The Public Relations Office
of HRH Crown Prince Alexander II

THE FATHER OF HRH CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE, MR. ROBERT
BATIS, RECEIVES HONORARY AWARDS FOR LIFETIME DEEDS
Athens, 29 December 2007 – Mr. Robert Batis, the father of
HRH Crown Princess Katherine received two honorary awards for his great lifetime
contribution to Greek social sectors and sports.
The ceremony was held at the Ministry of Culture and Sport in
the presence of Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess
Katherine, and was initiated by Mr. Panos Panayiotopoulos, former Minister for
Employment and Social Protection, member of the Hellenic Parliament for New
Democracy. The Ceremonial delivery of the award was performed by Mr. Giannis
Ioannidis Deputy Minister of Culture, with responsibilities for Sport. Mr.
Robert Batis (91), undertook the football team of Fostiras which consisted of
talented football players, employees of the factory when his was director for 23
years. During his 11 year presidency the team was known as “Killer of the
Giants”, and his efforts led to the construction of the football stadium Tavros,
which Fostiras is still using today. After Mr. Batis left the team due to his
many obligations he was nominated its Honorary President. Mr. Batis in his
various positions assisted hundreds of people and especially children and taught
his family the noble principles of humanitarianism. During earthquakes he helped
the children of the Sikiaridio Prevantorio Institution for Children to be
brought there for safety. Mr. Batis’s quick response to any disasters connected
his name to great Greek philanthropy. Mr. Batis became the president of the poor
young girls association under the auspices of King Paul of the Hellenes where
saving books were given to poor one year old girls as diary in order to start a
fund for them..
Mr. Giannis Ioannidis said among other things prior to
handing over the award to Mr. Batis :“Your contribution for all those years sets
an example and a source of inspiration for the principles and values of
solidarity, offering and participation in constituting the foundation of values
of Hellenism. Our society and especially our youth are the future of our country
and they have the need for visionary and charismatic people like yourself who
served their life contributing to the global values of sport, humanitarianism
and of solidarity.
Mr. Panos Panayiotopoulos, former Minister for Employment and
Social Protection, member of the Hellenic Parliament for New Democracy also gave
an award to Mr. Batis and thanked him for his contribution to society and sport.
Then Mr. Panayiotopoulos thanked Mr. Giannis Ioannidis for taking up the
initiative for the Greece Government to award Mr. Batis and to recognize him
with such a honour as a worthy person who had contributed through his own
initiative to philanthropic work and society.
Finally, Mr. Robert Batis warmly thanked both Mr. Ioannidis
and Mr. Panayiotopoulos and added that he didn’t do anything more than his duty,
emphasizing that we came into this world to give and not to take.

 

 

 

 

 

1998 HRH CP Alexander II
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