Three Public Benefit Foundations collaborate for the support of 17 non-profit organisations

17 organisations will receive funding through the programme “Points of Support”, an initiative designed by the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, TIMA Charitable Foundation and Hellenic Hope. The Open Call was published on June 2015 and 133 proposals were received. Main goal of the programme is the strengthening of independent nonprofit organisations for the further development and upgrade of the services they provide in vulnerable groups of Greece that face illness, abuse, hunger or deprivation as well as any kind of disability.

For the dispersion of funding to as many issue areas the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation will fund 8 organisations active in the field of social inclusion and integration as well as direct access to health services, the TIMA Charitable Foundation will fund 6 organisations that focus on providing services to elderly and Hellenic Hope will fund 3 organisations involved in the protection of children affected by the economic crisis. Through the program a total of € 85.000 will be allocated, aiming to become the seed to each organisation in order to implement small-scale projects that will multiply its effectiveness.

Dimitris Afendoulis, Secretary to the Executive Board of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation mentioned:

“It is particularly important for three charitable foundations to co-design and co-finance a new program aiming to support worthwhile, established and newly-founded civil society organisations; so that they can relieve in innovative and useful ways our fellow citizens who experience in the cruelest way the current crisis. Through this program, we form a chain of solidarity in which we hope to continually add new links of offer and support.”

The 3 public benefit foundations will monitor the progress of the projects and the publication of the final results.

The full list of the organizations selected to receive grants follows below.

Donor: John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation

• Bloode: development of an application for smart phones for the purpose of networking between volunteer blood donors and patients.
• The Down Syndrome Association of Greece: creation of a lending library, organization of a book-reading club and adaptation of 3 books for children with Down syndrome
• Sports Association of People with Disabilities "Herodikos": development and promotion of two sports for people with disabilities in the areas of Serres and Komotini, a) Boccia, addressed exclusively to people with severe forms of disability and b) T.In.Basket, a version of the well-known sport which brings together people with mobility difficulties as well as people without any disability.
• Agigma Zois (Touch of Life): creation of an online platform enabling the evaluation by volunteer doctors of medical examinations of patients who have been diagnosed with cancer.
• Greek Forum of Refugees: creation of a website with the aim of gathering useful information for immigrants or refugees seeking asylum.
• Women in Network: training seminars for unemployed women on sewing, creativity and skill building.
• Association of Volunteer Friends of the Society for the Protection of Minors of Thessaloniki: educational programs on robotics/English and health education aimed at girls of the Roma community.
• MathAid Greece: free online tutoring for students of secondary education.

Donor: TIMA Charitable Foundation

• "Dionysios Theofilatos" Social Care Philanthropic Association of Moschato: implementation of a weekly entertainment program, including mental exercises, for the elderly guests.
• PRAKSIS: handbook for seniors which will contain safety and accident prevention tips as well as material listing networking and socializing opportunities.
• "Nestor" Psychogeriatric Society: creation and coordination of a cinema club for healthy seniors as well as dementia patients and their caregivers. Additionally, a study of the impact of cinema on the psychology of the elderly, patients and their caregivers will be carried out.
• MENTORS Social Cooperative Enterprise: educational program aimed at familiarizing elderly residents of Larissa with the use of debit cards.
• Christian Fellowship of Young People of Thessaloniki: creation of an entertainment program -carried out by young people- for the elderly, aiming to their psychosocial empowerment.
• Annousakeio Kisamos Therapy Center, Recovery Center & Restoration of Restless Nursing ‘Agios Spyridon’ of the Holy Metropolis of Kissamos & Selinos: integration into the care system of a mental strengthening program in order to prevent and treat memory loss and other cognitive disorders.

 Donor: Hellenic Hope

• Children’s Art Museum: conversion of children’s creations representing the four main categories of the Convention of Child Rights, so that they can be perceived by blind and partially sighted people.
• Together for Children’ Association: provision of electronic services by the associations’s Advice Centre for parents, children and adolescents. New technology will be exploited with the aim of offering free social services with high scientific standards to disadvantaged social groups.
• Voluntary Ministry of Hospital Patients-Diaconia: intensification of creative activities and introduction of play-therapy system for abandoned children hospitalized at Children’s Hospital (Paidon) for a period of three months.