L100 GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEARS OF DRAMATIC GROWTH FORUMS ADDRESS FINANCIAL SECURITY AND HEALTH
Naples, FL – The General Assembly of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund, Incorporated convened here this morning at the 16th Annual Conference of the national Greek Orthodox American organization to hear reports of dramatic growth over the 23 years since its inception while forums later heard experts on investments, psychological counseling and psychiatric treatment, all members of Leadership 100, sound similar themes of optimism and hope in keeping with the theme of the conference, “The Heritage of Hope”.
George D. Behrakis, Leadership 100 Chairman, reported current membership of 722 with 50 new members, contributions of almost $50 million over that period, investment in the endowment rising to more than $63 million and total assets approaching $80 million. He emphasized that this success was best measured by the more than $20 million in grants (which will exceed $23 million with approval of the 2007 grant allocations) that provided scholarships for candidates for the priesthood, assistance with student loans for active clergy, aid to retired clergy and presbyteras, support for the technology infrastructure of the Archdiocese and its Internet Ministries and general support for programs that promote Orthodoxy and Hellenism.
John P. Calamos, Sr., head of the highly successful Calamos Asset Management, spoke of a sound U.S. economy that remains the engine of the world and his risk management philosophy that is enhanced by increased globalizations. In a Forum on Health that featured Dr. Susan Deakins and Dr. Marjorie Moyar, L100 members, members and their guests heard of new hope for recovery in psychiatric disorders and substance abuse and successful methods for dealing with depression, anxiety and other psychological problems.
In other reports at the General Assembly, the more than 150 delegates were introduced to Leadership 100 Partners, a new program allowing young professionals to join Leadership 100 at reduced levels of contributions congruent with their age and advancement but culminating in the same overall commitment of $100,000; an Audit Committee report that demonstrated Leadership 100 is on sound financial footing with a relatively small percentage of expenses against revenue that ranked it high amongst charitable organizations; and other reports on an extended communications programs.
Paulette Poulos, the Interim Executive Director and Director of Development described the process of vetting the membership roles with the purpose of reactivating dormant or non-current members, resulting in 16 reactivated memberships. In addition to the 50 new members, she reported an increase of 31 fulfilled members (those who have paid fully the commitment of $100,000), for a total of 313.
The conference ends with a Grand Banquet on Saturday, February 3, at which former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, will be given the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Award for Excellence, the first time it is to be given to someone outside the Greek Orthodox American community, but who exemplifies in his leadership the values and principles of Orthodoxy and Hellenism.
