round support for our community. I am honored to extend my profound gratitude to IGF for this-, said George Ramishvili."

One more wonderful initiative for supporting WWSF belongs to TDAA- Tbilisi Defence Attache Association. The association organized charity run, which took place in Tbilisi, on Lisi lake. The raised amounts as a result of the charity run were transferred to the account of WWSF.

“Wounded Warrior Support Foundation thanks all the donors and supporters, who contributed to the 2023 activities of the fund. Any type of support is very important, as it helps to raising the awareness about WWSF.

It is symbolic, that during the charity gala dinner founder of Wounded Warrior Support Foundation, George Ramishvili addressed the wounded warriors with the following words: ”On December 15^th European Union will make a decision, which we are all looking forward to. I do hope that this will be a positive decision and if it happens, let everyone know, that you – our heroes are the ones who have the greatest role in it”.

Indeed, December 15 became the historic date for Georgia. European Counsil granted Georgia the status of candidate of EU country. The wounded warriors, who fought for the unity of the country and participated in international peace keeping missions are heroes. They fought for making our country a worthy member of western world with the western values. “Wounded Warrior Support Foundation” is a fund for supporting these distinguished members of the society and addresses everyone with one message: “Let us unite for our heroes”.

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