CHICAGO—AHEPA fulfilled its $1 million donation to rebuild Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at World Trade Center with a presentation of the remaining pledge balance to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America at the 97th Grand Banquet, July 5, 2019, announced Supreme President George E. Loucas and Chairman of the Board Nicholas A. Karacostas.
Supreme President Loucas, and Chairman of the Board Karacostas, who also served as the chairman of AHEPA’s Capital Campaign to rebuild Saint Nicholas, presented the donation to Archbishop Elpidophoros.
“Since 1922, AHEPA has stood by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America thus creating the ‘Twin Pillars of Hellenism’ in America that we see today,” Loucas said. “We are deeply grateful to the AHEPA family; to our amazing grassroots network of districts, chapters, and dedicated members, all of who made this landmark donation a reality.”
Karacostas added, “We are proud to be the only secular organization to make and fulfill a one-million-dollar donation to this campaign. I echo the sentiments of Supreme President Loucas in convey our sincere appreciation to all our donors.”
Additionally, Loucas and Karacostas expressed confidence Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine will be rebuilt and both hope AHEPA’s fulfillment of its pledge will provide the springboard for the additional support the project needs.
The 97th Grand Banquet is the pinnacle event of the 97th Annual Supreme Convention, which took place this week in Chicago, Ill.
PHOTO CREDIT: GOA/DIMITRIOS S. PANAGOS
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Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, on the principles that undergirded its fight for civil rights and against discrimination, bigotry, and hatred felt at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
AHEPA’s mission 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, please visit www.ahepa.org.