Grants To Continue

The Leadership 100 Board of Directors at its meeting in New York City on May 29, 2009 voted unanimously to fund its grant commitments for 2008, 2009 and 2010 for a total of $2 million. Total grant commitments since the inception of the organization in 1984 will now reach $30 million in 2010, an average of $1.2 million a year.

In 2008, Leadership 100, in response to the current economic crisis and its effect on its Endowment Fund, formed the Leadership 100 Grant Fund to fund its prior grant commitments and resume future grant distributions. Headed by Charles H. Cotros, a member of the Executive Committee, the special fund was initiated with a challenge grant of $250,000 by Michael Jaharis, a Founder of Leadership 100, and raised more than $1 million from members to fund the Leadership 100 Scholarship for Excellence Program at Holy Cross School of Theology in 2009.

Stephen G. Yeonas, Chairman of Leadership 100, said the development put the organization on a steady course for the future, especially since membership has now reached 820 with events planned in 2009 to recruit more members. “The positive action of our Board will allow Leadership 100 to continue support of the National Ministries of our Greek Orthodox Church while continuing scholarships to prepare our priests, fund technology infrastructure at Hellenic College-Holy Cross School of Theology, and provide assistance to our Retired Clergy in Need through 2010,” he said.

From its initial 100 members at its historic beginning, Leadership 100 now counts 820 members toward a goal of 1,000 members prior to its 30th Anniversary. More significantly, Leadership 100 has led the way over two and a half decades in demonstrating support for such programs at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese as Internet Ministries, Information Technologies, Parish Development and Interfaith Marriage and Family Ministry, Home Mission Parishes, Greek Education, Religious Education, Youth Ministry and Outreach and Evangelism. Over that period, it provided $10 million for scholarships for seminarians, $1 million to eliminate the student loan debts of clergy, and $1 million to ease the financial burdens of retired clergy and presvyteres and clergy in need of assistance.

Total grants since the inception of Leadership 100, including the special fund, will reach $28.6 million in 2009 and $30 million in 2010.