Marianna V. Vardinoyannis
The president of the “Foundation for the Child and Family”
The multifaceted work of Μrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, in Greece and abroad, focuses on important social issues such as human rights, social solidarity, education, poverty, trafficking, children’s exploitation and abuse, dialogue among civilizations, climate change, sustainable development, drug traffic prevention, etc. At the same time, she works for the establishment of a culture of peace and supports the world cultural heritage protection.
Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis is Founder -President of the "Foundation for the Child and the Family" and Founder -President of the Association of Friends of Children with cancer "ELPIDA". Since 1999, she is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. She also serves as a Board member of several international humanitarian and cultural institutions and collaborates with many others.
PERSONAL DATA
- Born in Athens, Greece.
- Married with the businessman, Mr. Vardis J. Vardinoyannis.
- Mother of five children.
EDUCATION
- PhD Candidate in Archaeology (University of Sheffield)
- BA in History of Art
- BA in Economics
LANGUAGES
- Greek
- English
- French
ACTION IN BRIEF
- UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
- Representative of the Director-General of UNESCO for the international promotion of the Cultural Olympiads
- Founder-President of the "Foundation for the Child and the Family"
- Founder- President of the Association of Friends of Children with cancer "ELPIDA"
- Founding Member of the Global Humanitarian Forum
- Member of the Board of Trustees of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (until 2008) and Member of the Advisory Board (present).
- Member of the Board of Directors of "The Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement"
- Member of the Board of Directors of the “International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children” (ICMEC)
- Member of the Board of Trustees of the Mentor International Foundation
- Founding Member of the "Light of Africa" Foundation
- Member of the Women Leaders’ Council of the UN Global Initiative to fight Human Trafficking
- President of the Organising Committee of the World Summer Deaflympics -Athens 2013
- Member of the President’s Council of the Special Olympics "Europe-Eurasia"
- Member of the Organising Committee of the Special Olympics World Summer Games- Athens 2011
- Member of the International Committee of the Foundation for a Culture for Peace
- Μember of the Global Public Service Advisory Board of the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University
- Member of the Advisory Board of the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Centre for Health and Human Rights in the Harvard School of Public Health
- Member of the Honorary Committee of the International Coalition against “honour crimes” and forced marriages for underage girls (HOCRINT)
- Official Greek delegate of the "European Office for Missing and Exploited Children"
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
Academic
- Honorary Degree of Philosophy (London Metropolitan University, 2008)
- Honorary Doctorate of Laws (University of Sheffield, 1997)
International
- “Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur” of the French Republic (2006)
- Office of the Great Lady of the Patriarchal Throne of St. Mark (Patriarchate of Alexandria, 2008)
- UNICEF Award (2008)
- Honorary Distinction of the Special Olympics International (2008)
- "Woman of Europe" with the mission of promoting the international summit meetings for the protection of human rights and especially the children’s (1996)
- Paul Harris Fellow Award (Rotary International) (1995)
- International Humanitarian Award (USA, 1987).
Νational
- "Golden Cross of the Order of Benefaction" of the Hellenic Republic (2002)
- Athens Academy Award (1997)
- "Gold Medal of Honour and Benefaction" of the Municipality of Athens. (1996)
- Award of the Ecumenical Hellenism Organisation (2008)
- Medal of the International "Association of the Friends of Bibliotheca Alexandrina" (2007)
- Honorary Distinction by "Demokritos" Research Centre (2002)
- Honorary Citizen of the Municipality of Ano Liossia (2001)
- Honorary Distinction by the Municipality of Thessaloniki (1997)
- Honorary Member of the Club UNESCO of Attica (2000)
- Special Award by the Association of Greek Olympic Champions (1998)
- Honorary Distinction by the 251 General Hospital of the Hellenic Air Force (1997)
- Award of the Rotary Club of Western Attica(1997)
- Award of the LIONS Club of Greece (1996)
- Award of the Soroptimistic Union of Greece (1996)
- Honorary Distinction of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Greece (1996)
- Honorary Citizen of the Municipality of Ermioni (1996)
- Award of Culture and Education of Club UNESCO Dodecanese (1996)
- "Honour of Rethymno City" Distinction (1996)
- Award of the Rotary Club of Western Attica (1995-96)
- Award of the Rotary Club of Glyfada (1995-96)
- Award of the Rotary Club of Kifissia (1995-96)
- Award of the Panhellenic Association of Volunteers and Blood Donors, of the Greek Ministry of Health, Social Welfare and Social Security (1995)
- Red Cross Award (1995)
- Leaders of the Year" Award 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
