Athanasios Ktorides Foundation is a non-profit

philanthropic Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...

organisation founded in 2008 by

Nasos Ktorides Athanasios "Nasos" Ktorides (; born 10 November 1968) is a Cyprus, Cypriot entrepreneur and philanthropist, founding Chairman and former CEO of the EuroAsia Interconnector electricity cable, Quantum Corporation, Quantum Energy, Quantum Cable and E ...

, the first Cyprus Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. The Foundation promotes

sport Sport is a physical activity or game, often Competition, competitive and organization, organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The numbe ...

and

culture Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...

with

humanitarian Humanitarianism is an ideology centered on the value of human life, whereby humans practice benevolent treatment and provide assistance to other humans to reduce suffering and improve the conditions of humanity for moral, altruistic, and emotiona ...

work. It is organizer of the

Quantum Nicosia Marathon Nicosia Marathon (branded The Quantum Nicosia Marathon) is an international marathon (42.195 km) that courses through Nicosia. Its inaugural run was held on October 10, 2010. as a half-marathon race. It was founded in 2010. by the Athanasios ...

in 2010, 2012 and 2018. It collects and publishes books, academic research and studies. The Foundation supports Cypriot and Greek cultural heritage. It also sponsors charity activities that benefit families and children with special needs, as well as orphans and children's shelters, and all other activities aimed at the protection and well-being of children. The Foundation grants 10 full

scholarships A scholarship is a form of financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, athletic skill, and financial need, research ...

for studies in leading European and American universities for 2018—2019. QNM 2010 - Start of Marathon

Activities

Sport and humanitarian activity

The Athanasios Ktorides Foundation was founded 2008 by its current chairman

, the first Cyprus Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. The Foundation promotes and sponsors cultural and

activities and activities aimed at the protection and well-being of children. The

Nicosia Marathon Nicosia Marathon (branded The Quantum Nicosia Marathon) is an international marathon (42.195 km) that courses through Nicosia. Its inaugural run was held on October 10, 2010. as a half-marathon race. It was founded in 2010. by the Athanasios ...

was established in 2010 by the Foundation to commemorate 2500 years from the

Battle of Marathon The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC during the first Persian invasion of Greece. It was fought between the citizens of Athens (polis), Athens, aided by Plataea, and a Achaemenid Empire, Persian force commanded by Datis and Artaph ...

. It was decided that 50% of revenue from entries in the

to be given to the objective of "My Venerable Friends", that is to the welfare of elders. More than 7,000 runners took part in the 2012 Nicosia Marathon, also sponsored by the Foundation. Simultaneously with the marathon, the Foundation also organised the "''Winner's Fair''" with many different activities. All proceeds are donated to the Cyprus Anti-Cancer Society. From the marathon participations' revenue, the Foundation also supported the charitable institutions "''One Dream One Wish''", The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, the ''Association of Parents and Friends of Children with Heart Disease'' and

UNICEF UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...

. In 2012, the Foundation sponsored the 2012 Parachuting Festival. In 2018, the Foundation also sponsored 7th Quantum Klirou Atovrisi Challenge, organized as 4 km and 12 km races. ActionForEnergy

Ktorides Fellowship and Action For Energy

In 2011, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Foundation and the

University of Cyprus The University of Cyprus (Greek language, Greek: Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου, Turkish language, Turkish: Kıbrıs Üniversitesi) is a public university, public research institute, research university established in Cyprus in 1989. It ...

in a joint initiative ''Action for Energy''. The Foundation offered

scholarship A scholarship is a form of Student financial aid, financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, Multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion, athleti ...

s entitled ''The Athanasios Ktorides Foundation Scholarship'' to PhD students whose research was in the field of

solar energy Solar energy is the radiant energy from the Sun's sunlight, light and heat, which can be harnessed using a range of technologies such as solar electricity, solar thermal energy (including solar water heating) and solar architecture. It is a ...

. In order to preserve Cyprus nature, the Foundation also supported tree-planting in 2017. The Athanasios Ktorides Foundation grants 10 full

for studies in leading European and American universities for 2018—2019.

Cultural activity

The Foundation erected a monument in 2011 dedicated to

Michalis Stivaros Michalis Stivaros (; 1892 in Pedoulas, Cyprus 5 December 1912 in Bizani, Epirus, Greece) was a Cypriot soldier, voluntarily enlisted in Greek army and fighting in the First Balkan war. He was killed in prelude of battle of Bizani in December 1912. ...

, one of the heroes of the

First Balkan War The First Balkan War lasted from October 1912 to May 1913 and involved actions of the Balkan League (the Kingdoms of Kingdom of Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Kingdom of Serbia, Serbia, Kingdom of Greece, Greece and Kingdom of Montenegro, Montenegro) agai ...

. On a mountain top overlooking

Pedoulas Pedoulas () is a village in the Nicosia District of Cyprus, located at an altitude of in the Troodos Mountains, 4 km south of Moutoullas. It lies in the Marathasa Valley. The name is derived from the words ''pediada'' (valley) and ''laos' ...

