Greece’s economic depression has pushed families to the brink. As of the fall of 2013, one in five households and nearly 600,000 children were living below the poverty line. Nearly half of all Greeks lack health insurance. These staggering numbers cannot communicate the impact on individuals and families. In the face of unrelenting austerity and government budget cuts, it is nonprofits on the ground that are repeatedly called on to do more with less.
THI, together with its relief partners, is answering the call by providing a critical safety net to families hardest hit by the crisis. These partner organizations are carefully selected based on proven track record, efficiency and transparency. Initial partners include:
During the devastating fires in Greece in July and August 2023, ANIMA received 400 injured tortoises and a total of 800 more animals. THI funds support the construction of a special enclosure, that facilitates rehabilitation and the return of the tortoises to nature. The grant also supports the purchase of a portable X-Ray machine and the hiring of a veterinarian and veterinary nurse.
Ensuring safe and comfortable transportation for the organization’s children is paramount as navigating Athens poses significant exhaustion and hurdles for them. THI supports the procurement of a slightly used school bus for the organization’s Rehabilitation Center in Athens.
THI funds support ELIZA’s efforts in the sustainability of Child Safety Care Units in public hospitals and a capacity-building workshop for healthcare professionals in Greece. The Units provide comprehensive examinations for suspected child abuse cases. This funding will help maintain operations, ensure on-site training for healthcare staff, and reduce hospitalization time of children.
Fainareti’s “Baby Bank” initiative aims to combat child poverty by supplying essential baby items to families in extreme need. Through community donations and partnerships with affiliated organizations and municipalities, Fainareti collects and distributes high-quality baby clothes, equipment, and furniture, promoting reuse while reducing waste. THI funds support the “Baby Bank” program by covering the cost of a full-time Project Manager who oversees the program’s operations.
THI funds support targeted purchases of food supplies that can’t be provided by donations. Typically, companies donate items that are nearing their expiry date. However essential food items tend to have a longer expiry date and are rarely donated by companies. 420,000 meals and 70,000 glasses of milk Will be provided to more than 50,000 individuals who secure their food by attending soup kitchens, local parishes, and other charities in some of the most underprivileged areas of Attika.
THI funds support the orchestra’s landmark concert at the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage of Carnegie Hall in New York on November 3, 2024, featuring 90 young Greek musicians. This event will be GYSO’s inaugural performance in the United States, following a string of successful European concerts.
THI funds support the comprehensive professional growth and development of 20 beneficiaries, aged 16 to 18, originating from closed child protection facilities in Greece. Over the course of an entire year, the project equipped these individuals with essential vocational guidance, career counseling, and specialized training.
By the end of 2024, through THI’s Plant a Tree in Greece program, we planted 24,000 trees in Evia (Rovies, Limni, Papades, Kerasis, Skepasti), Attika (Peania, Varymbombi, Drafi), Spetses, Ancient Olympia and, finally, on the island of Chios (Kalamoti).
Since 2012, SOS CV Greece has been implementing a range of family-centered support initiatives, mainly through its Family Strengthening (FS) programs and the establishment of social and educational centers nationwide. These FS programs aim to empower individuals, bolster resilience, facilitate educational progress, and foster a nurturing environment conducive to rebuilding self-esteem. THI funds support FS programs in Alexandroupolis and Patras, 2 priority locations identified by SOS CV Greece. These interventions will extend support to 2,000 children and young adults facing disabilities and learning challenges, prioritizing activities such as non-formal education, STEM engagement, stress relief initiatives, and provision of nutritious snacks.
THI support the operation of THI’s Summer Youth Academy. The project is dedicated in providing support to more than 100 children from all backgrounds in Attica, aged 14-18. Children participate in a special two-week camp, centered around basketball, aimed at fostering personal growth and a sense of community. The camp offers a variety of activities, including basketball sessions, mentorship programs, and excursions. The Academy provides valuable experiences that focus on enhancing self- discipline, self-esteem, and the ability to collaborate with others toward shared objectives. Additionally, the program emphasizes the development of essential soft skills and, activities related to emotional intelligence (EQ), preparing the children for success both on and off the courts.
