Merimna Paidiou Katerinis

What Merimna Paidiou Katerinis does

Merimna Paidiou Katerinis is a Greek nonprofit charitable association (Φιλανθρωπικό Σωματείο) founded in 1979 in Katerini, Pieria, Greece, providing day care, therapeutic, and supported independent living services for people with intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, and multiple disabilities. Its operational portfolio comprises two licensed Day Care Centers (K.DH.F.) with combined capacity of 92 persons, three Supported Living Residences (S.Y.D.) housing 12 residents under 24-hour specialist caregiver support, and an autism-exclusive Day Care Center under construction as of 2025. Service delivery relies on a multidisciplinary clinical team (social workers, psychologists, physiotherapists, special educators, medical doctor), assistive technology including an eye-tracking system for ALS patients, hippotherapy, sensory integration therapy, and productive workshops in bookbinding, ceramics, decoupage, soap-making, and plant production. A community-engagement layer includes the UNITY basketball tournament (25+ schools), Be The Change summer camp, Christmas/Easter charity bazaars, and a Ministry-approved school awareness curriculum.

The organization's revenue model is grant-funded and donation-supported rather than commercially priced. Primary streams include European Structural Funds via ESPA operational programs (Central Macedonia 2014-2020 and 2021-2027), EOPYY (Greek national health provider) reimbursements for therapy services, LEADER program funding via the Ministry of Agricultural Development for autism center construction, and corporate and individual donations channeled through four major Greek banks. Services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. Disclosed historical grant funding totals approximately EUR 3.66 million across 2007-2021, including EUR 2.41 million for supported housing and day care center construction, EUR 486,000 for day care services, EUR 504,000 for vocational training, EUR 145,950 for supported living setup, and EUR 112,540 for social inclusion programs. The organization holds EASPD membership since May 2020, GDPR and ISO compliance certifications, and Regional Unit of Pieria licensing, with public recognition from Prime Minister Mitsotakis in November 2022.

Go-to-market is community-led, relying on school-based educational programs, awareness campaigns, events, and direct referrals from social services and families. The 32-person workforce is approximately 75% female, and the organization has provided practical training placements to IEK, TEI, and AEI students in therapeutic disciplines for over 20 years. Multilingual website support (Greek, English, French, German) and a network of 40+ corporate sponsors including Microsoft, Allianz, Piraeus Bank, DEI, Masoutis, Welcome Stores, and Desmos indicate deliberate donor cultivation across multiple industries.

Name

Merimna Paidiou Katerinis

Legal name

Φ.Σ. Σύλλογος Μέριμνας Παιδιού Κατερίνης

Website

https://merimnakaterini.gr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Greek nonprofit charitable association founded in 1979 in Katerini, providing day care, therapy, and supported independent living services for people with intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, and multiple disabilities, funded through EU grants, EOPYY reimbursements, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Social Welfare Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI), Adult Day Rehabilitation & Therapy Programs (PT/OT/SLP) (HLADAIAD)

Keywords

• Disability day care
• Supported independent living
• Special needs therapy
• Social welfare services
• Vocational rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Katerini

HQ country

Greece

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. European Funding (ESPA): Funding from European operational programs including 'Central Macedonia 2014-2020' and 'Central Macedonia 2021-2027' for supported living homes and day care centers
2. EOPYY Reimbursement: Special compensation from EOPYY (Greek national health provider) for therapy services
3. Donations and Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships, individual donations, memorial donations (instead of wreaths), and替代bomboniere donations (instead of wedding favors)
4. LEADER Program Funding: Funding from Ministry of Agricultural Development through LEADER program for autism center construction

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Merimna Paidiou Katerinis operates licensed Day Care Centers (K.DH.F.) and Supported Living Residences (S.Y.D.) for adults with intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, and multiple disabilities in Katerini, Pieria, Greece. Services include therapy (speech, occupational, physiotherapy, hippotherapy, sensory integration), independent living preparation, vocational workshops, and community inclusion programs. An autism-exclusive third Day Care Center is under development, funded through the LEADER program.

