The Special Prize for Social Contribution & Benefit was presented to Mr Lazaros Efraimoglou, President of FHW, by The Minister for Culture, Mr Evangelos Venizelos, at The 1998 Prize Awards Ceremony organised by OMEPO on Wednesday June 17th 1998 at Athens College, Greece.

The Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts (OMEPO) has for the past 9 years made a practice of awarding Prize Grants, the aim being to repay a debt of honour to all those assisting cultural activity in Greece. In all, 53 projects completed by businesses, organisations and foundations in 1997 were submitted to the Committee for grants. The associations shortlisted for the Special Prize for Social Contribution & Benefit were: ELAIS, The Petros Nomikos Foundation, Thera, PANAFON, SKY 100.4 Radio & Telecommunications Companies and PHAGE.

The event was opened by a performance of 'Old Time Music' given by the Celsus Baroque Ensemble. In the second half of the concert there were songs by Manos Hatzidakis, interpreted by Vana Marsellou. In a short speech, OMEPO's president Mrs Marlene Georgiadis stressed the importance of these grants in Greek cultural life; after which the distinguished actor Kostas Karras took over the reins and spoke about the prizes and the commendations. The Minister of Culture, Mr Evangelos Venizelos, supported by Mr Nikos Vernikos, then presented the prizes. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the business and artistic world.