Alexis Demetriou welcomed by Andy Panayiotou and John Holmes
Orchard Hill College on Friday were presented a new specially adapted bus at the recently opened London Syon Park, a Waldorf Astoria hotel,which is Andrea Panayiotou’s new venture. thanks to a grant from Hilton in the Community Foundation.
Funds for the bus were raised at the Foundation’s flagship Ball at the London Hilton on Park Lane last December. The evening, celebrating Hilton in the Community Foundation’s tenth anniversary, raised £79,535 for Friends of Orchard Hill College and £330,000 in total for disadvantaged children.
A party of around 25 students, teachers, parents and carers were joined at the presentation by Andreas Panayiotou, chairman of the Ability Group, which owns the London Syon Park Waldorf Astoria and generously sponsored the Foundation Ball. Andreas is from London his Father from Klonari, Limassol and Mother from Kalo Chorio, Larnaca in Cyprus. Also in attendance were Simon Vincent, area president Europe for Hilton Worldwide and chairman of Hilton in the Community Foundation Trustees and Dame Maureen Thomas, fellow Trustee and Chair of the Ball Committee.
Simon Vincent said: “Hilton in the Community Foundation is delighted to be able to support Orchard Hill College and hopes that this bus will give students with disabilities at the College a much greater level of mobility for trips and activities. Giving young people the opportunities to show their talent is so important and we’re thrilled that we can help Orchard Hill College to support their students’ needs. I’d also like to thank the Ability Group for their generous sponsorship of the recent Foundation Ball, which helped to make this grant possible. ” Andreas sponsors this event to the tune of £100,000 per year.
Following the presentation of the bus students, teachers and other attendees were invited to take a tour of the newly opened hotel, only the second to operate in the UK as a Waldorf Astoria – the luxury brand of Hilton Worldwide. The students were invited to try some ice cream at the hotel’s ice cream parlour, to visit the butterfly enclosure and to see some of the hotel’s 200 acres of parkland, owned for the past 400 years by the Duchy of Northumberland.
Orchard Hill College is a non-residential Independent Specialist College with Centres across London providing a friendly and supportive learning environment for young people with severe/profound and complex learning difficulties or disabilities. The specially adapted bus, which displays Hilton in the Community Foundation’s logo, will provide students with vital access to activities outside of the College grounds, including sports events, educational trips and cultural visits.
John Holmes, Chairman of the Friends of Orchard Hill College said: “The Friends of Orchard Hill College are delighted to receive this generous donation from Hilton in the Community Foundation in conjunction with the Ability Group, of a brand new specially adapted bus for the students of Orchard Hill College. This will greatly benefit the students and staff by being able to take out complete classes and having increased access to teaching programs and community facilities such as hydrotherapy pools, leisure centres and work placements. The Friends are hoping this year to be able to pay for another bus by putting our existing funds together with the pledges of £20,000 made at Hilton Ball last year, once we manage to raise another £20,000.” One of the students Alexis Demetriou at the College means a lot to Andreas as it is the son of his cousin Andreas Demetriou who is married to Mary , Andreas is from Larnaca and Mary’s parents come from Leonarisso, Cyprus.
Hilton in the Community Foundation is Hilton Worldwide’s official charity vehicle in Europe, dedicated to supporting disadvantaged young people. The charity works with Hilton Worldwide’s portfolio of hotels to maximise fundraising, with each hotel encouraged to support good causes within their local communities through the Foundation.
Dale MacPhee, General Manager, London Syon Park, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, said:
“We’re delighted to be hosting this presentation and welcoming some of Orchard Hill College’s students and supporters to the hotel. Working to provide a positive local impact is an important part of our hospitality philosophy and we’re looking forward to working with Hilton in the Community Foundation and supporting more good causes within our local community. “
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About Hilton in the Community Foundation:
Hilton in the Community Foundation was founded in 2000 as Hilton Worldwide’s charity vehicle in Europe dedicated to supporting young people in need by combating exclusion and providing skills, aspirations and opportunities. Focussed on improving access to, and the quality of, education and healthcare, the Foundation mobilises local giving and targets four key areas: disabled children, children in hospitals, children’s hospices and homelessness. Grants help vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in Europe, while in the event of international disaster grants are made to relief organisations addressing young people’s needs.
The Foundation’s core costs are funded by Hilton Worldwide, so every net pound/euro raised goes directly to good causes. Donations are funded almost entirely through the generous efforts and contributions of team members, family and friends and with the support of guests and company suppliers. Since its establishment in November 2000 the Foundation has raised over £9 million for charity.
To find out more please visit our website: www.hilton-foundation.org.uk
About Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
WALDORF ASTORIA is Hilton Worldwide’s luxury brand of landmark hotels, with each one as singular and timeless as the brand’s namesake, The Waldorf=Astoria Hotel in New York. From classic elegance to modern grandeur, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts each represent worldly sophistication and unparalleled guest service. From sumptuous spas and culinary excellence to world-class golf, each hotel & resort offers the exquisite accommodations and signature accoutrements that define refinement and sophistication. Discover Waldorf Astoria by visiting www.waldorfastoria.com/.
About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 92 years, Hilton Worldwide has been offering business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,600 hotels and 600,000 rooms in 82 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. For more information about the company, visit www.hiltonworldwide.com.
