Press releases4,444 children Christmas wishes came true through “Wishing Ornaments by OPAP” initiative
Heartwarming participation by the people throughout Greece
For yet another year OPAP shares smiles with thousands of children, supported by unions of the “Together for Children” association and “SOS Children Villages”, through its Wishing Ornaments initiative, implemented for the third consecutive year. More specifically, 4,444 Christmas wishes came true through the participation of thousands people throughout Greece as well as OPAP employees and agents, who embraced this Corporate Responsibility action and offered joy to the children.
Thousands of children's smiles lighted up during the festive gift delivery event, organized on Tuesday 17 January 2017, at the Vari SOS Children’s Village. OPAP employees participated in the event, giving out gifts to children and having fun with them.
The lively, great festival of contribution and love begun in 2014 and has made 10,000 children’s Christmas wishes true to date. At the same time, OPAP is implementing works to improve infrastructure at the bodies and foundations participating in the program, aiming at substantially improving the children's quality of life.
Already, 15 works on infrastructure have been carried out at participating institutions, in previous years. This year, seven construction and repair works are underway in unions of the “Together for children” Association and “SOS children’s villages”, along with maintenance works, supply of technological equipment and the modernization of services and facilities. These projects include, among others, the construction of a playground, a field for sporting activities and installing heating insulation.
Georgia Lassanianou, Head of OPAP Corporate Social Responsibility, said of the “Wishing Ornaments” initiative: “The best start for 2017 are the smiles on the faces of 4,444 children that saw their wishes coming to life through our “Wishing Ornaments” program. The impressive and emotional participation of all of thousands of people, as well as, OPAP people led to almost doubling the number of realized wishes, in comparison to 2015. The joy of the children today is the greatest reward of our efforts and the participation of our people in the delivering the gifts is the most important proof that for us at OPAP, social contribution is not just a commitment but a way of life”.
On his part, the General Manager of the SOS Children’s Villages, Giorgos Protopapas, noted: “For us this Christmas was especially beautiful. Our children had the chance to experience OPAP’s magic Wishing Ornaments, which this time enjoyed complete success in satisfying all of their wishes. Our children this year believed that Santa Claus definitely exists and he wears the suit, and goes by the name of, OPAP”.