Michael And Mary Jaharis And George A. David Honored By Cyprus Federation Of America

Michael and Mary Jaharis and George A. David were honored at the Cyprus Federation of America 2013 Testimonial Dinner at Terrace On the Park in Flushing Meadow Park, New York, on September 25, 2013, for their philanthropic support of Cyprus. The purpose of the Dinner was to benefit the needy children of Cyprus. Michael Jaharis is a Founder of Leadership 100. He and Mary Jaharis are long-time members, as are George A. David and his wife, Kaity. The President of the Republic Cyprus, Nico Anastsasiades, presented the honorees with a silver model of the Kyrenia Ship. The new President of the Cyprus Federation, Costas Tsentas, presided while the former President, Peter Papanicolaou, was event Chairman.

Michael and Mary Jaharis are noted for their major philanthropic support of scientific, cultural, religious and educational institutions. In accepting the honor, Michael Jaharis, who is a pioneer in the pharmaceutical industry, thanked His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios for establishing the “Relief Fund for the People of Cyprus,” and the Cyprus Consul General, Koula Sophianou, for her work on behalf of the children in need in Cyprus, which was supported by the honorees.

Archbishop Demetrios singled out the dedication of Mary Jaharis to children’s causes and related that after she saw an article in the New York Times regarding the plight of children, she immediately contacted her husband, and the Jaharis Family Foundation pledged $2 million to target hunger and poverty relief efforts in Greece to ensure that the children of Greece do not go hungry.

David, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, S.A., praised the Cyprus Federation for “fostering links between the people of Cyprus and the United States. He also expressed confidence in an economic recovery in Cyprus. He is a member of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of his promotion of UK-Cyprus relations in education.

Greek Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos was an honored guest. Also present were the Foreign Minister of Cyprus, Ioannis Kasoulides, Cypriot Ambassador to the United Nations, Nicholas Emiliou, Cypriot Ambassador to the United States, George Chacalli, Greece’s UN Ambassador, Michael Spinelis, and Greece’s Ambassador to the United States, Christos Panagopoulos.