The 29th Athens Classic Marathon, that took place on 14 November 2011, under the auspices of the President of the Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, and UNESCO, apart from its historical, cultural and athletic dimension, also displayed another very important one, its humanitarian profile, since part of the proceeds from the Marathon were donated in order to support the educational programmes of UNESCO, targeting poor children and mainly girls.
In the frame of the 36th General Assembly of UNESCO, that took place from the 27th of October until the 10th of November 2011 at the UNESCO’s Headquarters, UNESCO organised the Heads of States Forum, a platform for reflection and exchange of opinions in the highest rank of governments, intending to new, more inspired and creative prospects for the future of humanity.
The 2011 Annual Meeting of the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors took place on September 12 2011, at the UNESCO’s Headquarters in Paris. Focus was turned to the countries afflicted by war and natural disasters, as well as the repercussions of the world economic crisis.
Those who joined the Meeting included: the First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, HRH Princess Firyal of Jordan, the former President of Lithuania Mr Valdas Adamkus, the former President of Iceland Mrs Vigdis Finnbogadottir, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, the French composer Jean-Michel Jarre, the American actor Forest Whitaker, the Italian architect Renzo Piano, Mrs Ute-Henriette Ohoven,
On 27 July 2011, the Mayor of Rethymno, Mr Giorgis Marinakis, along with many people welcomed Mr Vardis J. Vardinoyannis and his wife, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, who visited the historical city on the occasion of the presentation of theGreek publication of Mrs Vardinoyiannis’ book “Labouring with the Challenges of Female Identity: Insights into Minoan society”.
In the frame of the “Trident Senses-Sakis Rouvas” charity initiative, to support “ELPIDA” Association of Friends of Children with Cancer, the Kraft Foods Hellas Company asked the Focus Bari S.A. Marketing Research Services to realise a qualitative research, which brought to light important elements concerning the “ELPIDA” Association, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis as well as Sakis Rouvas. The results of the research were announced in an event that took place in the ‘ELPIDA’ Guest House on the 6th of July 2011, along with the presentation of the video clip of Sakis Rouvas’ song “There is Hope”. The song and the video clip were dedicated to the children of the ELPIDA Guest House by Sakis Rouvas.
The need to conserve and protect cultural heritage, which is threatened by natural disasters and the impact of climate change, as well as the need to protect the environment and educate the next generation were the topic of the event organized on World Meteorological Day, 23rd March 2011, by Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation at the Theatre of Athens College in Psychiko.
The “Life & Style” magazine of Liberis Publications presented the annual “Women of the Year” awards, on Tuesday 10th of March 2011.
Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis was among the distinguished women, who were honoured with the “Woman of the Year” award.
“Although her name, as the organisers announced, was not included in the list of the 142 “Women of the Year” nominees, the 95% of the readers filled her name in the list, under the special category “Life’s work”, expressing which woman they wish to honour this year. Some children see their third parent in Marianna Vardinoyannis’
The “Pancretan Association of Athens*” honoured the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and President of the “ELPIDA” Association of Friends of Children with Cancer, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, in a special event that took place at the Grande Bretagne Hotel on Wednesday, 9th of March 2011. The event was organized on the occasion of the International Women’s Day and its proceeds were donated to the “ELPIDA” Association of Friends of Children with Cancer.
