Marianna V. Vardinogiannis breathed her last at the age of 80.

The following is the announcement from the Marianna V. Vardinogianni Foundation:

Marianna V. Vardinogianni was born in Athens. She was married to Vardis I. Vardinogiannis and the mother of five children.

Marianna Vardinogianni was distinguished for her rich social and humanitarian work, which focused on children. Marianna V. Vardinogiannis fought against childhood cancer for more than 25 years.

At the same time, Marianna V. Vardinogiannis supported many educational institutions in Greece, Europe and the USA. while she was the founder and sponsor of the Center for Hellenistic Studies at the Library of Alexandria. It also supported UNESCO’s education and culture programs in many parts of the world and promoted the implementation of the UN’s development goals.

Marianna V. Vardinogianni as a Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, as President of the “Marianna V. Vardinogianni Foundation”, the “ELPIDA” Association and the “ORAMA ELPIDAS” Association, collaborated with many institutions, foundations and non-governmental organizations at the national and international level. In the context of all these collaborations, in addition to the events she organized through her foundations, she participated in conferences and conferences as a speaker or panelist, as well as in charity events, international and European meetings and campaigns.

The work of Marianna V. Vardinogianni is internationally recognized and she received many honorary titles and awards such as: Golden Cross of the Order of Eupoia of the Hellenic Republic, Prize of the Academy of Athens, Archdea of ​​the Patriarchate of Alexandria, Knight and Officer of the Legion of Honor of the French Republic, Grand Prize of the Charter of Paris Against Cancer, Award “Ripple of Hope” of the “Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights” Foundation, etc.

The work and action of Marianna V. Vardinogiannis

In 1997, Marianna V. Vardinogiannis founded the “Foundation for Children and the Family” with the aim of creating a better world for children, the tomorrow of humanity. In 2012, the Foundation was renamed “Marianna V. Vardinogianni Foundation” in order to expand its action in areas that affect the quality of life, not only of children, but also of the entire society.

In particular, Marianna V. Vardinogianni’s action as President of the “Marianna V. Vardinogianni Foundation” aimed, among other things, at combating human trafficking and child exploitation, eliminating illiteracy, protecting the environment and addressing many other modern challenges, with the aim of creating a better world for children, the tomorrow of humanity. At the same time, her Foundation, through the programs it implements, supports children and families of vulnerable social groups, schools throughout the territory and refugees.

One of the first programs implemented by the “Marianna V. Vardinogianni Foundation” is the “School Support” Program, which offers books, clothing, hardware and electronic equipment, etc., to schools throughout the Greek territory, with the aim of covering shortages due to the financial crisis.

For the same reason, i.e. the economic crisis, the Foundation created the “Support for Vulnerable Social Groups” Program, through which food and basic necessities are offered to families living in poor areas throughout the country.

The Foundation also supports the children of imprisoned women by supplying them with clothes, books and toys.

In 2013 the Foundation signed a cooperation agreement with “Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights” and undertook the implementation of the human rights training program entitled: “Speaking truth to power”. The program began to be implemented in Greek schools as an optional subject from the 2016-2017 school year.

In June 2014 the Foundation undertook the international campaign for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures.

In 2015, with the outbreak of the refugee crisis, the Foundation created the “WE CARE” Program to provide medical assistance and vaccinations to refugee children hosted in Greece. The Program is carried out in collaboration with the “Central Union of Municipalities and Communities”, with the “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital and the charity organization “Apostoli”.

In 2016, in collaboration with UNESCO and the European Alliance of Cities Against Racism, the Foundation creates the “Welcoming Cities for Refugees” Program with the aim of contributing to the difficult work of local authorities in the cities of arrival, transit and hosting of refugees and immigrants, so that their temporary or permanent integration into the social fabric of the cities takes place, on the one hand with respect for their human rights, and on the other without disrupting the daily life of permanent city dwellers.

Also, since its establishment until today, the “Marianna V. Vardinogianni Foundation” has organized meetings, workshops, conferences, lectures and other events on topics related to education, human rights, child protection, the culture of peace, dialogue between different cultures, child abuse, pedophilia on the Internet, violence, climate change, etc.

The work and action of Marianna V. Vardinogiannis as founder and President of the Association of Friends of Children with Cancer “ELPIDA” as well as of the Association “ORAMA ELPIDAS”

In 1990, Marianna V. Vardinogianni founded the Association of Friends of Children with Cancer “ELPIDA” with the aim of helping and supporting children suffering from cancer and their families.

With her initiatives, she managed to raise awareness among the Greek people and mobilize important personalities from the artistic, business and political fields, so that they contribute to the realization of the Association’s goals.

By organizing large cultural events, exhibitions, auctions of works of art, Christmas bazaars, etc., with her personal contribution and the donations offered to “ELPIDA”, M. Vardinogiannis, during her term as President of the “ELPIDA” Association, has carried out the following, among others:

• The establishment and equipment of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit at the “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital in which 800 successful transplants have been performed so far.

• The construction and equipping of the modern five-story Guest House “ELPIDA”, near the “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital. The Hostel was inaugurated on February 3, 1999, and accommodates children undergoing treatment at the Transplant Unit along with their families. The Hostel of the “ELPIDA” Association also accepts children with cancer from the Balkan countries and other regions of the Mediterranean. So far, approximately 2000 families have been accommodated.

• The organization of the 1st European Conference (Athens – March 1994) on the theme “Europe with a human face – Help for the sick child”, under the auspices of the then Commissioner of the European Union, Padraig Flynn.

• The construction and equipment of the first Pediatric Oncology Hospital for children in Greece, named “Marianna V. Vardinogianni Children’s Oncology Unit – ELPIDA”, and was inaugurated in October 2010

• The establishment of the Volunteer Bone Marrow Donor Bank “Orama ELPIDAS” which has been operating at the “Marianna V. Vardinogiannis Children’s Oncology Unit – ELPIDA” since January 2014.

• The creation of the twinning program of the “Marianna V. Vardinogiannis Children’s Oncology Unit – ELPIDA” with the largest pediatric hospitals in the world and with the aim of international cooperation in the fight against childhood cancer.