Grace Foundation Announces Donation to SOS Children’s Villages

The Grace Foundation, the charitable foundation of Grace Hotels, through its “Give with Grace” initiative, has made its first donation under its partnership with SOS Children’s Villages, its designated charity.

The donation was announced on November 20 at the SOS Children’s Village in Athens on Universal Children’s Day, a day dedicated to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the welfare of children around the world.

A total of $56,400 has been raised through the programme in the first six months since its implementation in March this year. Under the programme, set up by Grace Hotels and its sister group Aria Hotels as part of the charitable activities of the Grace Foundation, hotels donate $1 for every night a room is occupied and invite guests to do the same for each night they stay. Money is also raised through the sale of certain dishes on the menus and hand-crafted sterling silver bracelets featuring the Give with Grace emblem.

The funds will be distributed to SOS Children’s Villages around the world, with the principal aim of giving vulnerable children the opportunity to grow up in a loving home. The international, non-governmental organisation works to strengthen families and prevent family breakdown, and works with communities and states to provide a loving and supportive family for each child who does not have one.

This donation follows the Grace Foundation’s pledge of 1.2 million euros in April 2015 to two leading Greek charities — Hatzikyriakio Institution, one of the oldest childcare institutions in Greece, and public health institute, Prolepsis. The donation reflects the foundation’s support for the country at a time of unparalleled economic and social strife.

Further charitable support is offered on a continual basis through the donation of room nights and gifts, bringing the total amount donated to an estimated $2.5 million since the foundation’s inception.