Leadership 100 members George and Caterina Sakellaris of Milton, MA underwrote a first-ever “Pops Goes Hellenic” fundraising concert at Symphony Hall in Boston, Saturday, June  7, to benefit St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church  in Braintree, MA, which opened its new 9,200-square-foot Byzantine-style church in March. The ”Pops Goes Hellenic” concert was the first time in North America that a world-class symphony orchestra performed an entirely Hellenic program. “It was a historic event,” said the Rev. Father Alkiviadis Calivas of St. Catherine’s. “It’s remarkable, unique and something that has never happened before.”

Peter J. Pappas, long-time member of the Leadership 100 Board of Trustees and Chairman of P.J. Companies, was honored in May by The Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce for his philanthropy and support of Greek and Cypriot causes, the Greek Orthodox Church in American and the Greek and Cypriot American community.

George P. Kokalis, a Founding Member of Leadership 100 and its dynamic Chairman from 1996 to 2000, who died suddenly June 24, was eulogized in Holy Trinity Cathedral in Phoenix, AZ June 29 by Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, Fr. Nicholas Triantafilou, President of Hellenic College-Holy Cross School of Theology and Paulette Poulos, Executive Director (Interim) of Leadership 100 (Eulogy follows).

In April, a group of seminarians who had benefited from the Leadership 100 Scholarship for Excellence established at Holy Cross School of Theology visited the Leadership 100 offices in the Olympic Tower in New York City. Each gave testimony to his calling. One, Fr. Panagiotis Hanley, moved us all. Here is his story:

Mr. Michael Jaharis, a Founder of Leadership 100, who is the vice-chairman of the Archdiocesan Council, and his wife, Mary, a fulfilled member of Leadership 100, announced a gift of $5 million to Hellenic College-Holy Cross School of Theology, the largest in its history, as they were given honorary Doctorates of Humanities at the 66th Commencement Services on May 17.

Gerry and Jeannie Ranglas, Leadership 100 members from Rancho Santa Fe, California, hosted a fund-raising event last April in Los Angeles for Camp Agape, a summer camp facility for children with cancer supported by the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society and initiated by the late Metropolitan Anthony of the Metropolis of San Francisco. Paulette Poulos, Executive Director (Interim) of Leadership attended, hearing the families of children who attended the camp give personal testimony to their experiences.

Nicholas Karakas, a member of Leadership 100, donated $1.5 million to The University of Missouri St. Louis to endow a chair in Byzantine and Orthodox Studies. UMSL Chancellor Tom George made the announcement during his annual report to the community at America's Center. “This generous gift from Mr. Karakas will allow the university to offer a comprehensive study of the history, culture, politics and individuals of the Byzantine Empire, one of the most powerful economic and cultural forces in Europe,” George said.

The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce honored Drexel University President and Leadership100 Member, Dr. Constantine Papadakis, with the 2007 William Penn Award before a packed crowd at a gala event on April 18. The gala had a Greek theme and featured a performance by Greek dancers honoring Papadakis’ Greek heritage. He was joined at the celebration by his wife Eliana and their daughter Maria.

The X PRIZE Foundation, an educational nonprofit prize institute created to foster radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity, announced on May 28 that Gregory Pappas, L100 member and publisher of Greek America Magazine, has been invited to join the Foundation's Advisory Council.