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A NEW INITIATIVE BY THE STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION AIMS TO
HELP EASE EFFECTS OF THE GROWING SOCIO-ECONOMIC CRISIS IN GREECE
NEW
YORK,
November 29, 2011 — The Board of Directors of the Stavros
Niarchos Foundation, recognizing the consequences of the
extended financial crisis keenly felt across all strata of
Greek society, has approved a series of grants addressing
the country’s mounting social needs. Supported by an
initial budget of €1,500,000 ($1,995,600), the grants will
sponsor a series of pilot programs in three areas: provision
of Social Housing services to prevent homelessness,
operation of Day Centers to support the homeless, and
distribution of Food Aid.
The Foundation’s purpose and philosophy in dealing with
vital issues remains to complement rather than replace the
work of institutional and state organizations. The programs
have been designed in accordance to best practices and as a
result of extensive discussions with organizations with
long-term practical experience in each corresponding area.
The Social Housing and
Day Center programs represent a novel approach for
Greece, both in terms of methodology
and impact potential.
The Social Housing
Program will be implemented in collaboration with
the nonprofit organization PRAKSIS (www.praksis.gr).
The program’s approach is aimed at supporting families
currently at risk of becoming homeless. By providing
targeted support (psychological and social programs,
financial education and employment programs), the Social
Housing Program strives to help families retain their homes.
The purpose of running three
Day Centers, in strategically selected parts of Athens, is to provide relief for those who are
already homeless. The Day Centers aim to offer basic
services to their visitors, including psychological and
social support, bathing and laundry facilities, clean
clothes, a place to rest, and meals. This initiative is also
undertaken in collaboration with the nonprofit organization,
PRAKSIS.
Food Aid
is sponsored by funding the work of the nonprofit
organization Artos-Drasi (Bread-Action,
www.artosdrasi.rei.gr). The program includes the
distribution of prepared meals to support other food aid
programs in Attica, and the collection of excess food for
distribution. Educational programs for children and young
people are also an important part of the program.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (www.SNF.org)
is one of the world’s leading international philanthropic
organizations, making grants in the areas of arts and
culture, education, health and medicine, and social welfare.
Over the years, the Foundation has also responded with
immediate relief support to global crises, including the
natural disasters in Haiti and Japan and, most recently, the nutritional crisis
in Africa.
The Foundation funds organizations and projects that exhibit
strong leadership and sound management and that have the
potential to achieve a broad and lasting impact. The
Foundation actively seeks to support projects that
facilitate the formation of public-private partnerships as
effective means for serving public welfare.
From 1996 until today, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation has
approved grant commitments of €933 million, through 2,101
grants to nonprofit organizations in 95 nations around the
world.
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