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A message from the
desk of Dr. John Grossomanides
Friday, January 13, 2012
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Contact: Dr. John Grossomanides
SupremePresident@ahepa.org
Phone: (202) 232-6300
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An Open Response to "The Diaspora to the Rescue in Greece ... Well Almost"
By AHEPA Supreme President Dr. John Grossomanides
In his Huffington Post column, "The Diaspora to the Rescue in Greece ... Well, Almost" (Jan. 2, 2012), Mr. Gregory C. Pappas states he was mistaken to think that the Greek Diaspora, and specifically organizations such as the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), would provide assistance to Greece in its time of need especially around the holidays. Although it seems Mr. Pappas is looking for an immediate "here and now" or silver bullet solution to provide assistance to the people of Greece, I would like to present some of the philanthropic work conducted by AHEPA family chapters in Greece during the past year.
- Two Crete chapters purchased medical equipment for local hospitals,
- Kalamata chapter financed a technology that helps the blind to cross streets safely and participates in programs that reforest the countryside,
- Chapters in Athens and Thessaloniki helped to purchase computers sorely required by doctors for their work at the Evangelismos Hospital and AHEPA Hospital in Thessaloniki,
- The Glyfada chapter purchased a specialized wheelchair (4,000 Euro) that has allowed an individual to successfully study abroad,
- Chapters have supported Penelopean Day Care Center, Nea Ionia, Athens, with financial contributions and Ahepans have volunteered their time to fix and maintain the center's electrical and plumbing systems,
- Chapters have also helped to purchase heating oil for the winter and participated in food drives to assist the less fortunate,
- Athens Chapter HJ1 contributes to the Fulbright Foundation for scholarships and has a "support" program for Greek of Northern Epirus that provides medical supplies and books to needy institutions in that region,
- The Chania chapter provides performance awards to 80 students in high school and sponsors six students with a paid trip to Athens,
- Participation in local blood drive programs, and
- Ahepans who are doctors have offered free medical services to the needy.
I am also compelled to remind Mr. Pappas of the consistent level of charitable giving and philanthropy AHEPA has provided to Greece and its people since its founding 90 years ago.
- Seven post World War II health centers built, including AHEPA Wing of Evangelismos Hospital (late 1940s)
- AHEPA Hospital in Thessaloniki (1951)
- Nursing exchange program between AHEPA Hospital and Deborah Heart & Lung Center
- $229,000 raised for 1999 Athens Earthquake with funds going toward purchase of sonar detection equipment, an ambulance at Evangelismos Hopsital, and restoration of a day care facility in Menidi.
- AHEPA transported 270 Care Packages totaling $250,000 worth of goods, and raised an additional $250,000 in financial assistance for Greece's Wildfires Victims (2007-08)
- In November 2011, AHEPA hosted 16 firefighters from Greece who came to the United States for intense training on life-saving measures. AHEPA underwrote a significant portion of their visit.
In addition, Mr. Pappas wrote, "All of those dinner dances, all of those conventions... We proudly proclaim to our American friends and neighbors that we are the continuation of great Greeks like Archimedes, Aristotle, Socrates, St. Nicholas and Cleopatra." Mr. Pappas failed to mention that at "all of those dinner dances," funds were raised or goods collected to provide humanitarian relief to Greece. At "all of those conventions" important decisions have been made in a democratic fashion that served to strengthen the bond between Greek Americans and Greece whether it was a decision to build a medical facility in Greece or to advocate for or against certain immigration policies to U.S. legislators back in the mid-20th century.
Also, Mr. Pappas should note that it is easier for Greek nationals to come to the United States to seek temporary relief -- even if it is just for 90 days-thanks to Greece's entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver system in March 2010; a policy change that AHEPA successfully advocated for and championed in Washington over a four-year period (2006 to 2010).
Are all these charitable deeds enough? Obviously not. Not with parents who are too poor to care for their children and leaving them on the streets of Greece. Can one organization or entity address all the needs? Definitely not. But it is my firm hope that Mr. Pappas will acknowledge these charitable endeavors as quickly as he expressed his disappointment in the Greek American community's perceived indifference to help the people of Greece.
Mr. Pappas' observation of the absence of one unified humanitarian effort is correct, however. Admittedly, even the efforts by the AHEPA chapters of Greece listed above were not under one unifying campaign. Perhaps this is an area where AHEPA and Mr. Pappas' Greek American Foundation can work together? Via our 13 chapters in Greece, AHEPA can offer and provide the resources on the ground to implement a humanitarian initiative to help the poor and less fortunate.
Finally, times are tough for families everywhere, including here in the United States. AHEPA chapters nestled in every major metropolitan city in the United States from Boise, Idaho to Wilmington, North Carolina to Gary, Indiana are constantly working to strengthen their local communities. That's why over the past few years AHEPA answered the White House's "United We Serve" initiative and chose to embark on a campaign to feed homeless Veterans and children. Last year, AHEPA supported organizations such as ThanksUSA which provides educational opportunities to active duty military personnel and delivered humanitarian aid to the record number of natural disaster victims in the American South. This year, we are looking to bring military families together by supporting a USO reading program.
Yes, indeed, the charitable and philanthropic need is great, omnipresent, and relentless.
Fraternally,
Dr. John Grossomanides, Supreme President
AHEPA is the largest Greek-American association in the world with chapters in the United States, Canada, Greece, Cyprus, and sister chapters in Australia and New Zealand. It was established in 1922 by visionary Greek Americans to protect Hellenes from prejudice originating from the KKK, and in its history, AHEPA joined with the NAACP and B'nai B'rith International to fight discrimination.
The mission of the AHEPA family is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and family and individual excellence through community service and volunteerism.
For more information about the AHEPA family, or how to join, please contact AHEPA Headquarters, (202) 232-6300, or visitwww.ahepa.org. To learn more about the AHEPA National Educational Foundation, please visit www.ahepa.org/education.