The Athens-based Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) has announced an expansion of its commitment to its Global Health Initiative (GHI) to more than $1 billion.

The foundation initially committed $750 million in 2022 to its largest-ever grant initiative, which comprises more than 30 projects, including new hospitals in three cities in Greece: Komotini, Thessaloniki, and Sparta. After updating construction plans and finalizing bids, SNF increased its commitment to GHI to $1 billion, with the three hospitals comprising about $500 million of the total. The foundation officially signed AVAX Group, one of the largest construction groups in Greece and Cyprus, to complete construction.

In addition to the three hospitals in Greece, GHI projects include procurement of critical equipment such as air ambulances for the National Center for Emergency Care; training programs for healthcare providers; efforts to expand access to quality mental health care; and collaborations with institutions such as The Rockefeller University, Columbia University, the Child Mind Institute, and the National Children’s Alliance in the United States, Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children’s Hospital; King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center in Jordan, and Yorkshire Cancer Research in the United Kingdom.

“Our commitment to supporting public health, expanding access to its services, enhancing the quality of care for all, and empowering frontline healthcare professionals is unwavering, even in today's particularly challenging global conditions,” said SNF co-president Andreas Dracopoulos. “The new agreement for the construction of the three new hospitals fills us with pride and responsibility, proving that while our resources are not inexhaustible, our strength and dedication to the benefit of society is unlimited.”

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation [SNF])