Emergency Grant For Hurricane Sandy Relief
Charles H. Cotros, Chairman of Leadership 100, announced that the Executive Committee of Leadership 100, at an extraordinary teleconference call November 19, unanimously voted to grant $100,000 immediately to the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund, established by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese on November 6 in the wake of the devastating storm that hit hardest in most Northeastern states, especially New York and New Jersey, as well as in the Middle Atlantic and Midwest.
Message From Our Chairman
As we end the joyous holiday season, I am happy to report good news. Our membership efforts, after stirring events in New York and Houston, have resulted in 38 new members toward our goal of 50 by the Leadership 100 Annual Conference next February, which brings us to an historic total of 900 members. We are moving steadily toward our goal of 1,000 members by our 30th Anniversary in 2014.
Nia Vardalos To Speak At Conference
Nia Vardalos, the Canadian-American actress best known for the 2002 Academy Award–nominated film My Big Fat Greek Wedding, will speak on Friday evening, February 8. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada, she is an Academy Award nominated screenwriter, actor, director and producer.
New Jaharis Galleries Open
The new Mary and Michael Jaharis Galleries of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Art opened at the Art Institute of Chicago, in the couple’s hometown, at a special preview and gala dinner on November 10, 2012. The galleries are the latest philanthropic gift, joining similar galleries dedicated to the art of the Greco-Roman and Byzantine world, primarily at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, and also at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts.
St. Michael's Honors Vassiliou
St. Michael’s Home presented Argyris (RJ) Vassiliou with the Archangel Michael Award for a decade of service as a dedicated member of its Board of Trustees and as Treasurer, at the Annual Name Day Gala on November 11, 2012, citing him for embodying and promoting “the finest qualities and traditions of our Greek Orthodox heritage through his charitable gifts of selfless time, energy and talent.” Vassiliou is also a member of the Leadership 100 Executive Committee and Board of Trustees and its Treasurer.
20th Century Fox Film Head Links Hollywood To Hellenism
Jim Gianopulos, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Twentieth Century Fox Film, spoke to a rapt audience on February 7, 2013 on the rich and deep historical link of “Hollywood and Hellenism”. He was introduced by his pastor, the renowned Fr. John Bakas, Dean of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles, who spoke of the leadership and generosity of Gianopulos and his wife, Ann, to the Cathedral. The son of Greek immigrants and a native New Yorker, Gianopulos attended the Master’s program at the New York University School of Law, the Fordham School of Law, earning a Juris Doctor in 1976 and Boston University, earning a BA in 1973. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife and their three daughters.
Fourth National Leadership 100 Sunday Observed
The Fourth National Leadership 100 Sunday was observed in hundreds of Greek Orthodox parishes across the country on Sunday, October 21. Parish Priests read the Encyclical issued by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod and members of Leadership 100 spoke of the 28-year-old mission of the organization founded in 1984 to support the National Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and to advance Orthodoxy and Hellenism. The date was chosen at the initiation of the event in 2009 as the Sunday prior to the Feast Day of St. Iakovos, a tribute to Archbishop Iakovos of Blessed Memory, the visionary Founder and namesake of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund.
New York City And Houston Events Bring In New Members
Leadership 100 organized membership events in New York in New York City on September 25 and in Houston, Texas on November 7 that together brought new membership for 2012 to 34, representing the Direct Archdiocesan District and the eight Metropolises. Total membership increased to 895. The events included remarks from Charles H. Cotros, Chairman, who outlined the 28 year-long mission of Leadership 100 in support of the National Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and the more than $33 million distributed in grants.
Contronakis Named Legal Counsel
Emanuel J. Cotronakis, of Juno Beach, Florida, was named Legal Counsel to Leadership 100 and elected to the Board of Trustees, according to Charles H. Cotros, Chairman. Cotronakis, who with his wife, Elaine, joined Leadership 100 in 2008, is Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Jacob Investments, Inc., of North Palm Beach, Florida. He was previously a partner and internal team leader with Baker & Hostetler LLP, of Cleveland, Ohio.