In July 2023, HIGGS welcomed ethelon, a volunteer-recruitment platform, into its fold, thus advancing its mission to promote social engagement and volunteerism. THI funds support HIGGS in launching a tailor-made volunteering program for the THI global community. The organization will develop a dedicated online platform, allowing users from around the world to organize their volunteering activities, while offering flexibility in scheduling and location preferences.
Entrepreneurs are critical to economic recovery and renewal — they are creating opportunity today and providing role models to change the hopes and aspirations of a new generation. By reigniting the Greek entrepreneurial spirit we can unleash a wave of innovation and creation, slowing the “brain drain” of young professionals by giving them a reason to stay in Greece and transform ideas into successful businesses.
THI funds support he participation of three Greek startups to a week-long acceleration program. The program includes immersive workshops, training, breakout sessions, mentorship, networking, and introductions to investors and over 20 partners and mentors. In 2024, Accelerate Greece collaborates with Elevate Festival to offer three Greek startup companies exclusive access to the festival.
AFI has supported micro-entrepreneurs in non-metropolitan areas, where the entrepreneurial opportunities and potential have been growing. THI funds support AFI’s efforts to bolster its presence in non-metropolitan, remote, and urban areas, which often encounter greater hurdles in entrepreneurship.
HELMEPA runs a series of programs ranging from scholarships for marine training and promoting entrepreneurship in the blue economy. THI funds supported HELMEPA’s Big Blue Accelerator. The program offers a comprehensive and structured approach towards youth employability and economic development, with a particular focus on young individuals residing in remote Greek islands. Through the program, 25 young people (aged18-25) from the Dodecanese were equipped with the skills, networks, and opportunities necessary for employment in various sectors of the Blue Economy. Priority was given to small islands such as Karpathos, Kastellorizo, Kasos and Symi.
THI funds support the implementation of the Odyssea model in Thessaloniki, where chronic youth unemployment rates persist and there is a gap in Vocational Education and Training (VET) and employment services. Additionally, there is a growing demand for talent in the city, particularly in the booming HORECA industries.
Since its launch in 2014, ReGeneration has created 4,290 youth placements in the job market, working with more than 1,644 companies and unlocking more than 30 million euro in salaries. The program has offered approximately 1 million hours of soft and hard skills training, as well as more than 400,000 hours of up/re- skilling through its general and bespoke ReGeneration academies.
THI funds contribute to funding the 3rd prize of the 2024 Stelios Awards for Young Entrepreneurs in Greece. Since its inception 14 years ago, this program alone has seen the Foundation allocate €1,130,000 in support of the winners.
Since its launch, VentureGarden has remained faithful to its motto of growing ideas into viable businesses. To date, it has played a pivotal role in helping create or support 281 ventures and generating 792 jobs for the economy. The companies it has helped create have collectively raised over $8,5 million in funding, growing its overall impact in the entrepreneurial landscape and Greek economy.
The Venture Impact Awards have supported a total of 49 winners with $805,000 in prize funding. The winning teams have represented a wide array of sectors important to the Greek economy including agro/food, environment, computer science, education, recycling/upcycling, healthcare, eco-mobility, bio composite materials, cosmetics, social innovation, and microfinance.
Greece can grow its way out of this crisis, but growth requires vision, capability and capital. Amidst the troubling headlines and statistics, there are viable businesses that can grow with our collective investment, creating jobs and delivering solid returns for investors. And there are visionary leaders eager to build companies and indeed an economy on stronger, more sustainable foundations. THI is investing in the future by supporting two initiatives that promote near-term job growth while laying the foundations for long-term strategic development:
The Hellenic Investment Fund is an impact investment fund targeting a “double bottom line” of investment returns and job growth. The fund will provide growth equity to small and midsized companies that are the backbone of the Greek economy and whose success is critical to fueling its recovery. Many THI board members are anchor investors, but it is a standalone, for-profit fund and THI will have no management or investment authority.
ReGeneration is the newest program in the THI Economic Development constellation. It is a 6-month practical training program (internship) offering multi-faceted work experience, meaningful training from certified trainers, and multiple opportunities for self-improvement and personal development.
The Australian Internship Program will work in partnership with the ground breaking ReGeneration program in Greece to find candidates for these unique opportunities.
Become informed by the work of THI
Keep updated on these networks
750 Lexington Ave., 9th floor
New York, NY 10022
United States
