“The Smile of the Child” is called upon to pay 24.217,48€ on taxes for the registration and circulation of the ambulances and vehicles that give solutions to thousands of children in need on a daily basis!

PRESS RELEASE

Athens, 27 November 2017

“The Smile of the Child” is called upon to pay 24.217,48€ on taxes for the registration and circulation of the ambulances and vehicles that give solutions to thousands of children in need on a daily basis!

“The Smile of the Child” must pay until the 31st of December 2017 the enormous amount of 24.217,48€ in registration and circulation taxes for the operation of the following vehicles and mobiles units of the Organization:
• the specialized Mobile Medical Units of Intensive Care for children and newborns (Ambulances) that operate under the coordination of the state-run Emergency Center of Direct Assistance (E.K.A.V)
• the Vehicles of Direct Intervention and Support for children at immediate risk that operate following prosecutorial orders and in cooperation with the Hellenic Police
• the Mobile Units of Preventive Medicine that operate in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs
• the Vehicles that transfer on a daily basis from and to schools 296 children living in the 11 Homes of Care of the Organization and the 48 children supported in the 3 Daycare Centers of “The Smile of the Child”

You can find photo material and detailed information about our vehicles at this link – available only in Greek.

“The Smile of the Child” continues its daily struggle for every child in Greece, whereas our request for a meeting with the Prime Minister on the issue of the annual unjust taxation imposed to the Organization is still pending over the past year.

Until the 31st of December 2017 “The Smile of the Child” is obliged to pay 24.217,48 euros for the vehicles’ registration and circulation taxes, whereas at the same time a number of different taxes should be also be paid –on a monthly basis- by “The Smile of the Child” without any exemption or alleviation (VAT tax, property taxes, property levy taxes, taxes for the own use of property, rent taxes, donation taxes, etc.)

Each and every 1 euro of taxation is taken away from actions for children, during a particularly critical period where “The Smile of the Child” is struggling to ensure HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS for thousands of children in need, including 344 children raised in our Homes and hundreds of children with serious health problems, as well as thousands of children living on the brink of poverty!

In Greece, “The Smile of the Child” has been certified by the Ministry of Labor, Social Insurance and Solidarity to provide 1st, 2nd and 3rd level services of Social Care.

Internationally, “The Smile of the Child” has been recognized for its actions, while it was recently recognized as the first originally Greek organization in Europe to become an official partner of the European Commission’s Directorate General of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO). The Organization also holds key positions on international fora, organizations and networks such as the United Nations, where “The Smile of the Child” is associate member with the UN Department of Public Information (UN DPI NGO) and has special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC).

Over the past 22 years supporters and friends of “The Smile of the Child” have recognized, supported, participated in and trusted the work of the Organization.

Thanks to the support of the citizens, “The Smile of the Child” has managed to sustain, despite the enormous difficulties, the necessary actions for every child in need.

“The Smile of the Child”, based only on the support from citizens, will be able for once more year to overcome this difficulty and ensure HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS for every child!
Everyone can support the effort of the Organization “The Smile of the Child”:

Donations from Greece:
• by sending an SMS message at 19810 with the word HAMOGELO (2,48€/sms additionally to the tax for mobile subscribers 12%, 15%, 18% or 20% based on the balance of the bill per SMS)
• by calling at 19810 from a landline (charge of 2,60€ including VAT tax and tax on landline telephone services per call) or a mobile phone (charge of 2,48€ including VAT tax additionally to the tax for mobile subscribers 12%, 15%, 18% or 20% based on the balance of the bill per CALL)

Donations from Greece and abroad:
• by donating through a direct bank transfer to any of thebank accounts of the Organization via PayPal or by postal cheque (from any country expect the USA).

For more information, please contact “The Smile of the Child’s” Press Team, tel: +210 3306 140, press@hamogelo.gr