, the monument is erected as a symbol of the heroism of all Cypriots who fought in the

Balkan wars The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans, Balkan states in 1912 and 1913. In the First Balkan War, the four Balkan states of Kingdom of Greece (Glücksburg), Greece, Kingdom of Serbia, Serbia, Kingdom of Montenegro, M ...

. Stivaros died in December 1912 in prelude of the

Battle of Bizani The Battle of Bizani (, ''Máchi tou Bizaníou''; ) took place in Epirus on . The battle was fought between Greek and Ottoman forces during the last stages of the First Balkan War, and revolved around the forts of Bizani, which covered the app ...

, fighting for the liberation of

Epirus Epirus () is a Region#Geographical regions, geographical and historical region, historical region in southeastern Europe, now shared between Greece and Albania. It lies between the Pindus Mountains and the Ionian Sea, stretching from the Bay ...

from the Turks. The Foundation erected and unveiled bust of Michalis Stivaros on 28 October 2013 in

Ioannina Ioannina ( ' ), often called Yannena ( ' ) within Greece, is the capital and largest city of the Ioannina (regional unit), Ioannina regional unit and of Epirus (region), Epirus, an Modern regions of Greece, administrative region in northwester ...

. The Foundation has made significant contributions to the arts by securing and repatriating historically important documents and other literary works. On 50th anniversary of the execution of

Michalis Karaolis Michalis Karaolis (; 13 February 1933 – 10 May 1956) was a Cypriot Greek, Cypriot public official and revolutionary. Born in the village of Palaichori Oreinis of Pitsilia, Karaolis worked as a government clerk and a member of EOKA (the National ...

acquired from auction and donated to the National Struggle Museum in Nicosia a handwritten manuscript by Nobel laureate and philosopher,

Albert Camus Albert Camus ( ; ; 7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, journalist, world federalist, and political activist. He was the recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the s ...

. Albert Camus in his letter to

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

appealed for mercy for the Michalis Karaolis, freedom fighter of the

EOKA The Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston (EOKA ; ) was a Greek Cypriot nationalist guerrilla organization that fought a campaign for the end of Cyprus#Cyprus under the British Empire, British rule in Cyprus, and for enosis, eventual union with K ...

struggle for independence. The presentation and publication of some important books are also supported by the Foundation. On May 25, 2018 Rector of the

Sorbonne University Sorbonne University () is a public research university located in Paris, France. The institution's legacy reaches back to the Middle Ages in 1257 when Sorbonne College was established by Robert de Sorbon as a constituent college of the Unive ...

, byzantinologist and UNICEF ambassador Eleni Glykatzi-Arveler in collaboration with the Athanasios Ktorides Foundation presented lecture on the historic subject ''The Past Has s Future''. FaneromeniPh2L

Children

Nicosia Special Honorary Award for Foundation

The Foundation has sponsored the publication of children's books with all revenues from their sale donated to

declared

as a National Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. He is the first Cyprus Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and the third in the wider Hellenic world. Children are regularly invited to different activities organized by the Foundation. Many charities and children ceremonies are sponsored or held under the Foundation's auspices. In organization of Foundation children from Pediatric-Oncology unit spent time on Ktorides Estate. Rector of the

and UNICEF ambassador Eleni Glykatzi-Arveler was guest several times on charity events organized by the Athanasios Ktoridis Foundation. Foundation sponsors charity activities that benefit families and children with special needs, as well as orphans and children's shelters, and all other activities aimed at the protection and well-being of children. The Foundation donated clothes for hundreds of children in the

Commonwealth of Dominica Dominica, officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Caribbean. It is part of the Windward Islands chain in the Lesser Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of t ...

. This was not the first aid sent to children in the

, assistance that continues to date. In 2009, the humanitarian sensitivity was recognized by the

and Nasos Ktorides was inducted as

Honorary Consul A consul is an official representative of a government who resides in a foreign country to assist and protect citizens of the consul's country, and to promote and facilitate commercial and diplomatic relations between the two countries. A consu ...

of the country in Cyprus. The Prime Minister of Dominica awarded Ktorides the "Dominica Medal of Honor", as well as a diplomatic passport of the Caribbean nation.

Special honorary award

Nicosia Municipality awarded the Athanasios Ktorides Foundation with a Special Honorary Award on February 22, 2018 in

Nicosia Nicosia, also known as Lefkosia and Lefkoşa, is the capital and largest city of Cyprus. It is the southeasternmost of all EU member states' capital cities. Nicosia has been continuously inhabited for over 5,500 years and has been the capi ...

References

{{Reflist File:FaneromeniPh3L.jpg, File:MstivarouPh3 L.jpg, Unveiling statue of the Cypriot hero Michalis Stivaros in Ioannina

External links

Athanasios Ktorides Foundation website
Foundations based in Cyprus Non-profit organisations based in Cyprus Culture of Greece