Leadership 100 Supports Nationwide Youth Camps

The Leadership 100 Executive Committee unanimously approved a $270,000 grant on May 25, in time to be used forthe 2011Metropolis/Direct Archdiocesan District summer youth camps. This grant is intended to “strengthen Greek Orthodox youth as they grow in their Orthodox faith and appreciation of their Hellenic heritage,” according to Constantine G. Caras, Chairman of Leadership 100.

The Leadership 100 Grant Committee, chaired by John Sitilides, along with members, Maria Allwin, Drake Behrakis, Justin Bozonelis, and George Tsandikos, unanimously approved the grant after studying detailed supporting statements from each Metropolis and the Direct Archdiocesan District.

All funds will be used exclusively for programming, scholarships and ministries for each camp program. The funds will be presented to His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios who will then arrange for the distribution of $30,000 to each Metropolis Hierarch for sponsoring children to attend summer youth camps, according to Chairman Caras.

The primary purpose of this grant, according to Mr. Caras, is to sponsor young people who may not have an opportunity to attend a Metropolis youth camp this summer and to share experiences with other Greek-American Orthodox youth. Funds may also be used by each Metropolis to pay for programs important to each camp.

Leadership 100 distributed $1,031,600 in grants in 2010. In 2011, $1,361,600 has already been distributed, including $1 million to Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology for scholarships. The School also received $250,000 as final payment on a four-year $1 million grant for Information Technology and $50,000 for the third payment of a five-year $250,000 grant for Vocation Ministry. The remaining $61,600 went for a variety of smaller grants. Leadership 100 grant distributions, since its inception, total $30.4 million.