The Carnival of Love Foundation presents the 2nd Annual Greek Carnival to benefit the Orphans of the SOS Children’s Villages of Greece

On Friday, February 27, 2009, The Carnival of Love Foundation will host its Second Annual “Apokries” Carnival of Patras, Greece Fundraiser at Central Sushi Bar Lounge in Astoria , NY , to benefit the children of the SOS Children’s Villages of Greece.

The Carnival of Love Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization founded on the principles that every human being has the power to make a difference in this world, and that by sharing light, love and hope with underprivileged children, all people can make a significant impact in their lives and pave the way for a brighter future. Originally the idea started off as a community project from a leadership program. We discussed our Carnival idea with our long-time friends and collectively we got together and transformed the project into a fun and festive fundraiser. We all felt blessed to have experienced the benefits of growing up in a close-knit, supporting and loving community of family and friends, and felt that every child deserved the same right so we set out to create a Foundation to make that possible.

After much research, our group chose to support the tremendous efforts of the SOS Children’s Villages; the largest orphan charity in the world. The SOS Children’s Villages is an international, non-governmental social development organization that has been active in the field of children’s rights and committed to children’s needs since 1949. The villages assist children, worldwide, that have either lost their parents or who cannot be raised by their biological family by offering them an emotionally stable, family-like environment throughout their lives, especially during the challenging years of transition into adulthood. They are known for creating lasting relationships with the children and being there to cherish the various milestones in their lives. For more information visit: www.sos-childrensvillages.org

Our first “Patrino Carnavali Benefit”, also held at Central Sushi Bar Lounge in Astoria on March 7, 2008, was a monumental success. With the combined efforts of our generous Greek-American community, family, friends and other fundraising participants, the Foundation was able to raise funds to benefit the extraordinary work of the SOS Children’s Villages in Greece . In addition to financial support, we were also able to reach out to the children by creating the “Books of Love”. These books were collaboration between fundraiser participants and students grades K-4th from St. Catherine’s Cathedral School in Astoria, NY .

The drawings included warm wishes and personalized fingerprint notes, or “loveprints” emphasizing their love and support. The children used their fingers, pink and purple inkpads, heart stamps and colored pens to craft their designs. We then hand-delivered “The Books of Love” to two locations of the SOS Children’s Villages in Greece last summer, in Athens and Thessaloniki areas. We wanted the children to had a scrapbook they could cherish in their own library. The books were very special because they were by the children for the children and highlighted the events held in their honor in New York City. The Foundation wanted the children to feel the love from across the globe, not just to receive another monetary donation. This project had a significant heartfelt impact on all involved.