Press releasesWishing Ornaments by OPAP made the Christmas wishes of 5,112 children come true
Heartwarming participation throughout Greece
For yet another year, OPAP put smiles on the faces of thousands of children supported by the SOS Children’s Villages, Love Center of Elefsina and Hatzikyriakio Childrencare Institution. Specifically, 5,112 Christmas wishes were made true via the Wishing Ornaments initiative, with the contribution of thousands of members of the public throughout Greece, who embraced this Corporate Responsibility activity for the fourth consecutive year and took the chance to offer joy to the children.
Thousands of children’s smiles lit up the special celebratory event to deliver the presents, organized on Tuesday 23 January 2018 at the Goulandris Museum in Kifissia.
OPAP CEO, Damian Cope, stated: “We are really proud of the big and warm participation of our fellow citizens in this initiative; and I would like to sincerely thank everyone who joined in this cause. We remain fully committed to building a better future for the younger generation. This year we are implementing four new infrastructure works at SOS Children’s Villages, Hatzikyriakio Childcare Institution and Love Center of Elefsina, which will support the work of these great institutions in practice”.
OPAP Chief Customer Officer, Petr Matejovsky, noted: “The Wishing Ornaments initiative is not just an activity for Christmas or another corporate responsibility program. All the people who participated in it and attend today’s celebratory event are part of something great. Especially this year, the initiative has been met with great success, since 5,112 children’s wishes were made true. Today, we are pleased to be delivering the presents to children, starting the New Year with thousands of smiles”.
On her part, the Director of Marketing & Fundraising of the SOS Children’s Villages, Elsa Stathopoulou, stressed: “Once more, OPAP has fully fulfilled its promise and delivered all the gifts children had asked for. Apart from joy, a sense of security is also provided that promises made are kept. We stand by the Children and we will continue to be on their side for as long, and in every way, needed”.
George Pirounakis, BoD member of the Love Center of Elefsina, pointed out: “OPAP's admirable initiative, aiming at putting smiles on children’s faces, has been completed with a festive event dedicated to children. Congratulations and a big thank you to all the people who embraced this initiative.
Anastasia Katsilieri, Director of Children Care in Hatzikyriakio Institution, stated: “Actions like this should be highlighted and be an example for everyone to follow, because they significantly contribute to the institutions’ work”.
The special celebratory event to deliver the presents to children was attended by athletes and executives of basketball clubs Olympiacos, Panathinaikos Superfoods and AEK BC; football clubs Panathinaikos and Atromitos; the Volley League; the Hellenic Football Federation; and SEGAS.
The great, lively festival of contribution and love begun in 2014 and has since made 15,000 children’s Christmas wishes come 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 significantly improving the children's quality of life.
Already, 22 infrastructure works have been carried out at the facilities of the bodies participating in previous years. This year, four construction and repair works along with maintenance works are underway at the SOS Children’s Villages, Love Center of Elefsina and Hatzikyriakio Childrencare Institution. Equipment is also being supplied to the institutions. The works include:
- Renovation of the basketball court at the SOS Children’s Village in Plagiario, Alexandroupoli
- Installation of thermal insulation at a home of the SOS Children’s Village in Thrace
- Repair of the Study Room of Hatzikyriakio Childrencare Institution
- Renovation of the kitchen and eating area, along with supply of equipment at the Love Center of Elefsina.
The implementation of the new works has been enhanced by everyone using the OPAP Contribution Squad Application free of charge. Thousands of people who support OPAP’s initiative have downloaded the application on their mobiles phones or tablets, participated in the Christmas games and collected points which are turned into infrastructure works by OPAP.