Giving Back Where We Belong: A Christmas Story of Community, Care & Togetherness

Markela Kerkezou | December 18th 2025

Giving Back Where We Belong: A Christmas Story of Community, Care & Togetherness

Sharing time, care, and Christmas spirit.

Christmas has a special way of reminding us of what truly matters. Kindness. Being together. Giving, without expecting anything back, and being happy about it.  

This year, at CORE Innovation Group, we chose to celebrate the festive season in a way that felt true to us: by giving back to the community that surrounds us and supports us every day.  

Being based in Agios Dimitrios, giving back locally feels natural to us. At the same time, we wanted our Christmas action to reach beyond our neighbourhood and stand by children and families that carry more weight than the holidays should hold.  

This Christmas our focus was on children. We chose to support kids through local social structures in Municipality of Agios Dimitrios, as well as the children and families of “Floga”, the Association of Parents of Children with Neoplastic Diseases. 

In doing so, we became Santa Claus for almost 150 children, sharing small moments of joy, care and Christmas magic! 

Step One: Our Little Elf Mission 

Step one was all about getting organised in the most caring way. We grouped the children by age and gender, so every gift could feel personal and right for the child receiving it. 

Τhen our employees happily stepped into their Christmas elf roles. Everyone chose gifts with real attention, thinking about what would make a child smile. We also made sure to place the orders early, so everything would arrive on time and nothing would be left to chance. 

Before we knew it the gift list turned into a colorful Christmas world, with something for every age. Soft teddy bears and cuddly plush toys for the little ones, dolls, kitchen toys, cars, and all-time favorites like LEGO, Playmobil, board games, puzzles, and more for older children. Small things, chosen with great care. 

Step Two: Before the Gifts Went Into the Sack 

We chose to dedicate a full working day to this. After sharing breakfast together, we gathered in our common space,  which was already glowing with Christmas decorations. The tree was lit, ornaments everywhere, and soft festive lights setting the mood. Our office was transformed into Santa’s Workshop! 

There, we carefully wrapped each gift in colourful, Christmas-themed paper, taking our time and enjoying the moment. We wrote cards with our own words, and took time to make the letters personalized to accompany each gift.  

For a little while, we allowed ourselves to slow down. We forgot about deadlines and routines and we became children again. Fully present, connected and carried by the simple joy of doing something meaningful together.  

Step Three: Ho Ho Ho, It’s Time to Deliver 

In the coming days, this journey will reach its most meaningful moment. We will step outside our offices and carry the gifts where they truly belong, delivering them in person to the children and families we set out to support. 

With boxes in our hands and Christmas spirit in our hearts, we will take on the role of modern-day Santa Clauses, ready to share a little festive magic. We will step outside and deliver the gifts ourselves. It feels important to us to be there in person and share a small piece of Christmas with the community around us. 

We are looking forward to these days with excitement and gratitude, knowing that the true value of this initiative lives in the moments that will soon be shared. 

Closing Thoughts 

Alongside the gifts, we will also be making a financial donation to three charitable organisations, all thoughtfully suggested by our employees. It felt important that this act of giving reflected the values, sensitivity and voices of our people. 

For us, corporate social responsibility is not a checkbox. It is a conscious choice to care, to stay connected to the world around us and to act with empathy and responsibility. Especially during times that ask for a little more kindness, we believe businesses can and should play an active role in supporting their communities.  

This Christmas reminded us that when we give together, we create something that lasts far beyond the holidays. 

From all of us at CORE Innovation Group we wish everyone a Christmas filled with warmth, kindness and hope!