The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation has announced it will provide up to €260,000 in direct financial support to the families of those killed in the ferry sinking off Cyprus’s northern coast, in a move described as a small but immediate gesture of solidarity.
Immediate Aid For Grieving Families
Eight people have been confirmed dead following the August 30 disaster, while 18 others remain missing. In a statement issued on Monday, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder and president of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and creator of the easy family of brands, offered his “most sincere condolences” to the families and loved ones of the victims.
Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram
He also extended “thoughts and prayers” to the relatives of those still reported missing.
€10,000 Per Confirmed Victim
As part of what the foundation called “a small but tangible gesture of support and solidarity,” each next of kin of a person confirmed dead will receive a €10,000 cash donation, provided the application is made within one month of the incident.
If all 26 people are ultimately confirmed dead within that period, the total assistance could reach €260,000.
The foundation said the funding is intended “to provide immediate financial relief” to families facing the aftermath of the tragedy.
Who Can Apply
The donation will be paid by bank transfer to the closest living relative of each victim, up to and including the second degree of kinship. Applicants must submit a written request proving their relationship to the deceased, along with contact details and bank account information, including the IBAN.
The foundation has identified the order of priority for the closest living relative as the spouse, father, mother, oldest adult child and oldest brother or sister.
Application details will be published on the foundation’s website: Stelios Philanthropic Foundation.
A Wider Record Of Philanthropy
The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation is a non-profit organisation supporting charitable activity across six countries where Sir Stelios and his family have lived and worked: Cyprus, Greece, the UK, Ireland, Monaco and France.
In Cyprus, its initiatives include the Bi-Communal Business Cooperation Awards and the Youth Entrepreneurship Awards, both of which offer financial grants to winners. The foundation also runs Food from the Heart, which provides food to thousands of people facing economic hardship, and supports vulnerable groups, disaster relief efforts, charitable organisations and university students through scholarships.
This is not the first time the foundation has stepped in after a national tragedy. It has previously provided financial assistance to the families of victims in Cyprus and Greece, including the 2019 murders committed by serial killer Nicos Metaxas in Cyprus, the 2018 Mati wildfires outside Athens and the Tempi train collision in Greece.
