Kesko grants more than 3 000 scholarships to 9th graders who have promoted school work and tolerance

KESKO CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE 26.05.2014 AT 10.00 1(1)

Kesko grants a €50 Fair Play scholarship for distribution to one pupil in every comprehensive school grade nine class in Finland. The scholarship is a reward to pupils who have promoted peace, tolerance and a positive atmosphere in their schools and encouraged others in school work with their exemplary behaviour.

- We want the scholarships to spur and encourage youths and teachers to draw young people's attention to the power of our own example in building peace for schoolwork and a positive working atmosphere. The grade nine pupils' end of school year ceremony is a turning point in the lives of many young people. I hope every youth has positive experiences of the joy of learning and going to school, says Kesko's President and CEO Matti Halmesmäki.

The recipients of Kesko Fair Play scholarships are selected jointly by headmasters and class teachers. The total amount of the scholarships is more than €150,000.

- This is a significant investment from Kesko and shows how much Kesko appreciates school work and the upbringing of young people. Education is the foundation of the welfare society, but even though this is well known, other matters are often prioritised before education and the young get left behind. Kesko takes a concrete stand for the value of education and good manners, says Katriina Käkönen, vice-headmaster of Mäntynummen yhtenäiskoulu in Lohja.

The Kesko Fair Play scholarship is granted as a voucher accepted at Intersport, Budget Sport, Kookenkä, Anttila, Asko, Sotka, K-rauta, Rautia, K-citymarket and other K-Group stores.

The Kesko Fair Play scholarship is part of Kesko's long-term responsibility work. Kesko and K-stores also take part in the Finnish Youth Guarantee initiative with the aim to employ 1,000 unemployed young people by the end of 2014. Kesko and K-stores want to do their share in preventing the social exclusion of young people.

Further information:
Matti Mettälä, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Stakeholder Relations, tel. +358 105 322 200

Kesko (www.kesko.fi) is one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World. We are a retail specialist whose chains have about 2,000 stores in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Russia, and Belarus. Our stores offer quality to the daily lives of consumers. http://corporateresponsibility2013.kesko.fi/