Michael G. Psaros Receives Hellenic Heritage Award (By Revekka Papadopoulos)

(L to R) Andrew Gounardes, Fr. Eugene Pappas, Michael Psaros, Dr. Konstantinos Koutras, Archbishop Demetrios, Demetrios Kokotas, AHEPA Supreme Secretary and a member of Leadership 100, and John Eugenis.

Michael G. Psaros, a member of the Board of Trustees of Leadership 100 and co-founder of KPS Capital Partners, LP, was honored by the Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church with the 16th Hellenic Heritage Award at their Annual Name Day Celebration Banquet held on January 29th, 2018 at the parish hall in Brooklyn.

The event took place after the Vespers Service for the feast of the Three Hierarchs, celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, assisted by the Presiding Priest Archimandrite Eugene Pappas and clergy from the New York area.

In accepting the award, Psaros thanked the community of the Three Hierarchs, saying that the honor goes to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, which he serves as Treasurer of the Archdiocesan Council. He noted that other leaders worked tirelessly with him for the benefit of that institution, naming Archbishop Demetrios, with whose blessing and wisdom directed their efforts, the Chancellor, Bishop Antonios of Phasiane, the Chief Financial Officer, Fr. Soterios Baroody, the Vice President of the Archdiocesan Council, George Tsandikos, Secretary and Legal Counsel of the Archdiocesan Council, Cathy Walsh,  and the Chairs of the Council’s Finance and Audit Committees, Lazaros Kirkos and  Elaine Allen, respectively.

"I have the blessing of learning from Archbishop Demetrios every day because, every day and every moment for him is a teaching moment", Psaros said.

He remarked further, "I am who I am today because I was raised an Orthodox Christian and I was raised with the values and value system resident in every Greek household. That has grounded me. That has provided me with direction. That is powerful. Hellenism and Orthodoxy are two lungs that breathe together. I reject secular Hellenism. It is like breathing with one lung. I can only see Hellenism through the beautiful prism of Orthodoxy.”

"This is a man of tremendous achievements", said Archbishop Demetrios, referring to Psaros. He thanked him for his untiring efforts to find a solution, stabilize and improve the financial status of the Archdiocese.

Psaros was also congratulated by Consul General of Greece in New York, Dr. Konstantinos Koutras and Andrew Gounardes, Counsel to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.  

Remarks were offered by Fr. Eugene Pappas, John Eugenis, the Three Hierarchs Parish Council President and Dr. Steve Gounardes, former President of St. Basil's Academy.