Stavros
Niarchos Foundation Philotimo Award Displays Real Acts of Philotimo to US
Policymakers and Opinion Leaders
-- First Annual Stavros
Niarchos Foundation Philotimo Award Presented to Mobile Medical Units in Greece
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WASHINGTON,
DC, November 21, 2014 — "Philotimo", one of the most noble and admired qualities
of the Greek people, was highlighted by Andreas Dracopoulos,
Co-President of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, before
hundreds of Washington, DC policy makers and opinion leaders at the
Fourth Annual Washington Oxi Day Foundation Gala on
October 23, 2014 at the US Institute of Peace. Senior White House, State
Department, US Congress and other officials, as well as reporters and producers
from many national publications and networks, including CNN, Fox and NBC,
learned of an extraordinary example of philotimo, during Greece's current
socio-economic crisis, which has helped society to keep its
cohesion.
Andreas Dracopoulos proudly presented the First
Annual Stavros Niarchos Foundation Philotimo Award to Mobile
Medical Units in Greece —a team of 51 MD and PHD scientists who are dedicated to
providing free health care to residents in remote islands and other areas of
Greece.
| Andreas Dracopoulos with Mobile Medical Units team representatives: Dr.
Michalis Bobotis, Nikoleta Beltsiou, Angeliki Vlassi and Dr. Takis
Koulouvaris. |
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Dracopoulos, Co-President of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, told those in
attendance that the Philotimo Award winners, "have been providing free
comprehensive and state-of-the-art health care services to thousands of
residents of some of Greece's most isolated, remote and neglected islands.
Their act constitutes a true manifestation of philotimo for the common
good, which becomes even more important during the current critical times for
Greek society...we congratulate them for their efforts and hard work,
which sends an important message about social cohesiveness and responsibility to
one's fellow citizens."
Dracopoulos defined philotimo as, "just give it
all you have, do the right thing, and try to make this world a better place for
everyone."
| Stavros Niarchos Foundation Co-President, Andreas
Dracopoulos |
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Dracopoulos closed his remarks by quoting modern Greek philosopher Emmanouil
Kriaras who said that "true love can only be achieved by being able to
constantly seek your ideals...I urge all of you to do seek your ideals, to do
your best to help the ones less fortunate, and in doing so, stay in
love."
Dr. Panagiotis Koulouvaris, in accepting this award on behalf of
the Mobile Medical Units, said, "We have nothing more than our duty. This is,
of course, what philotimo in many ways is all about, a natural, deeply intimate
sense of duty...We are trying hard to show everyone that we can overcome the
difficulties like our ancestors did, with dignity and honesty. We deeply belive
in philotimo and everything good that comes because of it...Philotimo is an
individual's most outstanding act during a lifetime."
| Stavros Niarchos Foundation Philotimo Award winners - Mobile Medical Units
in Greece team |
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In explaining why they took these actions, Koulouvairs said, "It was in
January 2011 when the Stavros Niarchos Foundation announced the renovation of
the pediatric intensive care units in Greece. It was that moment that inspired
our philotimo. We then realized that we should do more."
To see a video
of these full remarks and the presentation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation
Philotimo Award, click here.
To see
a video of the tremendous work that the Mobile Medical Units are doing in
Greece, click here.
To see
more pictures from this evening, click here.
| The award winners with several Stavros Niarchos Foundation officials
including: Co-President Andreas Dracopoulos, COO Vasili
Tsamis, CFO Kathryn Louloudis, Senior Advisor
Ambassador Vassilis Kaskarelis, Program Officers Roula
Siklas and Rosalyn Benjamin, and Investment Officer
John Czvekus. |
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About the Stavros Niarchos Foundation
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (www.SNF.org) is
one of the world's leading private international philanthropic organizations,
making grants in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports,
and social welfare. The Foundation funds organizations and projects that are
expected to achieve a broad, lasting and positive impact for society at large,
and exhibit strong leadership and sound management. The Foundation also seeks
actively to support projects that facilitate the formation of public-private
partnerships as an effective means for serving public
welfare.
From 1996 until
today, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation has made grant commitments of $1.49
billion / €1.13 billion, through 2,809 grants to nonprofit organizations in 111
nations around the world.
In 2012 and 2013, the Foundation announced two new
initiatives of €100,000,000 ($130 million) each, to help the efforts to address
the crisis in Greece. While the initiative in 2012, which has been completed,
aimed to provide immediate relief against the adverse effects of the deepening
crisis, the one in 2013 aims to address the high percentage of youth
unemployment, seeking to create better employment prospects and new
opportunities for the young.
The Foundation's largest single gift ($796 million
/ €566 million) is the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), in
Athens, which is expected to be completed in 2016. The project includes the new
facilities of the National Library of Greece, and of the Greek National Opera,
as well as the Stavros Niarchos Park. The SNFCC is a testament and a commitment
to the country's future. It is also an engine of short- to mid-term economic
stimulus.
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