The opening of the Košice Fairytale Christmas attracted hundreds of people to the city center yesterday. Representatives of our company, which has been a partner of this event since 2001, could not be missing either.

In addition to the mayor  of the city, Jaroslav Polaček, the  deputy president of U. S. Steel Košice, Mike Piekut,  and the vice president for strategy, Isao Takenami, also addressed the people of Košice from the podium.

Mike Piekut wished the people of Košice a happy and merry Christmas: "Christmas is above all a family holiday. We are therefore also proud of the family of our employees. Christmas is also an opportunity to spend time with old and new friends."

He then introduced Isao Takenami as a new friend, who thanked for the invitation to open the holiday season: "I wish you all happiness, health, success, prosperity for the upcoming holidays. Together with my colleagues, I came to Košice only three weeks ago. Košice is an amazing city and the people of Košice are amazing people. I believe that together we will build our future."

After lighting up the Christmas tree and Hlavná Street, Mike Piekut and Isao Takenami, together with the mayor of the city, went to the hut where they served visitors the traditional Mayor's Punch, which will now be offered until New Year's Eve. The proceeds will help the non-profit organization Social Housing, the patient organization League Against Osteoporosis Slovakia – Osteoporosis Club in Košice, the non-profit organization Empatia plus and the civic association Hrdlička.

And of course, a stop at the U. S. Steel Košice Charity Hut could not be missed. On the opening day of the Košice Fairytale Christmas, visitors could support the Union of Mutual Assistance of People and Dogs. Until December 23, 19 charitable organizations will take turns at "our" stand.

Photo: Ján Kisucký