Thanks to the extraordinary leadership and foresight of Prime Minister Mitsotakis, Greece so far has been relatively less impacted than the rest of Europe by COVID-19. But Greece remains critically short of medical supplies if the virus escalates. And looming as a historical challenge for Greece will be the dramatic worldwide impact on Greek tourism this coming summer.
Tourism accounts for over 25% of the country’s GDP and employs over 1/3 of its workforce. It is the lifeblood of the Greek economy. Even during the darkest days of Greece’s recent economic recession, the tourist season stayed intact. The negative impact on this summer from COVID-19 will have lasting negative effects on the economy and the health and welfare of Greece’s citizens.
We know everyone worldwide is dealing with virus issues in their own communities. And so, however modest, we are asking those of you who are able to help, to please join us in making a donation that will go directly to those in need as we detail here.
Our sincerest best wishes and heartfelt prayers that you and your families are safe and well.
Oli Mazi,
Peter Poulos, Executive Director
Michael Printzos, Program Director
Tatiana Blatnik, Chair / International Ambassadors
We are together – #OliMazi. THI is deploying resources to community-based organizations, entrepreneurs and the Greek public health system.
We are supporting local medical practitioners, people with weak immune systems, the elderly, individuals and families suffering from mental health issues and struggling entrepreneurs.
We are building a safety net and with your support we will help healthcare units and vulnerable people who are facing severe difficulties and struggles in coping with this stressful period.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown is placing many families and children under extreme stress. TfC launched its 11525 Helpline in 2009. In total over 5,000 families per year reach out for support by calling this number. In return they receive much needed counseling and psychological support through a team of professionals working alongside a large number of volunteers.
Your support will help cover salaries and other operational expenses associated with the Helpline, keeping people at work while helping thousands of others receive the help they need during the crisis.
Being immunocompromised is defined as having a weak or impaired immune system which reduces your ability to fight infections and other diseases including COVID-19. Agigma Zois is a small nonprofit working with cancer patients, supporting them and their families. It is the only nonprofit in Greece dealing with cancer patients that has been granted access through an official office in a Greek public hospital. That allows it to have better access to the incidents that require special attention and care. Agigma is helping patients go through their treatments even in times where traveling is not safe, as with the case of this pandemic. It connects patients with doctors and it allows them to go through their chemotherapy without traveling long distances. It also offers psychological support to them and their families through phone and Skype, group or 1-to-1 conferences.
Your support will help cover expense items associated with operations and salaries as it will allow the organization to offer even more at these critical times. They currently help 150 patients a day.
Galilee is Greece’s only palliative care unit. Its beneficiaries include people at the later stages of life. The main focus of the organization is to provide palliative care services to cancer patients and others with life-threatening illnesses. At times when the public health system reaches capacity such as COVID-19, late stage patients become vulnerable and maybe denied access.
Your support will help Galilee continue to offer comfort, dignity, in-kind and psychological support to patients and their families.
Greek hospitals need our support now more than ever. The country is weeks/months away from what many predict to be the peak. It is therefore important to purchase equipment that the hospitals currently lack. The equipment in need is either associated with the treatment of the patients (e.g. respirators, ICU beds/monitors) or with the personal safety of the medical professionals (e.g. face masks, sanitizers).
Your support will guarantee we equip the hospitals at the right time.
COVID-19 is moving from a health crisis to an economic concern. No one can predict with certainty what the overall impact on the Greek economy will be, especially for small businesses, cafes, restaurants and ones working in hospitality. For Greek startups this will be a particularly difficult time. Most of them are cash strapped and others are finding it even more challenging to raise money they need to keep going. To make matters worse, the majority are expected to see their revenues curtailed. At the same time THI has had to cancel plans for our Athens Digital 2020 / VentureFair event this summer which offered hope to many of them.
To address this problem THI has created a mentorship program run and led by the THI New Leaders community. The program creates a platform that will allow New Leaders (young professionals 21-40 years of age) to review and work with teams in Greece offering insights, connectivity and even access to the US market.
Founded in 2012 by a coalition of Greeks of the Diaspora, THI has deployed more than $15.5 million in economic, cultural, medical and emergency assistance in Greece. THI is supported by a growing list of individual donors, corporate partners and online contributors from Greeks and Philhellenes of the Diaspora worldwide.
THI’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund compliments the work of public health organizations on the ground in Greece. THI’s local knowledge of Greece’s short and long term needs created by the COVID-19 crisis allows THI to be a uniquely effective channel for Greeks of the Diaspora seeking to support Greece during the crisis.
Grants are made on a rolling basis. As fundraising continues through the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis, THI will adapt to emerging needs as the situation evolves.
With your help we can achieve even more!
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