PUBLIC BENEFIT FOUNDATION

Grants

At its recent meeting in May 2010, the Board of Directors decided on the discontinuance of the Foundation's Grants Programme in Greece and abroad.

The Board of Directors of the Foundation has proceeded with the redistribution of the Foundation's resources – as described in the will of Aristotle Onassis – which, from this day forward will be available exclusively for the needs of the Foundation's own programmes, i.e. Scholarships addressed to Greek students, Scholarships addressed to foreign students for Hellenic studies, the Onassis Prizes, the Affiliate Foundation in New York with its annual exhibitions and the University Seminars Programme (please visit www.onassisusa.org) and others, that will continue to operate normally.

The Onassis Cultural Center of the Foundation will begin its operation in Athens in the fall of 2010, thus absorbing a large portion of the Foundation's resources. Its extremely promising schedule of activities has been strategically planned on a long term basis, aiming to serve and promote Greek culture, Letters and Art. We are certain that the benefits that will arise from the contribution of the Onassis Cultural Center-Athens to culture on a national and international level, will be of extreme significance and will considerably impact not only Greeks but every actively involved citizen, becoming, at the same time, a pole of attraction and a source of learning for the young.

Τhe International Conference entitled "The Athens Dialogues" will be the inaugurating event of the Onassis Cultural Center in November 2010 (please visit www.athensdialogues.org). After the end of the Conference, the "Athens Dialogues" will continue to operate as an autonomous research programme. Professors and researchers of all levels, artists and intellectuals that are either related to or inspired by ancient Greek culture – directly or indirectly – will have the opportunity to become members of a scientific and social network, active through the Conference's website. Inside, they will be able to look for research programmes and financial support for the purchase of books for their University Libraries, all in favor of their instructional activities. They will be able to submit their candidature for participation in the University Seminars Programme operated by the Affiliate Onassis Foundation in the United States, while they will be offered the opportunity to make acquaintances within the worldwide scientific community in order to cultivate fruitful scientific collaborations.

The Foundation will continue to follow up on the developments in the fields related to its activities, deciding at times and on a case by case basis, on the financial support of independent, one-off programmes, projects and collaborations that are consistent with its by-laws and objectives.

All grants that have already been approved by the Foundation and communicated to the interested parties will be executed as normal.

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The Foundation's Grants Programme through the years

The substantial grants handed out by the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation testify to its concern with Greek culture, art and literature. It also provided financial support to organisations that are active in these fields. Thanks to its generous sponsorship, exhibitions, traditional dance, theatre performances and book launches have served to make Greece known all over the world.

In the domain of education, the Foundation has donated teaching material and technical equipment to a large number of primary and secondary schools. It has given preference to schools in remote frontier areas and to the Cultural Centres of Greek communities abroad which were in a difficult financial situation. Outside Greece, it has provided financial assistance to many University libraries and schools in Greek communities. At the same time, it has responded positively in the case of Greek and foreign universities which have requested financial help in acquiring certain academic publications.

The Foundation has followed with particular interest the activities of certain research organisations which have requested financial assistance for the completion of medical, environmental and archaeological research. In this context, it has funded the publication of research writings by its Greek and foreign scholars, thereby contributing materially to their academic and professional careers.

The Foundation has provided immediate and substantial humanitarian aid in cases of emergency such as earthquakes, floods and mass disasters. In a considerable number of cases its Board of Directors has unanimously decided to provide direct support to the state in aiding the citizens.
Based on its Statutes, the Foundation is prevented from providing charity to individuals in need, but it could and did contribute substantially to the effort to confront problems and needs in today's society.

Indicative was the donation of USD 5.000.000 for the restoration of 23 Greek schools which were destroyed by the earthquake of 1981 in the departmental regions of Attica, Evia Corinth, Viotia, Fokis Ioannina and Preveza

The Foundation has supported the work of the Church by donating large sums for the restoration and preservation of churches in Greece and the Greek communities abroad.

In 2001 the Academy of Athens awarded the Foundation its Gold Medal, in recognition, of the Foundation's contribution to the promotion of Greek culture world-wide. In 2002 the

City of Athens awarded the Foundation its Gold Medal for Honour and Benefaction. In 2005 Columbia University, USA, bestowed on the Foundation the annual prize of its School of International and Public Affairs.