AHEPA Cooley's Anemia Foundation Donates $10K to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
The AHEPA Cooley's Anemia Foundation donated $10,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at the third annual St. Jude Field of Dreams, May 13, 2017, in Birmingham, Ala. AHEPA Cooley's Anemia Foundation Chairman Ike Gulas, PSP, presented the donation for research conducted by Dr. Mitchell Weiss, who chairs the Hematology Department at St. Jude's. Dr. Weiss has been aggressive in his pursuit of a cure for Thalassemia (Cooley's Anemia) and Sickle Cell Anemia. AHEPA is steadfast in its commitment to help researchers find a cure.
Surf the AHEPA News Portal
Have you checked out AHEPA's News Portal? Find news and information, ranging from news releases and statements, to our weekly e-news and programming announcements, to our latest social media posts on Facebook and Twitter. We've added an "Insights" section with an aim to provide valued-added content with tips on topics ranging from business to daily life.
ICYMI | College Student? Get Published.
AHEPA is providing college students the opportunity to be published. Build your resume or add to your portfolio by submitting your work to media@ahepa.org. Topics can include: trends and/or stories related to technology, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, integrity, family, entrepreneurship, community service and more. Click here for more details.
Few Spots Remain | Journey to Greece
Study abroad this summer and earn 6 college credits in Greece. AHEPA, in partnership with Webster University, is sponsoring 20 students to visit locations like Athens, Delphi, Meteora, Hosios Loukas, Arachova, and Crete -- all while earning college credits!
Deadline Extended: Apply Today
Watch & Share: Journey to Greece Promo Video
More Info: Click Here
Rebuild St. Nicholas Campaign
AHEPA is determined to meet its Saint Nicholas Capital Campaign fund raising goal of $1 million. Donations--large and small--keep pouring in for AHEPA's #RebuildStNicholas capital campaign.
NEW | Thank you to AHEPA Goodfriendship Chapter 63, Akron, Ohio, for its $1,600 donation to help #RebuildStNicholas! Much appreciated, Brothers!
TAKE ACTION!
Has your district or chapter organized a fundraiser for the campaign to #RebuildStNicholas? Take action and support AHEPA's campaign today! Please tweet about your fundraising activity by using #RebuildStNicholas to share your work with the broader community!
Share Media
St. Nicholas Appeal Video
AHEPA has produced its latest appeal video to help #RebuildStNicholas.
TAKE ACTION: Donate Today!
MORE TO SHARE: Initial appeal video released at the 94th Grand Banquet!
Project Update
Live Webcam!
Thanks to a live webcam, you can watch progress being made with a first-hand look at the site where Saint Nicholas National Shrine will be build.
Washington Update
House Hearing Tomorrow on "Lessons from the IMF’s Bailout of Greece”
The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade will hold a hearing tomorrow on "Lessons from the IMF's Bailout of Greece," 10 a.m. According to the committee: "The hearing will evaluate the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) financial rescue of Greece, including large “exceptional access” programs approved in 2010 and 2012, and the bailout’s impact on the Fund’s independence vis-à-vis its Eurozone shareholders, as well as the implications of a third IMF rescue in collaboration with the European Stability Mechanism. The hearing will examine the Greek bailout’s consequences for future Eurozone programs and for IMF cooperation with regional financing arrangements."
Tell Congress to Back the Return of the Parthenon Marbles
AHEPA commends the introduction of H.Con.Res.51, a bipartisan, concurrent resolution that expresses the sense of Congress that the Parthenon Marbles should be returned to Greece. U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ) introduced the resolution, May 2.
"We sincerely thank Representatives Maloney, Bilirakis, and Payne for introducing a resolution that aims to make whole not just our Hellenic history, but the history of humankind,” Supreme President Andrew C. Zachariades said. "Returning the Parthenon Marbles is just because as the resolution states, '...the Parthenon is a universal symbol of culture, democracy, and freedom,' and the U.S. Congress would be right to formally call for their return. AHEPA and the Daughters of Penelope back the resolution and will work to garner support. We encourage the community to help."
Find & Urge Your U.S. Representative to Co-sponsor H.Con.Res.51, or call the U.S. Capitol switchboard, 202.224.3121.
It's a New Congress! Help Grow the Hellenic Caucus!
The 115th Congress is well underway. And with it, the work renews for the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, led by Co-chairs U.S. Reps. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL) and Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY). The Hellenic Caucus begins the 115th Congress with 123 members.
Is your U.S. representative a member of the Hellenic Caucus? Click here to find out.
Download & Share: Action alert to help you outreach to Congress
The Hellenic Caucus has been an active, bipartisan group in Congress since its founding in 1995.
Upcoming Events & Deadlines
May
21 | AHEPA Day
22 | AHEPA Wreath-laying Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
July
25-29 | AHEPA Family 95th Supreme Convention, Orlando, Fla.
Greek American News Digest
Editor's Note: Editorials, Commentaries, and Opinion pieces are shared for information purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the Order of AHEPA, its affiliated organizations, and members.
Greek Economy Pays for Drawn-Out Talks With Return to Recession
Bloomberg (May 15)
Greece’s economy returned to recession in the first quarter as delays in concluding talks between the government and its creditors raised the specter of another debt drama.Gross domestic product contracted 0.1 percent in the first three months of the year after shrinking 1.2 percent in the previous quarter, the Hellenic Statistical Authority said in a statement on Monday. The seasonally adjusted contraction was 0.5 percent from a year earlier. read more
Greek lawmakers debate extending austerity to decade mark
Associated Press (May 15)
Lawmakers in Greece started a four-day debate Monday on whether to approve a new package of spending cuts that will extend the number of years Greeks have lived under austerity to more than a decade. read more
Reuters: U.S. Commerce Secretary Ross Backs Calamos-Exin Bid for Greece’s National Insurance
The National Herald (May 16)
The U.S. Commerce Secretary has backed a bid by an American-Dutch consortium to buy the insurance arm of Greece’s National Bank, saying a deal could help U.S. investment flows to the troubled Mediterranean country, Reuters‘ George Georgiopoulos reported from Athens. An offer for National Bank’s insurance business by U.S.-based Calamos Investments and Exin Partners, a Netherlands-based investor, is up against three Chinese groups looking to buy at least 75 percent of National Bank’s (NBGr.AT) insurance unit as part of a regulator-approved restructuring plan by Greece’s second-largest lender by assets to exit non-banking operations. read more
Anastasiades, Akinci Struggle to Find Common Ground for Cyprus Unity Talks
The National Herald (May 16)
The resumption of Cyprus’ collapsed unity talks is sputtering from the get-go with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci unable to agree on how to proceed.The two leaders will discuss how the negotiations process will continue when they meet on May 17 but they are more likely to point in “a direction” for the talks rather than a definitive next step, government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said. read more
Cyprus anticipates record year for tourism
Travel Weekly (May 9)
Cyprus is expecting a record year for tourism following a 3.6% rise in UK arrivals in the first quarter of 2017. UK visitor numbers to the third largest island in the Mediterranean rose to 99,503 year-on-year in the three months to March 31. read more
All Saints marks 100 years with celebration, gifts of faith
The Weirton Daily Times (May 15)
All Saints Greek Orthodox Church celebrated 100 years in Weirton by looking forward with a call to turn outward with faith, hope and love and by giving the gift of giving.Throughout celebratory events Friday, Saturday and Sunday, even while considering the church’s history, entwined and inseparable from that of the city, those speaking consistently spoke about reaching out to the community and sharing the tenets of Orthodoxy. read more