LEADERSHIP 100 CONFERENCE OPENS TO SPEECHES ON HISTORY AND HEALTH

Naples, FL -- The Leadership 100 16th Annual Conference opened at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel here with a program titled “Heritage of Hope” led by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America who addressed the history of the Orthodox Church, followed by the prominent scholar, Prof. Speros Vryonis who spoke on the mid-twentieth century Turkish pogrom of Greeks in Asia Minor.

The program, which will be held through Saturday, February 3, when former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, gives the keynote address to the estimated 400 members and guests of Leadership 100 in attendance, also included two other speakers on the opening day: the world renowned cardiologist, Dr. Peter C. Gazes, who spoke on Heart Attach Survival and the New York Times columnist Jane Brody who spoke on Nutrition, Health and Wellness,

Tomorrow’s program will include the annual meeting of the General Assembly and continue “The Heritage of Hope” theme with a Forum on Health focusing on “Recovery for Living”, conducted by two members of Leadership 100, a psychiatrist, Dr. Susan Deakins and a psychologist, Dr. Marjorie Moyar, and a Business Forum led by John P. Calamos, also a member, and well-know head of Calamos Asset Management.

Prior to the opening day, Leadership 100 Chairman, George D. Behrakis of Lowell, MA presided at meetings of the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees of the more than 20-year-old national charitable organization that supports the ministries of the Greek Orthodox Church and promotes Orthodoxy and Hellenism in America. The Board reelected some 13 of its 45 members and founders, as well as three members of its 15-member Executive Committee, and elected George Tsandikos of the Archdiocesan District of New York to the one existing vacancy on the Board.

The Executive Committee will decide at an extraordinary session today how to distribute $2.6 million in grants. Leadership 100 has already given out more than $20 million in grants since its inception in 1984. The organization has 712 members and administers an endowment fund with a worth of more than $62 million and total assets of almost $80 million.