Marianna Vardinogiannis

Marianna V. Vardinogiannis (Greek: Μαριάννα Βαρδινογιάννη, née Μπουρνάκη Bournaki; 1937 – 24 July 2023) was a Greek UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador[4] and an activist for the rights of children and the family, and against child sexual abuse via her Foundation for the Child and the Family. She was the President of the Elpida (English: Hope) Association of friends of children with cancer.[5] She was married to Greek shipping magnate Vardis Vardinogiannis.

Marianna Vardinogiannis
Vardinogiannis in 2018
Born
Marianna Bournaki

1937[1]
Athens, Kingdom of Greece
Died24 July 2023(2023-07-24) (aged 86)
Athens, Greece
Resting placeFirst Cemetery of Athens[2]
Alma materUniversity of Denver
Occupation(s)Unesco
Vardinogiannis Foundation[3]
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1961)​
Children5, including Giannis Vardinogiannis

Early life and education

Marianna Bournaki was born in 1937,[1] in Athens, Greece,[6] and raised in Ermione, birthplace of her mother, Evangelia. Her father was George Bournakis, who hailed from the village of Sampatiki, in the province of Kynouria, in Arcadia.[7] She studied Economics at the University of Denver in Colorado after graduating from high school in Athens.[7]

International and regional activities

Vardinogiannis began her activities as a member of various organizations, associations and philanthropic organizations, from which she has fought for international peace and global solidarity, although her primary focus has been mainly on the problems of children: health, education, social welfare and poverty, child abuse and exploitation. At the same time, she supported vulnerable social groups, refugees and schools throughout the Greek territory as well as areas and people that had been affected by natural disasters such as the village of Makistos which was revived after being destroyed by fires.[8]

She developed strong relationships with several international personalities, such as Queen Rania of Jordan,[9] Suzanne Mubarak,[10] several networks, collaborations and organizations such as the Global Coalition Women Defending Peace.[11]

On 14 October 2010, the Elpida (Hope) Children's Oncology located in Athens, Greece, which focuses on child cancer, was inaugurated and opened to the public.[5]

Personal life and death

Marianna Bournaki married Greek shipping magnate Vardis Vardinogiannis; they had five children.[7] She died on 24 July 2023, at the age of 86. [12][13][14]

Awards and honors

She received many honorary titles and awards including the Academy of Athens Prize, the Archon of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, Grand Prize of the Charter of Paris against Cancer, and the "Ripple of Hope" prize awarded by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation, among others.

The most notable included:

See also

References
  1. "Μαριάννα Βαρδινογιάννη: "Στον Βαρδή ερωτεύτηκα 100 άνδρες μαζί"" [Marianna Vardinogianni: "With Vardis I fell in love with 100 men together"]. iselida.gr (in Greek). 23 April 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  2. "Μαριάννα Βαρδινογιάννη: Στο Α' Νεκροταφείο η ταφή της". protothema.gr (in Greek). 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  3. "Marianna Vardinoyannis Foundation". mvvfoundation.gr. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  4. "Marianna Vardinoyannis | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". unesco.org. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  5. "THE FIRST ONGOLOGIST HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN (original: ΤΟ ΠΡΩΤΟ ΟΓΚΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΝΟΣΟΚΟΜΕΙΟ ΓΙΑ ΠΑΙΔΙΑ)". EU Medline. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  6. "Μαριάννα Βαρδινογιάννη: Η ζωή σαν παραμύθι και το τεράστιο έργο". pagenews.gr (in Greek). 23 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  7. "Μαριάννα Βαρδινογιάννη: Η Πρέσβειρα Καλής Θελήσεως" [Marianna Vardinogiannis: The Goodwill Ambassador]. WomanTime (in Greek). Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  8. "Έφυγε από τη ζωή η Μαριάννα Βαρδινογιάννη". zougla.gr (in Greek). 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  9. "Η Ράνια της Ιορδανίας & η Μαριάννα Βαρδινογιάννη στα κέντρα προσφύγων στη Μυτιλήνη". fayscontrol.gr (in Greek). 25 April 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  10. Mpistika, Eleni (20 May 2003). "Διάλεξη στο Μέγαρο Μουσικής από την πρώτη κυρία της Αιγύπτου κ. Suzanne Mubarak, τη Δευτέρα 2 Ιουνίου". Kathimerini. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  11. "Marianna Vardinoyannis". The Economist. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  12. "Vardinogiannis family announcement". Ekathimerini. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  13. "Μαριάννα Βαρδινογιάννη: Πέθανε σε ηλικία 80 ετών" [Marianna Vardinogiannis passes away]. Ethnos (in Greek). 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  14. "Πέθανε η Μαριάννα Βαρδινογιάννη" [Marianna Vardinoyannis Passes Away]. News247 (in Greek). 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023. Την τελευταία της πνοή, σε ηλικία 80 ετών, άφησε η Μαριάννα Β. Βαρδινογιάννη, πρέσβειρα Καλής Θελήσεως της UNESCO και πρόεδρος του Συλλόγου Φίλων Παιδιών με καρκίνο «ΕΛΠΙΔΑ». [At the age of 80, Marianna V. Vardinogiannis, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and president of the Association of Friends of Children with Cancer "ELPIDA", passed away.]
  15. Prifti, Delphine Millet (26 June 2006). "PORTRAIT - Marianna Vardinoyannis honorée pour ses combats" (in French). lepetitjournal.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  16. "Η Μαριάννα Βαρδινογιάννη ανακηρύχθηκε αξιωματικός της Λεγεώνας της Τιμής" [Marianna Vardinogianni decorated Officer of the Légion d'Honneur]. iefimerida.gr (in Greek). 4 December 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  17. "Trustees - Marianna V. Vardinoyannis". Mentor International. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  18. "Mandela Prize awarded to Greek and Guinean rights activists". UN News. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
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