hellenicare serves the most vulnerable and poorest populations in the former Soviet Republics and Republic of Albania. As an organization founded by Hellenes and caring for Hellenes, hellenicare targets vulnerable populations in historic Hellenic communities. Services are open to all who are in need and are from all age groups.

In the aftermath of the break-up of the Soviet Union, political and social unrest caused severe deterioration of the infrastructure in each country. The Republic Georgia underwent a civil war that increased widespread poverty. As a result of this turmoil, access to health care, medicines and other social services were restricted. Electricity was only available two hours a day. Gas, food and water were rationed. Local roads, schools and medical facilities were in disrepair. Public transportation services stopped.

"Our Regional Medical Director worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant during the civil war in Georgia, said Dr. Charles Kanakis, Jr, Vice President of Medical Affairs of hellenicare. At night he would see patients in an abandoned locker room of a sports stadium along with other Greek physicians. By the time Mr. Athens made his first trip to Georgia in 1997, these doctors had organized themselves and presented a business plan in English to him to establish a medical center in Tbilisi," continued Dr. Kanakis. hellenicare opened its first medical center in September 1997. The situation was no different in Albania, Armenia and Ukraine where during the next 10 years, hellenicare established medical centers, mobile medical unit and nurses’ programs. Small reconstruction projects began in 2002.

More than 2.1 million people have received assistance from hellenicare since 1997. We have distributed close to $140 million worth of medicines, medical supplies, equipment, food, clothing and other aid. hellenicare has completed 20 small reconstruction programs. In 2009 hellenicare will renovate two health posts in Armenia, repair a water pipeline in Georgia and renovate a health post as well as install a new heating system at a hospice program in Ukraine.

"The people we help may be poor, but they are rich in spirit," says Andrew A. Athens, President and Founder of hellenicare. "They are resilient and have the desire to make a better life for themselves and their families. At hellenicare, we foster this human resourcefulness through our many programs and provides them with the opportunity they need to build a healthy, secure and productive life," continues Mr. Athens.