A touching act of generosity has brought joy to the village of Milina in eastern Greece, where the local elementary school received a €40,000 ($46,658) donation from a 92-year-old Greek American woman. Her only request was that the funds be used “to make the children happy.”
The donor, Galatea Diamanti, was born in Milina in 1934 and attended the same school she is now supporting. Shortly after finishing primary school, she emigrated with her family to the United States, where she still resides.
A homecoming that led a Greek American woman to donate to her village school
Diamanti visited her birthplace last September, staying at her family home in the village. During her stay, she contacted the school principal to express her desire to give back to the community that shaped her childhood.
In an emotional letter, she wrote about her enduring love for Milina, a village that “always lives in her heart” and shared her wish to meet the school principal and make the donation official.
“Use it in any way you believe is right so the children can be happy,” she wrote, a message that deeply moved Principal Maria Gavarelou and kindergarten supervisor Georgia Arapitsa.
Η κυρία Γαλάτεια Διαμαντή, γεννημένη στη Μηλίνα το 1934 και ζώντας εδώ και χρόνια στην Αμερική, δώρισε στο σχολείο χρηματικό ποσό ύψους 40 χιλιάδων ευρώ! Περισσότερα στο: https://t.co/NXx5KcJ9q9 #AnamniseisNews pic.twitter.com/z1Uc143fhH
— Anamniseis News (@Anamniseis1) December 2, 2025
Students create a special tribute for the Greek American woman who made the donation
In appreciation of her generosity, the students created a handmade book filled with their drawings.
The cover features two photos: one of the school in Diamanti’s era and one showing the school today. The children added a heartfelt message: “Thank you, Mrs. Galatea.”
A legacy beyond financial support
Principal Gavarelou emphasized that the gift carries far greater meaning than its monetary value. She described it as a source of new dreams for the students, a boost for the school’s facilities, and a reminder of the power of believing in the next generation.
“This donation is more than financial support,” she said. “It is a message of hope, a warm embrace from afar, and a beacon of humanity that shows love and solidarity have no borders. Mrs. Galatea, we thank you for your heart and for believing in our children. Your contribution will remain forever in the history of our school and in our hearts.”
