REGI Base Foundation (formally known as Nadační fond REGI Base I.) is a nonprofit organization based in Prague, Czech Republic, that provides medical treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration support for veterans of foreign wars, as well as for injured firefighters, police officers, and rescue workers.
Overview
The foundation was established on April 22, 2011, by Hynek Čech, Martin Jirsa, and Jindra Pavlová. Its legal status is that of a foundation (endowment fund), and it operates as a non-governmental organization with international reach. The foundation's headquarters are located at Konviktská 291/24, Prague 1-Staré Město, Czech Republic. Its regions of service include the Czech Republic, Colombia, Congo, Montenegro, Ukraine, Slovakia, and the United States.
Origins
The foundation was inspired by the story of Chief Warrant Officer Jiří "Regi" Schams, a Czech soldier who was severely wounded during a suicide attack in March 2008 in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. Schams suffered extensive injuries that left him with limited motor skills and coordination, requiring the use of a wheelchair. After months of treatment, he showed signs of improvement. Schams died on January 7, 2015, due to complications from cancer. His name and legacy became the driving force behind the foundation's mission.
Projects
Project Svémyslice
The foundation's primary project involves the construction of a dedicated rehabilitation and care facility in Svémyslice, Czech Republic. The complex is designed to provide comprehensive care, including:
- A dedicated medical section for treatment and therapy
- Housing units for long-term therapy clients
- Hotel-type rooms for visitors and family members
The center is intended to be open to veterans from NATO member states and other international armed forces who cannot be adequately treated at home or by their respective state systems.
Organizational Structure
The foundation is governed by a board of directors. Key figures have included:
- Jindra Pavlová — Chairwoman and CEO
- Miroslav Nosek — Board member
- Jakub Pětioký — Board member
- Petra Spilková — Board member
- Josef Dvořák — Board member
- Hynek Čech — International Affairs Officer (United States)
International Affiliates
The REGI Base Foundation – United States (RBF-US) was established as the first international affiliate, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Its mission mirrors that of the parent foundation, focused on supporting medical treatment for injured and disabled military veterans in the United States.
Criticism
In 2019, the foundation faced criticism in Czech media after it registered a trademark for the Remembrance poppy symbol (a traditional emblem for war veterans) combined with a tricolour. The foundation subsequently requested that other non-governmental organizations, such as Post Bellum, cease using the symbol, at times accompanied by legal notices. This action was described by critics as an unusual and controversial move, as the poppy is widely regarded as a universal symbol of remembrance rather than a proprietary mark.
