The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation has announced up to €260,000 in direct cash donations to the families of the 26 people confirmed dead or reported missing following the sinking of a ferry off the northern coast of Cyprus.
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder and president of the Foundation and creator of the easy family of brands, offered his sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the eight people confirmed dead in the sinking, which occurred on August 30, 2026, a few miles off Cyprus’s northern coast, the announcement said. Sir Stelios also sent his thoughts and prayers to the families of the 18 people still reported missing, according to the announcement.
The Foundation’s announcement described the donation as a small but tangible gesture of support and solidarity towards the affected families.
Under the scheme, the Foundation will make a cash donation by bank transfer of €10,000 to the next of kin of any person confirmed dead as a result of the sinking, within one month of the incident.
The total financial assistance of €260,000 is intended to provide immediate financial relief and support to the families facing these tragic circumstances, the announcement said.
How families can apply
Next of kin of the deceased or missing should follow the application process to be published on the Foundation’s website, www.steliosfoundation.com.cy, the announcement said. Payment will be made by bank transfer to the account of the closest living relative of each victim, up to and including the second degree of kinship.
The only condition, according to the announcement, is that the closest relative submit a written application proving kinship with the victim. The Foundation has set the following order of priority for determining the closest living relative: spouse, father, mother, oldest adult child, and oldest brother or sister.
Applicants will be asked to provide, on the online form, documentation confirming their relationship to the victim or missing person, their contact details, and their bank account details, including the IBAN, to which the assistance will be transferred.
About the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation
The Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting charitable activities in the six countries where Sir Stelios and his family have lived and worked: Cyprus, Greece, the UK, Ireland, Monaco and France, the announcement said.
In Cyprus, its initiatives include the Bi-Communal Business Cooperation Awards and the Youth Entrepreneurship Awards, both offering financial grants to winners, as well as the “Food from the Heart” initiative, which provides food to thousands facing economic hardship.
The Foundation also extends financial aid to vulnerable groups, those affected by major disasters, charitable organisations, and students through university scholarships. The announcement noted that the Foundation has offered similar financial assistance on three previous occasions, each well subscribed and appreciated: to the families of the victims of serial killer Nikos Metaxas in Cyprus in 2019, to the families of those who died in the Mati wildfires near Athens in 2018, and to the families of those killed in the Tempi train collision in Greece in 2024.
