INSTITUTIONAL
PROFILE
The Dragnis Public Benefit Foundation (DPBF) is a non-profit organization established in 2024 by Paraskevas (Paris), Ioannis, and Vasilis Dragni.
The establishment of the Dragni Charitable Foundation was formally sanctioned by Presidential Decree, thereby marking the commencement of its institutional operation. The Foundation is headquartered in the landmark building of the former Bank of Greece in Volos, a site of considerable historical significance and enduring architectural and civic importance to the city.
At the Dragnis Public Benefit Foundation, our mission is to provide tangible support to individuals and communities in need, while making a lasting contribution to the local community.
Specifically:
- We provide scholarships and financial assistance to pupils, students, and university students, enabling them to pursue or complete their studies at higher Education Institutions
- We provide financial assistance to individuals and patients facing financial difficulties in meeting their living expenses, or unexpected medical and hospitalization costs
- We undertake and support charitable, social, and cultural initiatives, while providing financial or in-kind assistance to healthcare institutions, social welfare organizations, and other public-benefit entities, both in Greece and abroad
Learn more about our initiatives
Our work is primarily focused on residents, pupils, and students of the Municipality of Volos. Where no corresponding needs arise within the local community, our support may be extended to individuals across Greece who are experiencing financial hardship, irrespective of their place of origin or residence.
In honouring my family’s roots, I felt a deep desire to give back to my homeland and its people. It was this place and its community that shaped who I am, instilling in me the values of resilience, solidarity, and patriotism.
I envisioned the Dragnis Foundation not simply as an organization, but as a living space dedicated to public benefit, hope, and culture for Volos city, for Greece, and for every person seeking support, wherever they may be.My personal journey began in Nea Anchialos of Magnesia, within a family of refugee roots that experienced loss, but was never broken by it. A family that learned to stand on its feet again with dignity, integrity, and strength. My parents and grandparents left me no material wealth. What they gave me, however, was something far more valuable:
the belief that, even in the hardest of times, we can find the strength to move forward while never losing sight of those around us and the importance of helping others.
From an early age, I sought to pass on to my two children, Giannis and Vasilis, the principles that have shaped my own journey:
justice, respect for others, and a deep sense of connection to the community.
To remain attentive to the needs of the wider community and to conduct themselves with a steadfast sense of responsibility, integrity, and humanity. Today, I take particular pride in seeing them embrace this shared vision and stand alongside me as co-founders of the Dragnis Public Benefit Foundation.
I firmly believe that a society reaches its true strength when its people choose to move forward together — united by solidarity, cooperation, and a shared vision for a better future. Guided by this belief, the Foundation is dedicated to serving the common good by advancing culture, education, and scientific progress. We seek to strengthen the bonds that hold our communities together and to nurture the values of knowledge, creativity, human dignity, and collective growth. With commitment, responsibility, and dedication, we will continue to work towards ensuring that every initiative we undertake leaves a meaningful and lasting impact.
a lasting impact that brings light, strength and hope for the future, helping to build a society that is more humane, creative, and united.
Captain Paris Dragnis
Board of Directors
our team
Scientific
team
Scholarship
Committee
The Dragnis Public Benefit Foundation is headquartered in the iconic, historic building of the former Bank of Greece in Volos, a protected landmark of the city.
The building was laid in 1933 and officially inaugurated in 1935. It is one of the few surviving pre-war buildings in Volos to have withstood the devastating earthquakes of 1955.
The building is regarded as one of the landmarks of Volos, forming a distinctive part of the city’s waterfront. Monumental in its setting, occupying an entire city block along the waterfront, yet understated in character due to its modest height, the former branch of the Bank of Greece has remained an integral part of the city of Volos for nearly a century, standing as a lasting testament to its history and architectural heritage. From its establishment in 1933 to its transformation into a cultural institution in the 21st century, the building reflects Greece’s transition from the economic development of the interwar period to the contemporary era of historic building preservation and adaptive reuse.
The architectural design for the renovation was undertaken by the AlphaSigma Design and Construction while the project implementation was carried out by the architectural firm “K. Adamakis – E. Tzavella Architects & Associates.”
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