Georgia Veru Releases Album
Georgia Veru has released an album, Metaphrasis, a celebration of Greek-American culture, capturing her lifelong passion for Greek music and American musical style. She and her husband, Ted, are long-time members of Leadership 100. T
Manatos Raises Funds for Make-A-Wish
Mike Manatos, of Bethesda, Maryland, a member of the Leadership 100 Board of Trustees who competed in his first Make-A-Wish Triathlon in 1997, has generated more than $500,000 for Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic to grant the wishes of 75 local children with life-threatening medical conditions.
Cotros Addresses Clergy-Laity Congress on Role of Leadership 100
Leadership 100 Chairman, Charles H. Cotros, told the 1,200 participants at the Plenary Session of the 41st Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, that Leadership would meet new challenges in continuing its support of the National Ministries of the Church and humanitarian assistance “as part of our calling as Orthodox Christians and good stewards.” He presented the delegates with “The Leadership 100 Legacy of Giving”, a membership brochure describing the more than $33 million in grants distributed by the organization since its founding in 1984.
Ted Pedas Receives Film Industry Award
Ted Pedas, President of Circle Management Company of Washington, D.C. and a longtime member of Leadership 100, was recognized with one of the highest awards of the film industry, the prestigious 2012 Marquee Award, from the National Association of Theatre Owners on Tuesday, April 24 in Las Vegas, Nevada. More than 5,000 film and theater industry people, representing more than 30,000 screens across America, gathered for the event at Caesars Palace.
Froso Beys Honored For Civic Leadership
Froso Beys, a longtime member of Leadership 100 and of its Board of Trustees, was recognized for her leadership and charitable activities by New York City Comptroller John C. Liu during the Greek Heritage and Culture Celebration on April 24, 2012. She received a Commendation for her outstanding leadership and volunteerism on behalf of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan charities, for her unwavering commitment to bettering communities, for her dedication to helping others find success, and for her tremendous contributions to the City of New York.
IOCC Presents Orthodox Leaders With Compassion At Work Award
International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), the global humanitarian relief organization of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America, founded in 1992 with “seed” funding from Leadership 100, has named five prominent Orthodox Christian community leaders as the recipients of its Compassion at Work Award:
Harry And Liberty Tsakalos Endowment Presented To IOCC
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announced the establishment of the Harry and Liberty Tsakalos Endowment for Agriculture Development and Food Security by Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Tsakalos of Phoenix, Maryland, members of Leadership 100, before 350 prominent Orthodox community leaders and guests at a gala celebration held in Washington, DC on May 8, 2012, to mark 20 years of humanitarian service by International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC).
Dr. Michael John Patzakis Receives Tribute
Dr. Michael John Patzakis, a member of Leadership 100 with his wife, Susan, was honored for his 21 years of service upon his retirement as Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, on May 19, 2012 at the Langham Huntington Hotel’s ballroom in Pasadena, California. More than 470 distinguished guests from the USA and abroad, many former Orthopaedic residents and friends, attended the tribute dinner. Dr. Patzakis has been a member of the Orthopaedic department for 43 years.
Charles H. Cotros Inaugurated as Chairman
Charles H. Cotros of Memphis, Tennessee, was inaugurated as the Chairman of Leadership 100 on February 11, 2012 at the Grand Banquet of the 21st Annual Leadership 100 Conference at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach in Manalapan, Florida. He served as Vice Chairman for the past two years under Constantine G. Caras, of Greenville, Delaware, whose term was completed as Chairman but who remains a member of the Executive Committee.
Grants Reach Record Level
The Executive Committee approved new grants for 2012 totaling $686,250. With the action, grant distributions for 2012 will total $1,742,850, and grant distributionssince the inception of Leadership 100 will reach $33,025,686, a record level.
Paulette Hios Bequest
Paulette Hios, a master musician who founded and operated Belanthi Gallery and was Choir Director at SS. Constantine and Helen Cathedral, for over four decades, both in Brooklyn, New York, bequeathed $100,000 to Leadership 100. She took the action upon learning of the organization’s mission from Paulette Poulos, her first cousin, Executive Director of Leadership 100. Subsequent to her untimely death at age 68, she was enrolled posthumously as a member of Leadership 100.