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Summary for: Hockey stars Pastrňák, Voráček among 17 honored with Czech Senate medalsHockey players David Pastrňák and Jakub Voráček were among 17 people honored with silver commemorative medals at the Czech Senate on Monday.
Senate President Miloš Vystrčil presented the awards during an annual Czech Statehood Day ceremony recognizing people who have excelled in their fields, helped others or strengthened Czechia’s reputation abroad.
This year’s recipients were selected from more than 100 nominations. They included economist Jan Švejnar, human rights advocate Elena Gorolová and paramedic Petra Homolová, founder of the Ambulance of Fulfilled Dreams project.
Hockey stars honored for charitable work
Pastrňák and Voráček received a joint medal primarily for their support of the Jakub Voráček Foundation, which assists people living with multiple sclerosis.
Both players have donated money to the foundation based on the points they score in the NHL, earning recognition from the Senate “for the goals and assists that help.”
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to build some kind of center in the near future,” Voráček said after accepting the award. Pastrňák, who was recently named captain of the Boston Bruins, was represented at the ceremony by his agent.
Czech Television reporters Darja Stomatová and Jan Šürger also received a joint medal for their reporting from Ukraine during Russia’s invasion.
Kamila Bendová and her late husband, Václav Benda, were recognized for their struggle for freedom, human dignity and civic responsibility during communist rule.
Honorees called ‘the salt of our country’
Other recipients included debt-relief expert Radek Hábl and foster mother Ivana Součková, who campaigns for children with disabilities to grow up in families rather than institutions.
Theater director Dušan Pařízek, entrepreneur and conservationist Kamil Lišal, civic organizer Bára Stárek and Police Symphony Orchestra founder Petra Soukupová were also honored.
The Senate recognized Eurowag founder Martin Vohánka for philanthropy, while Olomouc social worker and cancer-patient advocate Věra Žukalová received a medal for her work supporting people with serious illnesses.
Vystrčil described the honorees as people who remain engaged with events around them, inspire others and are willing to make sacrifices.
“You are the salt of our country, the salt of our Czech state,” he told the recipients. “I wish for all of us that we may always have enough salt in our country.”
The Senate first presented its silver commemorative medals on St. Wenceslas Day in 2012.
