Numerous donations for technical, vocational, and maritime education
The tradition of philanthropy associated with the name “Eugenides” began in 1953, when Eugenios Eugenides donated 1 billion drachmas to aid earthquake victims in the Ionian Islands, while also providing a fully equipped hospital and prefabricated housing. This initiative marked the beginning of a long-standing commitment to education and Greek society, which continues uninterrupted to this day.
Since its founding in 1956, the Eugenides Foundation has made thousands of grants, primarily in the fields of technical, vocational, and maritime education, but also in any other instance where there was a substantial social need.
Out of respect for the donors’ wish to give discreetly, without seeking publicity, we list below, by way of example, some of the Foundation’s most significant donations.
The Early Years
The Foundation's first major donation was made in 1959, just three years after its establishment. Marianna Simou, sister of Eugenios Eugenides and administrator of the Foundation from 1954 to 1981, donated a significant sum to the Ministry of Merchant Marine for the purchase of a training ship, which was intended for the further training of students at the Merchant Marine Academies.
The ship, which the government named “Eugene Eugenides” in honor of the great philanthropist, was acquired by the Greek government five years later. During the same period, donations were also made to the Aspropyrgos Public Merchant Marine Schools to establish awards for top-performing students.
The period 1981–2000
During the presidency of Nikos Vernikos-Eugenides (1981–2000), the Foundation significantly expanded its grant-making activities.
Among the most significant initiatives is the donation of a ship simulator, valued at $1,250,000, to the Ministry of Merchant Marine.
During the same period, the Foundation donated five fully equipped special vehicles to the Ministry of Education for transporting students with disabilities, supplied 55 high schools with physics lab equipment, funded research programs at the Universities of Ioannina and Patras, and supported teacher training through specialized seminars.
A special place in the history of the Foundation’s donations is held by the allocation of 900 million drachmas to repair the damage sustained by school buildings as a result of the devastating Attica earthquake in 1999.
From 2000 to the present
This tradition continues under the presidency of Leonidas Dimitriadis-Eugenidis.
From 2000 to the present, the Foundation has made significant donations, most notably the full restoration of the damage caused by the 2014 earthquakes at the Ionian Islands Merchant Marine Academy, at a total cost of 700,000 euros, as well as the repair of the facilities of the Ionian Islands Merchant Marine Academy (A.E.N.) of Kymi in 2018, with a donation of 90,000 euros. New schools established after 2018, e.g., “2025–2026” (American Agricultural School, 1st Lixouri Vocational High School, 2nd Orestiada Evening Vocational High School, new simulator, etc.)
At the same time, the donation of equipment to Merchant Marine Academies and Vocational High Schools continues steadily, as does the upgrading of laboratories, the provision of educational materials and textbooks, support for scientific research and conferences, and contributions to the improvement of maritime education curricula through specialized working groups.
The tradition of the Eugenides Foundation’s grants remains alive to this day, with initiatives that address the contemporary needs of education and society, carrying on Eugenios Eugenides’ vision of making a meaningful and enduring contribution.