New THI Fund Aims to Meet Greece’s Escalating Natural Disasters with Immediate Action
The Hellenic Initiative’s (THI) new DARE Fund – Diaspora Action for Relief & Emergency – is a direct response to the accelerating climate crisis that is fueling the rising frequency of deadly and destructive natural disasters in Greece.
From devastating wildfires to catastrophic floods, Greece is facing crises with greater frequency and intensity. DARE was created with one mission: to respond immediately when disaster strikes. Guided by the principle that urgency demands simplicity and focus, the DARE Fund will serve as a dedicated emergency fund that can be deployed instantly in moments of crisis. The fund is entirely donation-directed, with no overhead or administrative fees, ensuring that all contributions go directly to those in need.
The recent history of natural disasters in Greece makes the need for a fund like DARE urgent and clear. In September 2023, Storm Daniel devastated Thessaly, the country’s primary agricultural region, killing 17 people while causing more than €2 billion in damage. In 2024, Greece experienced around 9,500 wildfires that burned approximately 42,000 hectares, with northeastern Attica alone suffering 8,600 hectares of damage.
This year, the pattern has continued. On June 22, a fire on the island of Chios led to evacuations in 17 communities. In early July, wildfires on Crete forced the evacuation of between 1,500 and 5,000 people. Flood activity has also intensified. Between March 31 and April 1, torrential rains caused flash floods across Crete, Paros, Mykonos, and other Cycladic islands, sweeping away vehicles, stranding residents, and forcing school closures and travel bans.
A spotlight on such disasters is instructive: these events, accompanied by human tragedies, are now cyclical if not annual occurrences.
George P. Stamas, THI’s Board President, stated: “The new DARE fund is inspired by THI’s motto ‘Dare to Dream’. What is daring in this context is to be proactive rather than reactive – ensuring we can deliver immediate support to those in need when disaster strikes.”
Andrew N. Liveris, THI’s Board Chair, stated: “THI was born during Greece’s economic crisis when a consensus formed in the Diaspora that sporadic donations to the homeland were not enough. Today, with the accelerated pace of natural disasters, we are long past the time of relying on ad hoc and post hoc responses – with DARE, we want to be ready.”
To help make Greece more resilient, we invite Greeks and philhellenes everywhere to support the DARE Fund. Visit https://thehellenicinitiative.
