Supporters of OPAP’s initiative from all over Greece joined their forces and offered smiles to the children of “The Smile of the Child”, “Together for Children” Union, SOS Children’s Villages, and George and Ekaterini Hatzikonsta Children's Welfare Foundation
For yet another year, OPAP put smiles on the faces of thousands of children supported by “The Smile of the Child” Organization, “Together for Children” Union, SOS Children’s Villages, and George and Ekaterini Hatzikonsta Children's Welfare Foundation, offering them the Christmas presents they wished to receive this year. Specifically, 10,036 Christmas wishes came true via the Wishing Ornaments initiative, with the contribution of supporters of OPAP’s initiative from across Greece, who rushed to offer children joy.
The gifts were delivered during a special event held on Wednesday 22 January 2020.
OPAP CEO, Damian Cope, stated: “The Wishing Ornaments program makes all of us at OPAP really proud. It allows us to engage with society for a great cause: spreading joy to children and supporting the work of four remarkable organizations through infrastructure works. The sixth year of our “Wishing Ornaments” initiative has been the most successful one yet. Thanks to the amazing and heartfelt contribution of people across Greece, we realized more than 10,000 wishes – and I am excited to be here today to deliver the gifts. A big thank-you to everyone who visited the “Wishing Ornaments” Christmas galleries or used the OPAP Contribution Squad app, to make children’s wishes come true”.
Marketing & Fundraising Director of the SOS Children’s Villages, Elsa Stathopoulou, said: “For yet another year, the children that live at the SOS Children’s Villages, as well as children from vulnerable families which we support, enjoyed OPAP’s magical Wishing Ornaments, which fulfilled all their wishes. We want to thank the company, as well as all the people that responded with enthusiasm and offered children great joy”.
George and Ekaterini Hatzikonsta Children's Welfare Foundation President, Margarita Panagiotopoulou, noted: “It is very important that we have OPAP on our side supporting us, providing children with the love and care they need. Moreover, in the context of the program, the company will also create a study room for the children”.
Six years of love and contribution to children through the Wishing Ornaments
The big celebration of contribution and love began in 2014, in the context of OPAP’s Corporate Responsibility program. To date, the Wishing Ornaments have fulfilled a total of 32,319 children’s wishes, while OPAP has implemented 30 infrastructure projects in support of the organizations that participated in the program in previous years, aiming at improving the quality of children’s lives.
Eight new projects are currently underway at the facilities of “The Smile of the Child” Organization, “Together for Children” Union, SOS Children’s Villages, and George and Ekaterini Hatzikonsta Children's Welfare Foundation. These include:
- Three projects upgrading building hardware at the homes of “The Smile of the Child” in Kareas, Marousi and Peristeri.
- Construction of a playground at the home of “The Smile of the Child” in Nea Iraklitsa, Kavala.
- Supply of special equipment for the therapeutic swimming program of the “Together for Children” Union.
- Repairing of damages caused by the earthquake of July 2019 at the building facilities of the “Together for Children” Union.
- Installation of heating at four homes of the SOS Children’s Villages in Vari.
- Creation of a study/reading room at the Ekaterini Hatzikonsta Children's Welfare Foundation
