NEW YORK. The Hellenic Initiative will honor UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis and the “ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with cancer” at the 5th Annual Gala which will take place on the 29th of September in New York.
Talking to The National Herald, executive director of The Hellenic Initiative, Mr. Mark Arey, welcomed the interest of the Greek-American community in the gala and programs of ΤΗΙ and stressed that their decision to honor UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis and the “ELPIDA” Association of Friends of Children with cancer, has sparked the enthusiasm of the members and supporters of the organization.
As Mr. Arey pointed out, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis will be awarded for her charitable work and her leadership role in the “ELPIDA” Association. The honoree is a Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and two years ago was granted the “Ripple of Hope” Award by the “Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights” Foundation.
The award ceremony will take place at the New York Hilton Midtown, which is located at 1335 6th Avenue in Manhattan and, as in previous years, is expected to be “sold out”.
Leading Greek artist Sakis Rouvas, who is the Messenger of the “ELPIDA” Association and “ORAMA ELPIDAS” Association, will be presenting the event as Master of Ceremonies and, according to the relevant announcement, will also be performing exclusively at The Hellenic Initiative 5th Annual Gala.
Archbishop Demetrios of America and other leaders of the Greek-American community, representatives of the diplomatic authorities of Greece and Cyprus in New York, as well as individuals who have been awarded at previous events of the organization, are expected to attend.
The Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award will be awarded to the Libra Group, not only for its contribution to the organization, but also for the support services it provides to start-ups.
Marianna V. Vardinoyannis
Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis is a Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, founder and president of the “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation”, of the “ELPIDA Friends’ Association of Children with cancer” and of the “ORAMA ELPIDAS” Association.
Inspired by motherhood, she has built up an extensive record of humanitarian work for the benefit of children and disadvantaged social groups in Greece and abroad, as well as on issues of peace, education, health and cultural heritage. She struggles against human trafficking, exploitation of children, illiteracy, climate change and other issues of today’s concern.
Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis’ work through her foundation aims to contribute to the building of a better world for the children, fighting against human trafficking, illiteracy, climate change and many other issues of today’s concern. At the same time, through the Foundation’ s Programs, she supports children and families of disadvantaged social groups, refugees and schools.
As the president of “ELPIDA Friends’ Association of Children with cancer” for more than 25 years, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis is fighting against childhood cancer.
She has established the first pediatric bone marrow transplant unit in Greece, thanks to which more than 900 children from Greece and neighbour countries have been saved until today, she has founded the first oncology pediatric hospital where thousands of children receive advanced medical anticancer treatment every day and the “ORAMA ELPIDAS” Registry of bone marrow donor volunteers in Greece, and undertook a number of initiatives to help sick children and their families.
Marianna V. Vardinoyannis supports many educational institutions in Greece, Europe and the USA and sponsored the creation of the Centre for Hellenistic Studies in the Library of Alexandria. Especially in USA Marianna V. Vardinoyannis and her husband, Mr. Vardis I. Vardinoyannis:
established the Chair of Hellenism Abroad and the “Ioannis P. Vardinoyannis” Library at New York University, as well as the “Konstantinos Karamanlis” Chair of Greek and European Studies at Tufts University. She also supports UNESCO’s programs on education and culture in many parts of the world, and promotes the implementation of the UN development goals.
As a Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis cooperates with many organizations, foundations and non-governmental organizations at national and international level.
The work of Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis is internationally recognized and she has received many awards and distinctions such as: Golden Cross of Benefaction Order the Hellenic Republic, Academy of Athens Award, Lady Patriarchate of Alexandria, Knight and Officer of the Legion of Honour of the French Republic, the Grand Prize of the Paris Charter against cancer, the “Ripple of Hope” award from «Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights» Foundation.
(All photos are the kind courtesy of the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation)
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