As the Christmas days were coming, the Association “ELPIDA-Association of Friends of Children with Cancer” in cooperation with “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation” have opened a huge hug of love, humanism and solidarity for bodies, Metropolis, Municipalities and Foundations that support children and poor human beings.
On the initiation of Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, have been sent, as it happens every year, items of first need, fuels, food and gifts to over 10 bodies throughout Greece in support of children and vulnerable social groups.
Mrs. Vardinoyannis in conjunction with the Board of Directors members and the Consulting Committee of “ELPIDA” have conducted a tele-conference with the benefited bodies to discuss their needs and wish them for the holidays.
“Our meeting has been organized from us in order to have the opportunity to express our wishes for the Holy Days of Christmas, to thank you for your cooperation for the benefit of the human beings and express our estimation for your important work. A work which, during this difficult period of pandemic is becoming more precious for the children and the vulnerable social groups of human beings which are facing great needs. These days, days of hope and social solidarity, are offering to us a remarkable opportunity to unify once again our power with you so that, our own support to your efforts to be expanded to more and more increasing receivers “ Mrs. Vardinoyannis said, emphasizing that, despite the fact that, due to the conditions prevailing cannot be near to them physically as she is doing every year, however her though and heart are always near them.
MITROPOLIS
The Eminence Bishop of Ftiodida, Symeon, has characterized Mrs. Vardinoyannis as “The Lady of Love”, thanking her for her precious offer. “I wish to all of you happy and blessed Christmas that, will bring Jesus Christ to our hearts. I would like to thank, Mrs. Vardinoyannis for everything she has done for us all these years. Her hug is wide open and her heart full of love. She gives us strength to serve our fellow beings’ as the Bishop of Fthiotida characteristically said.
With warm words arising from the heart has also spoken, the Father, Emmanouil Diamantakis, representing the Eminence and most reverend Bishop of Lampis, Syvritou and Sfakion Eirinaios. “We thank you for the everlasting gifts of love and hope. We thank you not only for your thought to support the vulnerable fellow beings but for the fact also that, you are a human being spreading hope.” Mrs. Vardinoyannis being touched from his words thanked him emphasizing the special relationships that, she and her family has with Sfakia and their beloved Crete.
The Father, Chrysostomos, representing the Eminence Bishop of Nikaia, Alexios, has pointed out the importance of the “ELPIDA” and “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation” offer throughout the years for a thousand of our fellow mates. “Our heart is full of love and gratitude. The Bishopric of Nikaia is supporting vulnerable groups of people from 7 especially attacked Municipalities. We thank, Mrs. Vardinoyannis for her generous offer so many years. Mrs. Vardinoyannis has a deep love for God and she lavishly offers it to other people. Thousand of unemployed, people with many children and prisoners are grateful to Mrs. Vardinoyannis, the “Lady of Love”. We want to have you always to our side, a true alien of love”. Mrs. Vardinoyannis, has assured him that, she will always be to their side and expressed her wish to be able to visit them shortly when the conditions prevailing permit so.
MUNICIPALITIES
Mr. Georgios Thomakis, the Mayor of Kifisia, has spoken about the important and long lasting support of the two bodies: “I want to wish you Happy Holidays with health, love and hope. “ELPIDA” and “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis- ELPIDA” have supported us once again with items of first need for the poor people of our Municipality. I would like to thank you Mrs. Vardinoyannis that, you are personally present to the delivery of those packages. You and your associates show with acts the solidarity to the people in need of it. We thank you and God Bless you!”.
The Mayor of Ermionida, Mr. Giannis Georgopoulos, has also participated to the tele-conference. “We are proud because Ermionida is the homeland of Mrs. Vardinoyannis but we are also grateful for whatever you have done for our homeland, Greece and the whole World! All citizens of Ermionida Municipality thank you from the depths of our heart. May God Bless you to be at the side of those in need and especially to the children! as Mr. Georgopouos characteristically said.
FOUNDATIONS- BODIES
The President of Club of UNESCO for Piraeus and Island, Mr. Ioannis Faronitis has referred to the great offer of Mrs. Vardinoyannis both through the Foundation bearing her name and “ELPIDA” and through her role as Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO: “I would like to cordially thank Mrs. Vardinoyannis who is our good angel, the light and our guide!. I have the feeling that, the fact that, she is standing to our side is the will of God. If she had not stood next to us, we would not have succeeded in doing the one half of what we have achieved. Mrs. Vardinoyannis, you are the soul of our work. But I would like also to refer to your offer at global level as it was something that, I had the opportunity to see with my own eyes, when in the presence of thousand of Leaders of States and Ambassadors from the 295 State-Members of UNESCO during the event for the 75 years of organization to Paris, your presence has made our country to shine and stand out. Thanks to your own work and offer a special reference has been made for Greece which was the only country having this privilege. A small country that became the world example of offer because of you”.
A specially touching speech was that of the President of the Makistaion Association, Mr. Fotios Valchos who referred to the great offer of Vardinyannis family who has re-constructed the village of Makistos in Ileia which had been totally destroyed from the fires of 2007. “Vardinoyannis Family has raised from the ashes the whole village and we had no hope without them. Mrs. Vardinoyannis and her family are for us our own people. The people of Makistos, Mr. Vlachos said.
With words of love from the mouths of the children of the “Girls Home “Filothei H Athinaia” which touched all those participating to the tele-conference , has spoken Mrs. Sofia Ritsa. “Instead of thanking you for all that, you have done for us, I will refer to those that, our children have said for the celebrations that, you had organized every year before the epidemic. “The most special day”, “it was perfect, “we are missing it”, “an unforgettable experience” are few of the words of our children. We thank you for “standing always to our side in any way that you can” Mrs. Ritsa said.
The Mother Superior, the Nun Maria from the “Lyreio Orphanage” has spoken with emotion and love, thanking Mrs. Vardinoyannis for her precious support after the destructions to Mati. “Have health and courage and continue to help our fellow mates. Mrs. Vardinoyannis is inspired from The Lord! We thank her for whatever she has done for us and for those who are in need.
The Professor, Konstantinos Syrigos from the Children’s Village SOS has characterized Mrs. Vardinoyannis “a most valuable aid giver” to their work: “I wish you happy holidays with health and love. You are always our supporter and a most valuable aid giver. We thank you for everything”.
The Director of the Ecclesiastic Orphanage of Vouliagmeni, Mr. Georgios Noulas has emphasized how important is the support to the children in need: “The children is our future and this the reason that your work is of such great importance! We thank you for all you have done for us!
For a bond of love has spoken, the Directress of the “Society of the Minors’ protection of Piraeus” Mrs. Angeliki Kouzoumi: “We thank you for all you have done for us. Mrs. Vardinoyanni’s work is tremendously important and this bond of love is exceptionally to our profit.
Mrs. Vardinoyannis and the Board of Directors and the Counseling Committee members of the Association “ELPIDA-Association of Friends of Children with cancer” have thanked each one of them separately for their kind words and cooperation wishing them “health” and “strength”.
There were participating from the Board of Directors and the Counseling Committee of the Association “ELPIDA-Association of Friends of Children with cancer”, the Secretary General of the Association, Mrs. Georgina Ellina, the Secretary General of the Association “Association ORAMA ELPIDAS” Mrs. Ino Konstantopoulou and Mrs. Kaiti Metaxotou, Dora Dimopoulou, Eleni Samara, Melina Daskalaki, Nasia Panagiotaki-Thanopoulou and Rita Moraitaki.