Product overview

Merimna Paidiou Katerinis operates a multi-tiered portfolio of social care services for individuals with disabilities (intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, multiple disabilities). The core offering consists of two Day Care Centers (K.DH.F.) providing day support, therapy, and social programs, supplemented by three Supported Living Residences (S.Y.D.) offering semi-autonomous housing with 24-hour care. A new Autism-exclusive K.DH.F. is under development. These core services are supported by therapeutic programs (hippotherapy, sensory integration, speech/occupational/physiotherapy), productive workshops (bookbinding, ceramics, decoupage, soap-making), and assistive technology services. Awareness and community programs include the Be The Change summer camp and UNITY basketball tournament, while the Social Awareness Program delivers educational curricula in schools. The product ecosystem is funded through ESPA European programs, EOPYY reimbursements, and donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Care Centers (K.DH.F. - Κέντρα Δημέρευσης Ημερήσιας Φροντίδας)
• Supported Living Residences (S.Y.D. - Στέγες Υποστηριζόμενης Διαβίωσης)
• Autism Center K.DH.F.
• Supportive (Assistive) Technology Services (Υποστηρικτική Τεχνολογία)
• Productive Workshops (Bookbinding, Ceramics, Decoupage, Soap-making, Plant Production)
• Hippotherapy Program
• Sensory Integration Room
• Be The Change Summer Camp Program
• UNITY Basketball Tournament
• Social Awareness Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 92 adults served in day care centers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EASPD (European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2020Full member since May 6, 2020. EASPD promotes quality services for people with disabilities through 17,000+ member organizations across Europe. Merimna participates in the Greek Network of Providers forming the Greek arm of EASPD.
• Special Olympics OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization sharing the vision of inclusion for people with disabilities
• Best Buddies OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and emotional isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• POSGAMEA (Panhellenic Association of Parents with Children with Disabilities)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreek national association of parents of children with disabilities
• ESPA (European Operational Programs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean funding through Operational Programme 'Central Macedonia 2014-2020' and '2021-2027', third Community Support Framework
• PIERIKI ANAPTYXIAKH (Development Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing LEADER program on behalf of Ministry of Agricultural Development for autism center construction
• Ministry of Agricultural Development and FoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding source for autism center construction through LEADER program
• State and Local AuthoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull cooperation with state and local authorities and regulatory bodies for disability services
• IEK, TEI, AEI Educational InstitutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProviding practical training placements for students in therapeutic professions for 20+ years
• National Bank of GreeceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking partner for donations (IBAN: GR6501103730000037354427884)
• Piraeus BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking partner for donations (IBAN: GR7001712290006229160998538)
• Alpha BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking partner for donations (IBAN: GR9101408400840002002021714)
• EurobankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking partner for donations (IBAN: GR3602602100000110201024294)

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hft (United Response-style learning disabilities charity): UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities through personalized support, day services, and supported living — directly mirrors Merimna's S.Y.D. residential and K.DH.F. day-care model.
• Mencap: UK's leading learning-disability charity providing supported living, day services, and advocacy; comparable in mission and service portfolio, operating at much larger scale as a broad incumbent in the same sector.
• United Response: UK charity delivering supported living, day opportunities and specialist services for people with learning disabilities and autism; comparable in residential/day-care service architecture.

Regional players

• Panhellenic Association of Paraplegics (POSPA): Greek national disability-services nonprofit; comparable in national-level peer-networking role and disability-advocacy function, but focused on spinal-cord injuries rather than intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Direct peers

• ELEPAP (Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled): Greek nonprofit providing rehabilitation and day-care services for children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities; the most established comparable Greek disability-services organization and similar in funding model (EU grants, EOPYY reimbursements).
• Pnoi Agapis: Greek nonprofit supporting children and adults with disabilities through therapy, day programs, and supported living; closely comparable in service mix and reliance on Greek/EU public funding.
• Theotokos Foundation: Greek Orthodox-affiliated nonprofit providing residential care, vocational training, and day programs for people with intellectual disabilities; comparable Greek peer operating similar residential and day services.

Others

• EASPD (European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities): Umbrella association of which Merimna is a full member; relevant as a peer/network enabler that connects Merimna to European funding, policy, and best-practice frameworks.
• Tobii Dynavox: Provider of eye-tracking and assistive communication technology used by ALS patients — directly comparable to Merimna's eye-tracking for ALS patients proprietary feature.

Emerging players

• Best Buddies Hellas: Affiliate of Best Buddies International — a partner organization of Merimna — focused on social inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; comparable mission with similar community-program emphasis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/merimnakaterini
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/merimna-paidiou-katerinis

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Merimna Paidiou Katerinis