Demakes Named National Membership Chairman
Thomas L. Demakes of Swampscott, MA was named National Membership Chairman of Leadership 100 by Stephen G. Yeonas, Chairman. He will organize a nationwide membership committee in order to recruit 50 new members in 2009. Leadership 100 recruited 64 new members in 2008 and the membership now stands at 813.
Membership at Record Level, Over $1 Million Raised for Grants
On the eve of the Leadership 100 25th Anniversary Celebration Conference next week, February 5-8, in Puerto Rico, membership has increased to a record 814 with 64 new members joining in 2008 and 374 members fulfilling their pledges of $100,000 each. An estimated 324 members and their guests will gather at The Ritz-Carlton San Juan Hotel in Carolina, Puerto Rico to celebrate 25 years of the Leadership 100 mission to advance Orthodoxy and Hellenism in America.
Behrakis to Lead Panel
George D. Behrakis, former Chairman of Leadership 100 and Chairman of the 25th Anniversary Celebration Conference, will open the Conference on Thursday, February 5 at The Ritz-Carlton San Juan Hotel in Carolina, Puerto Rico and moderate a business panel discussion on important economic issues.
St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center
Nestled in the tranquil woods of New Hampshire in the historic town of Contoocook, the St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center of the Metropolis of Boston has been termed “a beacon of Orthodoxy and Hellenism.”
New York Life Donates $1 Million To HC/HC
Ted Mathas, 41, who became a member of Leadership 100 shortly after being named chief executive officer by the Board of Directors of New York Life Insurance Company last year, presented Archbishop Demetrios with a $1 million donation on behalf of the company on Jan. 9 for the establishment of the New York Life Center for the Study of Hellenism in Pontus and Asia Minor atHellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, MA. The donation is part of New York Life’s outreach program to the heirs of Greek policyholders in the Ottoman Empire.
Psarouthakis on Lecture Circuit
Dr. John Psarouthakis, a pioneering scientist-entrepreneur and member of Leadership 100, traveling with his wife, Antigoni, in Europe last December gave the keynote speech, "The Challenge of Rapid Change in a Borderless World", at the graduation celebration at the Neynrode Business University in Holland; a lecture at the same school on "How to Acquire the Right Business"; and then two lectures, "How to Turn Around an Underperforming Business", and "Management Change", at a German university and in Milan.
LEADERSHIP 100 RAISES MORE THAN $1 MILLION FOR GRANTS FUND
Leadership 100, in response to the current economic crisis and its effect on its Endowment Fund, has raised $1,025,000 in cash and pledges for the Leadership 100 Grant Fund. The special fund was formed by the Executive Committee in October to continue its grant program until such time as the earnings from the Endowment Fund allow the organization to resume grant distributions.
Fulfilled Membership Plaques Erected
The third Leadership 100 fulfilled membership plaque was erected at the Archbishop Iakovos Library and Learning Resource Center at Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, MA.
Panhellenic Scholarships Awarded
The PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation awarded 25 of Greek America's "best and brightest" students a total of $250,000 in scholarship grants at an Awards Gala on November 15. Recipients received a Certificate and a check for $10,000 towards their higher education from the Foundation.
Louis Apostol Appointed
Louis G. Apostol, a long-time member of Leadership 100 and formerly Commissioner to the Illinois Court of Claims, has been appointed Executive Director to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board with offices in Chicago, Des Plaines and Springfield, Illinois. He will oversee and direct all residential, commercial, industrial and farmland property tax appeals in the State of Illinois.
Manatos Honored
Andrew Manatos, a long-time member of Leadership 100, who heads a prominent Washington DC lobbying firm, was presented by Archbishop Demetrios of America with the highest honor that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America bestows upon a layperson, the Medal of St. Paul.
Drexel Exhibition
An exhibition at Drexel University in Philadelphia that tells the story of the American response to Greece’s heroic role during World War II, Defenders of Democracy: The American Response to Greece’s role in World War II, features a collection of photographs, memorabilia, ephemera, newspapers, magazines and other items, primarily from the private collection of Greek America magazine publisher Gregory C. Pappas, a member of Leadership 100.
L100 To Meet Challenge To Continue Grants
The Leadership 100 Executive Committee, meeting in New York on October 24, acted in response to the financial crisis gripping the nation and its effect on the organization by temporarily suspending its grant program as required by its regulations in order to preserve the more than $50 million of contributions held inviolate in the Endowment Fund.
New Members Elected To Executive Committee/Board
The Executive Committee and Board of Trustees met at the Harvard Club in New York City October 24, 2008, to address the current financial crisis, review plans for the 25th Anniversary Celebration Conference to take place February 5-8, 2009 in Puerto Rico, to assess progress in the 25th Anniversary National Campaign and to elect members to the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees.
50 New Members For 25th Anniversary
Leadership 100 members and prospects, 100 in all, celebrated at Kellari’s Parea in the Gramercy Park section of New York City on Friday, October 24, as eight new members joined the organization, putting the 25th Anniversary National Campaign at 50 new members, culminating in a series of membership recruitment meetings in Cleveland, Philadelphia and Boston. Peter J. Pappas, Membership Chairman for the Direct Archdiocesan District and co-owner of the restaurant with James, George and Peter Pantelidis, served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening.
First L100 Regional Fellowship Event Initiated In Washington, DC
Timothy J. Maniatis, well-known member of Leadership 100 who has organized its conferences for more than a decade, organized a luncheon in the Plaza Ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton-Washington as the first Leadership 100 Regional Fellowship gathering for the purpose of affording Leadership 100 members an opportunity to become better acquainted.
Karagines Fulfills for Hierarchs
Peter Karagines, a US Navy veteran of both World War II and Korea, who with his best friend built up the country’s largest operators of food catering trucks and vending machines in Southern California, has made an extraordinary gift to Leadership 100 by pledging to fulfill the memberships of both Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco and Bishop Athimos. Peter and his wife, Thelma, are fulfilled members and have belonged to Leadership 100 since 1996. He is an Archon “Maestro” of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and a recipient of the Patriarchal Cross and Medal of the Holy Sepulcher of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The Gift Of Giving
Leadership 100 members make their initial gifts, continue their payments and fulfill their pledges in a variety of ways, directly by check or credit card, through stock and even life insurance or, through investment vehicles that otherwise manage their money. A leading proponent of the last method is none other than the Leadership 100 Treasurer, George E. Safiol, who has established the George E. Safiol Foundation, a donor-advised fund, with Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund.
Vidaklakis Couple Honored
Cretan’s Association “Omonoia's”, in celebration of its 90th anniversary, honored Dr. Nick and Nancy Vidalakis, members of Leadership 100, for their philanthropic and humanitarian work and in recognition of their contributions to the advancement of the Cretan and Hellenic cultures, at its annual dinner-dance on Saturday October 18, 2008 at the “Cretan House” in Astoria.
George L. Argyros To Speak At Grand Banquet
George L. Argyros, who served as the United States Ambassador to Spain and is a renowned real estate investor, public servant and philanthropist, will address the Grand Banquet at the 19th Annual Leadership 100 Conference on Saturday, February 6, 2010. He will be presented with the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Award for Excellence.