OUR BROTHER'S NEWS..

AHEPA Grand Banquet Honors Excellence in Hellenic Community

Fulfills Leadership 100 Pledge; Cooley's Anemia Foundation Grants $25K to St. Jude

MIAMI BEACH - The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), a leading association for the nation's three million American citizens of Greek heritage, and Philhellenes, held its 89th Annual Grand Banquet Friday, July 22, 2011, in Miami Beach, Fla., at The Fontainebleau Hotel.

Honors were presented to:

• Honorable Gus M. Bilirakis, U.S. representative, 9th Congressional District of Florida, who received the AHEPA Pericles Award (presented by Supreme Vice President Dr. John Grossomanides, Jr.),
• His Excellency Vassilis Kaskarelis, ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the U.S., who received the AHEPA Aristotle Award (presented by AHEPA Canadian President Nick Aroutzidis),
• His Excellency Pavlos Anastasiades, ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the U.S., who received the AHEPA Aristotle Award (presented by PSEKA President Philip Christopher),
• Mr. Philip Christopher, president, PSEKA International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus, who received the AHEPA Freedom Award (presented by Supreme President Nicholas Karacostas),
• Mr. Harry Lake, Dayton, Ohio, who received the AHEPA Lifetime Achievement Award (presented by Supreme President Karacostas), and
• Mr. Nick Aroutzidis, president, AHEPA Canada, who received the AHEPA Meritorious Service Award (presented by Supreme President Karacostas).

 

Comedian Basile, served as Master of Ceremonies. The audience received an eloquent Keynote Address from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios. Daughters of Penelope Grand President Christine Constantine, Sons of Pericles Supreme President Spiro Nicolopoulos and Maids of Athena Grand President Kiki Amanatidis recapped their years and provided emotional farewells.

AHEPA Cooley's Anemia Donates $25K to St. Jude; AHEPA Fulfills L100 Commitment

AHEPA Cooley's Anemia Foundation Chairman Ike Gulas, PSP, presented Aleen Singany, senior regional director, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and former CBS News reporter, with a $25,000 donation for thalassemia research that is being conducted at the research hospital.

"Giving hope is what you are doing tonight," said Singany, who offered gratitude for the generous donation. The AHEPA Cooley's Anemia Foundation also was the beneficiary of contributions totaling $6,000 from AHEPA Gold Coast Chapter 456, Manhasset, N.Y., and James Plevritis - Evzone Chapter 405, New Rochelle, N.Y.

Moreover, Art Poly, president, AHEPA National Housing Corporation (ANHC) presented charitable contributions in excess of $80,000 to AHEPA family entities. Since its inception, ANHC has issued $6.5 million in grant funding to worthy endeavors.

AHEPA also fulfilled its pledge to Leadership 100, presenting its final installment to Leadership 100 Executive Director Paulette Poulos.

Honorees Acceptance Remarks

"I will treasure it," said Ambassador Vassilis Kaskarelis in acceptance of the Aristotle Award. He added that close-knit families, much like the AHEPA family, are the reason for the endurance of Hellenic culture.

"AHEPA has an important role as the largest grassroots Greek heritage organization," said the ambassador. "We must remember the debt we owe to its founders."

Ambassador Kaskarelis outlined the significant economic reforms the government of Greece has undertaken and stressed that Greece has not received a bailout but rather a loan at a very significant interest rate.

Ambassador Pavlos Anastasiades thanked AHEPA for its demonstration of longstanding solidarity and support the organization has extended to Cyprus over the years in his acceptance remarks for the Aristotle Award.

"Without AHEPA fighting we would not be the same," said the ambassador. "Each and every one of you has to be proud of the work you have done."

However, he humbly noted that the award was not truly deserved and could only be justified when justice is achieved in Cyprus. Ambassador Anastasiades dedicated the award to the 13 individuals who lost their lives in the tragic munitions explosion in early July.

An emotional Congressman Gus Bilirakis accepted the Pericles Award. He stated it was a "privilege" to represent the Greek American community in Washington and emphasized the importance of preserving our Hellenic heritage.

"It means everything to you and me," said Bilirakis, who is an Ahepan. In addition, the congressman outlined the legislative "victory" that came out of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs vote on the State Department Authorization bill on Wed., July 20, 2011. He cited the Berman/Cicilline Amendment that passed 43 to 1 calling for the return of churches in Turkey, and three provisions in the State Department Authorization bill that relate to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, FYROM, and Cyprus. He thanked AHEPA for its help with the provisions and praised the work of the committee chairman, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL).

In his Keynote Address, Archbishop Demetrios conveyed the blessing of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with who he had just visited. The patriarch had "words of praise" for the work that AHEPA has been doing in the community. The archbishop recounted his recent visit to Cyprus and specifically his tour of a cemetery that had not been kept up since 1974. His Eminence also saluted all the honorees.

Karacostas Credits Grassroots for Hard Work, Accomplishments

In final address as supreme president, Nicholas Karacostas remarked how he could never have imagined as an 18-year-old Son of Pericles -- who joined because he wanted to play softball -- that he would be standing before a large audience completing his second term as supreme president. Karacostas credited all those with who he worked closely during his two terms, including the Supreme Lodge, Board of Trustees, and Headquarters staff; as well as each and every volunteer member for the great work AHEPA performs in the community on a consistent basis. He also thanked Archbishop Demetrios for his support and pledged to continue to work "side-by-side" to preserve our culture. Finally, he expressed his deep appreciation to his family for their love, understanding and support during the past two years.

During his remarks, Supreme President Karacostas made two emotional presentations. The first being the AHEPA Meritorious Service Award to AHEPA Canadian President Nick Aroutzidis, with who he developed a close rapport during the past two years; and the second, The AHEPA Freedom Award to PSEKA President Philip Christopher, a fellow Ahepan, who has fought tirelessly for justice and freedom for all Cypriots since 1974. Karacostas arrived to the United States from Kyrenia, Cyprus, at the age of three.