On November 9th, 2023, GAEPIS and its media outlet Cosmos FM, New York, 91.5 Hellenic Public Radio honored Paulette Poulos with the 2023 Phidippides award for passionate advocacy of Hellenism.

“Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Fund, Paulette received this recognition with great pride. AXIA!,” said Stelios Taketzis Chairman of the GAEPIS Board of Directors. He also expressed gratitude to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, all attendees, the board, and the organizing team for their collective efforts in ensuring the success of the event.

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros addressed the event, stating: “This evening’s celebration of our beloved Paulette Poulos with the Phidippides Award for Passionate Advocacy of Hellenism and Orthodoxy seems to me the most natural, if not consequential, awarding of this special prize in its history. I think I can safely say – everyone knows Paulette! And not only because of her stewardship of Leadership 100 for the last two decades as Executive Director. Paulette has been a fixture of solid gold in the life of the Omogeneia since before Leadership 100 even came into existence.

She had dedicated her entire life to the service of the Church and to the preservation and magnification of our shared Hellenic ideals and legacy. Her labors at Leadership 100 speak for themselves.

“She is most worthy of the honor you bestow upon her tonight, and every praiseworthy word that is spoken this evening.

“She is a treasure of the Greek American community and of our Sacred Archdiocese as a whole.

Paulette,

“We love you. We respect you. And tonight, we honor you for all that you have accomplished and achieved for the sake of others.

“May the Lord always bless you with health, strength, vigor, and His every good and perfect gift.
ΑΞΙΑ!”

In accepting the honor, Paulette Poulos addressed the gathering. She included in her remarks:

“It is with great humility that I accept the 28th Phidippides Award from Hellenic Public Radio Cosmos FM, the voice of our common Hellenic Heritage in the Tri-State area and beyond. Cosmos FM stands as a sentinel for Hellenism in America, advancing the mission of the Greek American Educational Information System, providing informative bilingual programming which advances our Greek culture, issues and concerns in America, Greece, Cyprus, and the Hellenic Diaspora since 1987.

I would like to thank our beloved Chairman Stelios Taketzis, the Officers, and the Board, along with all your producers, directors, and staff. Leadership 100 has always had a special connection with Cosmos FM through our members. I must also recognize one of your prominent producers, who has been an inspiration to me personally, and the whole Greek American Community, the Very Rev. Eugene N. Pappas, along with your energetic and supportive Director of Operations, Ioanna Giannopoulos, who I affectionately refer to as the Guardian Angel of Cosmos FM.

I was privileged to have served a great cause and a great man, Archbishop Iakovos of Blessed Memory, who set the course for our Church and Community not only in America but throughout the world. He was a visionary and a man of great faith and courage, and in his service, I learned the depth and breadth of leadership.

None of this would have been possible without the untiring love and guidance I received from my beloved parents, Rebecca and Charles, who instilled in me together with my sister, Carol, and my brother, Peter, faith, ideals, and the importance of integrity. I lost my beloved parents and beloved sister, but their example still shines in my life.

As the Executive Director of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Fund, I strive to carry on the legacy of my mentor who so successfully led our Church and Community into a new era. I am deeply indebted to our beloved Spiritual Leader, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, who has picked up the torch and is leading our Church forward in the path of Orthodoxy and Hellenism.

We have witnessed firsthand Archbishop Elpidophoros’ paternal love and commitment to Greece, Cyprus and the omogeneia here in America.

We are blessed to have the Honorable Konstantinos Konstantinou as our Consul General here in New York, who works closely with our beloved Archbishop for the advancement of Greek causes which benefit, not only our homeland of Greece, but our Church at large.

I am deeply indebted to the Leadership 100 family, especially to our current Chairman, Demetrios Logothetis and to our past Chairman, Argyris Vassiliou, whom we call RJ, and who is the Gala Chairman this evening.

In closing, I thank you all for acknowledging my journey and giving me strength to continue to serve with renewed purpose, mindful of the responsibility we all share to be true to our Faith and Hellenic Heritage.”

Special acknowledgments were extended to Michael Stratis for his exceptional job as the Master of Ceremonies, Costas Tsourakis for a tremendous rendition of the National Anthems, Areti Giovanou for a captivating piano performance, Alex Agisilaou for master level videography, Karolos Orfanos and Nikolas Kambouroglou for their invaluable stage support.

Also acknowledged were Ioanna Antzoulis-Giannopoulos, the Director of Operations, along with the dedicated office personnel, Kiki Lazaraki, Viky Tsavalia, and Anna E. Eliopoulos, who worked tirelessly to guarantee the event's success. It is important to recognize that Hellenic Public Radio COSMOS FM owes its existence to the steadfast support of its members and donors.