His deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the eight people confirmed to have lost their lives in the ferry sinking, which occurred on August 30, 2026, a few miles off the northern coast of Cyprus. Sir Stelios Hatzioannou, founder and owner of the easy brand family (see www.easy.com and www.easyHistory.info), as well as founder and Chairman of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation (see www.stelios.org and www.steliosfoundation.com.cy/)
Furthermore, Sir Stelios sends his thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the 18 people who remain missing as a result of the shipwreck
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In a statement he issued, he said, “As a small but meaningful and concrete gesture of support and solidarity toward the families who have been affected, the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation is announcing immediate financial assistance totaling €260,000 to the next of kin of the victims from the 26 families who have lost their lives or whose deaths will be confirmed as a result of the ferry sinking.”
Specifically, the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation will disburse, via bank transfer, a monetary donation of €10,000 to the closest relative of each person confirmed to have lost their life due to the ferry sinking, within one month of the incident.
As stated, “the total financial assistance amounts to €260,000 and is intended to provide immediate financial relief, as a small but tangible gesture of help and support to the families facing the tragic consequences of the shipwreck.”
Procedure for Receiving the Donation
To receive financial assistance, the closest relatives of the deceased and/or missing persons must follow the application procedure, as it will be published online at www.steliosfoundation.com.cy.
Financial assistance will be paid via bank transfer to the account of each victim’s closest living relative, up to and including second-degree relatives.
A basic requirement is that the next of kin submit a written application to the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, providing proof of their relationship to the victims. For clarity, the Stelios Foundation has established the following order of priority for the closest living relative or next of kin: spouse, father, mother, oldest adult child, oldest brother or sister.
Applicants must submit, via the online form, the necessary supporting documents confirming their relationship to the victim or missing person, their contact information, as well as the details of the bank account into which the financial assistance will be deposited, including the IBAN.
About the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation
The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to supporting charitable initiatives in the six countries where Sir Stelios and his family have lived and worked: Cyprus, Greece, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Monaco, and France.
Key initiatives of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation in Cyprus include the Bi-communal Business Collaboration Awards and the Youth Entrepreneurship Awards, which offer cash grants to the winners. In addition, the “Food from the Heart” initiative provides food to thousands of people facing financial hardship. The Foundation also provides financial assistance to vulnerable groups, to those affected by major disasters, to charitable organizations, and to students through scholarships for university studies. It is worth noting that the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation has provided similar financial assistance on three previous occasions, which were very well received and highly appreciated: in Cyprus, to the closest relatives of the victims of the serial killer Metaxas in 2019; and in Greece, to the families of those who lost their lives in the fires in Mati, just outside Athens, in 2018, and in the train collision at Tempi in 2024.
