The Hellenic Initiative’s (THI) fourth annual gala took place on 30 September in New York City, raising a total of more than US$2 million, which will be directed towards programs that are expected to create a positive, long-lasting, impact in Greek society.

With more than 700 guests, THI’s banquet was attended by prominent members of the Greek diaspora community and prominent Philhellenes from around the world including Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark and his wife and Greek director and actor Christopher Papakaliatis.

Keynoting the gala was Admiral Jim Stavridis, USN (Ret), Dean, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, while Greek American actor Chris Diamantopoulos served as the evening’s emcee.

With the banquet’s main theme focusing, as every year, on the empowerment of Greece’s future, THI honoured two very active and impactful Greek NGOs: METAdrasi − which offers interpretation services to immigrants and protection to unaccompanied children, and Together for Children − a union of nonprofit child welfare NGOs.

A special recognition award was conferred on ReGeneration, an innovative paid internship program for Greek graduates, sponsored jointly by the Coca-Cola Co. and THI. The program focuses on building ’employability’ and battling Greece’s ‘brain drain’.

A special tribute was made to four Olympic Greek athletes: Lefteris Petrounias, Katerina Stefanidi, and Spyros Gianniotis, and Greek American Helen Maroulis − all of whom competed at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. THI will also be supporting the Greek athletes who plan to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

THI’s annual gala fundraiser fully aligns with the organisation’s main mission, which is to support Greek society during the current financial crisis through programs focusing on crisis relief, entrepreneurship, and economic development.

Over the past four years, THI’s crisis relief programs have benefited, among others, thousands of people with more than two million meals, more than 10,000 children with vaccinations and more than 13,000 people with primary and secondary dental treatments.

In addition, US$4,250,000 was distributed to 14 Greek startups through the Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award; 233 paid internships have been secured through the ReGeneration program; more than 400 business ideas have been mentored through the VentureGarden program and several young and talented Greeks were given the chance to participate in internship programs in leading US and Australian companies.

To find out more about THI go to www.TheHellenicInitiative.org and www.onegreece.org