Section SOCIETY
TOPIC

Municipality of Palaio Faliro

«Growing Together in the Community»

Employees being passionately involved in social activities and initiatives, aiming at incorporating volunteerism into Grant Thornton’s culture. The global network of Grant Thornton, has decided to devote a work day (or more) to volunteer activities, giving its network employees around the world, a unique opportunity to benefit vulnerable social groups and individuals and support environmental actions, making a real difference to the local communities. 

The targeted audience is the total of Grant Thornton’s employees in Greece. It is noted that the same action is running to all GT network worldwide (more than 42.000 people).

At least one work day. Grant Thornton has already planned for employees to spend two work days in voluntary activities in September of 2016.

With the key message «We are Growing Together in the Community», people of Grant Thornton Greece were actively involved in 18 various actions in Athens, Thessaloniki and Heraklion, Crete. Over 250 staff members, devoted this day to voluntary work, collaborating with 10 Non-Governmental Organizations and other associations:

  • MΕDASSET (Cleaning Eden Beach, in cooperation with the municipality of P. Faliro,  in the context of the campaign "Our Promise: Clean Seas")
  • Hellenic Red Cross (Food distribution, Refugee Accommodation Center at Elaionas)
  • SOS Villages (Warehouse sorting out, Ilioupoli)
  • The Ark of the World (Visit, information & cash delivery, Kolonos)
  • The Smile of the Child (Voluntary Creative Workshop and garden remodeling in Ilisia, Support Center for children and families with welfare problems: assortment of items in Marousi, Nea Makri and Thessaloniki and house restructuring and painting works in Marousi)
  • Child Care Association (Remodeling , restructuring and painting works in Exarchia)
  • Medical Intervention (Cooking for 30 children of the respite home, N. Kamaratos, Athens)
  • Association for the Social Support of Youth  (Assistance in collecting and distributing relief items, “Sympraxi”, Thessaloniki)
  • Andreas and Maria Kalokairinou Foundation (Assistance to the Foundation, supplying food and relief items, Crete)
  • Together for Children (Assistance to the association through acquisition of special tickets for the music concert at Herodium)
  • Attica Park Zoological Park (Feeding, cleaning animal areas, painting, general cleaning, Spata).

Respected and well known NGOs and other associations. More specifically: MΕDASSET, Hellenic Red Cross, SOS Villages, The Ark of the World, The Smile of the Child, Child Care Association, Medical Intervention, Association for the Social Support of Youth, Andreas and Maria Kalokairinou Foundation, Together for Children. Grant Thornton also collaborated with Attica Park Zoological Park and municipality of Palaio Faliron.

More than 250 Company’s employees. In the above actions, also participated employees’ family members and friends.

The locations differed, due to the variety of actions:

  • MΕDASSET – Edem beach
  • Hellenic Red Cross - Refugee Accommodation Center at Elaionas
  • SOS Villages - Ilioupoli
  • The Ark of the World - Kolonos
  • The Smile of the Child - Ilisia, Support Center for children and families with welfare problems in Marousi, Nea Makri and Thessaloniki
  • Child Care Association - Exarchia
  • Medical Intervention - N. Kamaratos, Athens)
  • Association for the Social Support of Youth - Thessaloniki
  • Andreas and Maria Kalokairinou Foundation  - Crete
  • Attica Park Zoological Park  - Spata   
  • Hellenic Red Cross (15 volunteers involved, food distribution to 100 refugees and distribution of mattresses)
  • SOS Villages (25 volunteers involved)
  • The Ark of the World (11 volunteers involved and 1,000€ funding)
  • The Smile of the Child (73 volunteers involved and materials purchasing of 150€)
  • Child Care Association (17 volunteers involved and materials purchasing of 150€)
  • Medical Intervention (15 volunteers involved and materials purchasing of 300€, cooking to 30 children)
  • Association for the Social Support of Youth (14 volunteers involved)
  • Andreas and Maria Kalokairinou Foundation (3,000€ funding)
  • Together for Children (invitations for philanthropic concert purchasing of 1,000€)
  • Attica Park Zoological Park (25 volunteers involved)

The above actions are based on Grant Thornton’s commitment to generous giving, thus the only measurable outcome and benefit for the organization was the substantial number of the employees involved (250 out of 450 total employees). Moreover, Grant Thornton’s relationships with NGOs and other organizations are strengthen. The biggest benefit of all, is the promotion and reinforcement of corporate volunteerism, while giving back to the local community in a meaningful and practical way.