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.

A pioneering music teacher and businesswoman, Paulette Hios left a major portion of her estate to many philanthropic causes. She had founded the Belanthi Gallery at 142 Court Street in 1978 and for some 34 years conducted piano, voice and music theory classes as well as exhibited art in all styles and media. In her own musical career, she had performed as a concert pianist, appearing at many major concert venues. She sold the gallery shortly before her death, dedicating the majority of proceeds from her estate to charitable beneficiaries.