Not many people can say that they have received Greece’s highest civilian honour, but among those who can, president of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Andreas Dracopoulos is a worthy recipient.
On Monday he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Honor by Greece’s President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in a special ceremony held at the Presidential Mansion in Athens.
The medal, according to Mr Pavlopoulos who spoke at the event, is an expression of Greece’s gratitude for the significant contribution made to the country by the SNF and Mr Dracopoulos.
Just recently the Foundation made a multi-million euro donation to improve the country’s healthcare.
“With this truly massive contribution, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, under your leadership, continues the tradition of national benefactors,” said Mr Pavlopoulos.
“Not only is it continuing it, but because of the size of the donations it surpasses this tradition, opens new horizons and constitutes an example to follow for many others.”
Mr Dracopoulos made a heartfelt speech in response to Mr Pavlopoulos’ address, expressing his own gratitude for the award, and dedicated it to all who go above and beyond to assist their fellow citizens and to inspire others.
“The honour bestowed upon me today is a reward for all of us – Stavros Niarchos, all my colleagues at the Foundation and all the donees-associates of the Foundation, my family, my friends who have stood by me in my life, through good and bad. It is an honour that I carry in my soul and which I bequeath to my children as a real badge and a reminder that there is no greater thing than the love for one’s country, as each of us defines it,” he said.
“Our country is our home, it is our homeland, our family and our friends, our country is any land that adopts us, encourages us to create, to offer, to return to it. Our country is our world.”