As if the timing couldn’t have been any better– The New York Times carried a front page story with the headline “More Children in Greece are Going Hungry” on the same day I boarded a flight to Miami for a fundraiser for Project Hope for Greece, the latest efforts of the Greek America Foundation to support people and institutions in need during the economic crisis.
The event was hosted by two of Miami’s most prominent Greek American families: Evangeline and John Scurtis and Drs. Pat and Andreas Tzakis. The latter happens to be one of the most famous Greeks in the world– the world-renown transplant surgeon who has already left his mark in medical history.
The newspaper headline confirmed that our efforts are more relevant now, than even before. Yesterday’s news shows the impact of this crisis on the innocent victims– the children. No matter how much cynicism you have about things in Greece and no matter how much disdain you might feel about the corruption, the fakelakia, the dirty politicians– it’s not the children’s fault.
I’ve adopted a “no cynicism” policy when working on these efforts. I don’t listen to it and I don’t engage in conversations– when young kids can’t get medicine and the elderly are blowing their brains out in public because they are desperate. You can argue all you want and complain. You can rant and rave all you want on your Facebook page and write blog after blog post about how Greece is broken. I’m trying to do something about it and support the people impacted. Fortunately, people like the Tzakis’ and the Scurtises are responding.
Today, consider even a small donation to our efforts to provide support to sustainable and transparent charities in Greece. Or if you’re feeling very philanthropic, become an Ambassador of Hope today.