There was a time when 72-year-old Maria, a pensioner, needed help paying the electricity bill. Her son usually helps her out, but this time he was away and Maria (not her real name) had no one to turn to. Unable to read the notices she received from the electricity company or call them to negotiate a solution, she turned to PRONIA. A case worker, after listening carefully, took the necessary steps and the bill was paid.

This is a simple, straightforward case but for Maria and many more like her who suffer in silence, the reality is anything but simple. Health problems, family violence, drug addiction, divorce, mental health issues make their daily reality one of hardship and struggle.

PRONIA’s case workers help people to deal with this reality. They offer practical help in a timely and discreet manner to avert a crisis. Over one thousand people received such assistance in the last 12 months. This service is funded by PRONIA.

There are many people like Maria who face ongoing financial hardship. It takes them down a path of isolation from their community, deterioration of their health and increase their risk of mental illness. Others, who find themselves in similar circumstances, face an avalanche of issues that compromise their safety, and increase their risk of homelessness and suicide.

Vulnerable and disadvantaged people have access to Greek-speaking lawyers through PRONIA’s legal and migration service, free of cost. For more than 15 years PRONIA has been funding the Greek Cardiac program offering rehabilitation and health education to people with heart conditions in a culturally responsive manner. PRONIA absorbs the costs for these services through fundraising initiatives.

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“Every year, we are touched by the generosity and goodwill of the community,” says Tina Douvos-Stathopoulos, PRONIA’s CEO. “Some of the most generous donors are second generation sons and daughters who have first-hand experience of our services through the help we provided to their parents.”

Having the finger on the community’s pulse for almost five decades, PRONIA forges ahead, undeterred by the challenges associated with securing government funding. If the need exists, PRONIA will create a program and offer a service. That’s why this year PRONIA has a target of 150,000 for its annual appeal, a radiothon which runs over 2 days, 6 and 7 of September in conjunction with 3XY Radio Hellas.

Last year, PRONIA raised close to $100K. They were channelled into health and welfare programs and information initiatives such as the Pop-up-Periptero. “The more we receive in donations the more we give back through programs and services to the community, to people of all ages. It is a continuous circle of good will which has sustained us for close to 50 years,” says Ms Douvos-Stathopoulos.

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PRONIA’s annual appeal will start at 9am on Friday 6 of September and will wrap up at 9pm on Saturday the 7 September. Donations can made by calling (03) 93889998.