We believe that success is best enjoyed when shared. That’s why we’re strong supporters of volunteering. Pricefx was built on community, so we want to share our success by giving back. In 2024, our volunteer efforts culminated in a full day of work at Chateau Pátek. Here’s how it went.
Volunteering is a cornerstone of our company culture. Since its inception, Pricefx has supported projects that make the world fairer and friendlier. To embed this idea in our culture, each Pricefx employee gets two fully paid working days (16 hours) to volunteer for causes they care about, such as caring for stray dogs, cleaning riverbanks, or assisting individuals with mental challenges.
Our volunteering efforts go beyond those 16 hours, though. We strive to do more good and take part in various projects throughout the year. The Pricefx team loves to get their heart rate up, so for our Social Responsibility Day we tracked our cardio in the Strava app and donated 1 EUR for every 3 km walked, or 5 km cycled. In 2024, our team raised an incredible 10k EUR. The funds will support ADRA’s flood relief efforts in the Czech Republic and the Red Cross’s hurricane relief in the USA.
We used the same method during the Earth Month Challenge at the beginning of the year, donating 1 EUR per km for any activity that tracks distance and raising over 6.5k EUR, which we matched to 10k EUR for the tree-planting charity One Tree Planted. This year, as in 2023, our contributions peaked during a volunteer day at Chateau Pátek in northern Czechia.
Chateau Pátek, with its rich history dating back to the 12th century, was used for collective agriculture during the communist era in Czechia. After the Iron Curtain fell in the 90s, the castle was abandoned and fell into disrepair. A few years ago, a group of enthusiasts led by the castle manager, Petr “Rasken” Chaloupka, decided to save it and transform it into a place for cultural events and relaxation. Now it hosts concerts, exhibitions, and a camp for tourists and paddlers from the nearby river.
Building friendly communities has always been our goal, which made helping this project a no-brainer. So, once again, our Office Management team organized a volunteering event at the amazing chateau. While our team provided their time and muscle, we supported them with a good lunch and equipment, and some volunteers even brought their own tools.
This year, a dedicated group of 21 Pricefx volunteers spent two days making a difference at Chateau Pátek. Our main goal was to clear the premises and create more usable space for the public. Together, we moved hundreds of pounds of material and debris from the cellars, barn, and granary.
Along the way, we uncovered hidden treasures, like an ancient paddle boat, and improved river access for paddlers. The work was physically demanding and involved carrying tree logs, roof tiles, and earth. But with minimal phone coverage, it became a refreshing mental break from our usual challenges at Pricefx.
After the last wheelbarrow was emptied, Petr “Rasken” gave us a guided tour of the castle, including the latest art exhibition. You might think the day ended there, but it didn’t. Most of our volunteers stayed the night in sleeping bags, singing country songs by the fire. The experience showed once again that togetherness and a sense of community are integral parts of Pricefx. The amazing part was coming back a few months later and seeing the space up and running, leaving us with well-deserved pride that we contributed to making the change happen.
What sets volunteering at Pricefx apart is its grassroots approach. Unlike the top-down initiatives common in many companies, our team members lead the way by bringing forward their own creative ideas for giving back. Our volunteering efforts at Chateau Pátek are a great example.
“We are always excited to support our colleagues’ volunteering ideas and bring them to life. This personal approach not only makes the experience more meaningful, it also makes everyone look forward to the next opportunity even more,” says Tereza, our Office Manager.
We’re always finding new ways to make a positive impact, through company-organized events, two fully paid volunteer days for every team member, or fresh ideas from our team. Ready to join us?