New York, NY The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announced today that the Stavros S. Niarchos Foundation has awarded grants to the Department of Greek Education and Ionian Village totaling $300,000.
The grant to Greek Education is to be used to develop audio visual and testing materials and other publications for use in the departments education program. In gratefully acknowledging the generosity of the Niarchos Foundation, Acting Director Maria Makedon said that the Department proposal was based on a three-year project to develop materials and curricula for the teaching of Modern Greek and their Greek Orthodox cultural heritage to American-born children of Greek descent, ages 5-14.
The grant to Ionian Village, a camp and travel program in Greece sponsored by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese which has been experienced by more than 15,000 teenagers and youngsters since 1970, will be used in two areas according to Director Michael Pappas: $75,000 will go towards providing resources to enhance the educational aspects of the program and for a library and learning center; $125,000 will pay for extensive renovations and improvements on the camp facility. The work is expected to be completed by June 30, 2001, in time for this summers program.
Established in 1996, the international component of the Stavros S. Niarchos Foundation supports charitable activities in four primary program areas: arts and culture, education, health and medicine and social welfare. Foundation grants include, as appropriate, funds for operating and program support as well as funds for selected capital projects and endowments. Foundation Directors include: Sir Dennis Weatherstone, Philip S. Niarchos, Spyros N. Niarchos, Andreas C. Dracopoulos, Alois Jurt and Donald M. Harrison.