About Us

Shriners doctors visit (April, 2005)

For the past 40 years, a sponsored team of medical experts and doctors from the Shriners hospital in Springfield has visited Cyprus to examine children with severe orthopedic problems. The George and Thelma Paraskevaides Foundation is proud to monetarily endorse these visits that help examine and diagnose 350-400 children per year and send children to Shriners Hospital in USA.

George & Thelma Paraskevaides Foundation headquarters in Nicosia, Cyprus

Our local corporate office stands proudly in the center of the capital city of Cyprus, Nicosia, next to the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. George Paraskevaides - OBE

Born in Athens in 1916, George Paraskevaides was a world-renown Cypriot businessman, philanthropist, and entrepreneur who significantly innovated the construction industry throughout Europe and the Middle East. He studied architecture at Politecnico di Milano in Milan, Italy. In recognition of his devotion to charity and incredibly innovative spirit as an entrepreneur, he received several awards and recognitions. He was inducted into the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. He was also awarded the Saint Marcus Medal from the Vatican.

Mrs. Thelma Paraskevaides

Thelma Paraskevaides was born in Morphou, where her father Leonidas Frangos worked as a veterinarian. She married George Paraskevaides in 1958, and together they raised three children. She was always deeply involved in charity organizations and supported her husband’s charitable efforts. In 1980, they initiated the George and Thelma Paraskevaides Foundation. Following the death of her husband, Thelma Paraskevaides became the president of the Foundation, which she served in the brightest, most enthusiastic way from 2007 until her death in August 2022. She was a great benefactor, contributing to the wellbeing of thousands of children with serious orthopedic conditions. After her death in 2022, her son Efthyvoulos Paraskevaides became the president of the foundation, which he continues to serve to date.

George & Thelma Paraskevaides

Altruism and kindness reflect the hearts and principles of our venerable founders, George and Thelma Paraskevaides; The highly respected philanthropists and benefactors that positively influenced and improved many children’s lives in Cyprus, Greece, and the Middle East. Their life-long purpose of helping those in need led to the formation of the George and Thelma Parakskevaides Foundation.

Cooperation between George Paraskevaides and Dr. Leon Kruger

Dr. Leon Kruger was a child orthopaedic surgeon and chief of staff at the Springfield Shriners hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA in the early 80’s. Dr. Kruger was introduced to George Paraskevaides by George Christodoulou. They became friends and established a wonderful cooperation between the George and Thelma Paraskevaides Foundation and the Springfield Shriners hospital. During this time, Dr. Kruger visited Cyprus with his team of doctors on numerous occasions to evaluate children with specific orthopaedic needs. As a result, thousands of Cypriot children were provided special treatment by Dr Kruger and his team at the Springfield Shriners hospital in the USA.

Mr. George Paraskevaides receiving the Honorable Distinction award by the Mayor of Athens Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos

Mr. George Paraskevaides awards & distinctions: 

• The Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) by Queen Elizabeth II
• Commendatore of the Republic of Italy
• The St. Marcus Medal by the Pontifice of the Vatican
• The Holy Cross of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinopolis
• “Archon” of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinopolis
• The Golden Apple Award from the Mayor of New York City
• The “Aristotelian Award” by the Greek-American Organisation AHEPA
• The Anoteros Taxiarhis of the Order of Phoenix by the President of the Republic of Greece
• The “Medal of Exceptional Contribution”, of the Republic of Cyprus
• The decoration of Grande Ufficiale of the Republic of Italy in recognition of his services to Italy
• The Gold Medal of Apostle Barnabas which is the Highest Honor awarded by the Cypriot Church; for his contribution toward the Church, his Fatherland and especially toward the struggle of the people of Cyprus for freedom and justice.

The Paraskevaidion Surgical and Transplant Centre

George Paraskevaides also founded the Paraskevaidion Surgical and Transplant Centre, a charitable organization which provides Cypriot kidney patients of limited financial means with kidney transplants, free of charge. The Paraskevaidion Surgical and Transplant Centre is a fully staffed and fully equipped facility with operating theatres, specialist physicians, nursing, laboratory, and administration staff. t has earned a reputation as one of the most successful kidney transplant centres.  More than one thousand kidney transplants have been successfully performed to date, providing the gift of quality life to a multitude of kidney patients.