The establishment and operation of the Centre for Hellenistic Studies in the Library of Alexandria constitutes a vision which came true thanks to the initiative of the President of the “Foundation for the Child and the Family”, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis and the Chairman of the “Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation”, Mr. Antonis Papadimitriou, as well as the sponsorships of the “Vardinoyannis Foundation” and “The Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation”.

The Center aims at the promotion of Greek culture abroad as well as the history of Hellenistic era during which the ancient Library of Alexandria was founded.

In a modest and very touching ceremony held at the Patriarchate of Alexandria in November 2008, His Beatitude Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II conferred the Office of Great Lady of the Patriarchal Throne on Mrs. Vardinoyannis, saying: “Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis has moved us all with her sensitivity and constant presence by the side of the children. She is the mother of all the children of the world and a remarkable member of our society, who is always found by the side of those who need her…”.

This paramount title of honour is conferred on people,

The Forum held in Vienna in February 2008 with the participation of representatives of governmental and non governmental organisations, civil society, business community, activists, and experts of every associated field. The President of the “Foundation for the Child and the Family”, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis was also invited in the Forum. She was one of the pioneers of the campaign “End Human Trafficking Now”, which was launched in Athens in January 2006 along with the round table “Business Community against the Trafficking of Human Beings”.

The Vienna Forum was organised by the UN.GIFT (United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking) founded in order to organise and promote the international campaign against human trafficking.The idea that led to the establishment of UN.GIFT is based on the fact that trafficking constitutes a universal phenomenon and those involved in it,

The fires of summer 2007 that threatened Ancient Olympia sound the alarm underlying the need for a more effective protection of the world heritage monuments from natural disasters. The mobilisation of the State, international organisations as well as citizens, was immediate. The President of the “Foundation for the Child and the Family”, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, was among the first ones to respond.

With the initiative of Mrs. Vardinoyannis and under her sponsorship, an international workshop was held in Ancient Olympia in November 2008 aiming at exchanging views and discussing more precise and effective means for the management of the dangers that threaten the ancient monuments,