Leadership 100 members and prospects, 100 in all, celebrated recently at Kellari’s Parea in the Gramercy Park section of New York City, as eight new members joined the organization, putting the 25^th Anniversary National Campaign at 50 new members, culminating in a series of membership recruitment meetings in Cleveland, Philadelphia and Boston.

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios offered his paternal love and support to Leadership 100 at the New York event, stressing the need for all those gathered to make Leadership 100 a priority so that we may continue our support to the National Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. Peter J. Pappas, Membership Chairman for the Direct Archdiocesan District and co-owner of the restaurant with James, George and Peter Pantelidis, also members of Leadership 100, served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening. He was the original founder and organizer of the young professional program initiated by Leadership 100 years ago and mentioned how happy he was to see so many young people present as he greeted long-time members and new members from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Pappas introduced Kassandra Romas, New Jersey Membership Chairman, Louis Nicozisis, Eastern Regional Membership Chairman, Michael Bapis, Chairman of the Leadership 100 Partners Program, John A. Payiavlas and Gus Caras, Leadership 100 Vice Chairman, Co-Chairmen of the National Membership Campaign, Paulette Poulos, Executive Director (Interim), and Stephen G. Yeonas, Leadership 100 Chairman.

All speakers touched upon the need to organize this type of event in order to spread the word on the mission of Leadership 100. Among the new members that came forward were: Constantine Avgerinos, his son Don Avgerinos, Justin Bozonelis, George Tsantes and Dennison Veru.

“What we are trying to do is encourage the young adults to become Leadership members,” said Peter Pappas in an interview with NEO. “It’s not so much the money, we want the involvement. And if people use their funds to dedicate themselves, they make a commitment. Sometimes we don’t become serious unless we put up our money and say we want to be part of something.”

Asked how the recent financial crisis has affected the effort, Pappas admitted “it’s not a good time for anyone and all of us.” Making the commitment to L100 though, “is a very special sense of pride and people find their way. And if they need time to fulfill their commitment because of their financial situation, we are very sensitive to that. I think the main factor is the commitment.”

The Leadership 100 Executive Committee, meeting in New York the following day, acted in response to the financial crisis gripping the nation and its affect on the organization by temporarily suspending its grant program as required by its regulations in order to preserve the more than $50 million of contributions held inviolate in the Endowment Fund. A Leadership 100 Grant Fund was immediately formed after Michael Jaharis, a founder of the organization, issued a combined challenge grant of $500,000 to raise new funds in excess of $1 million in order to continue grants in support of the National Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and the Leadership 100 Scholarship for Excellence Program established at Holy Cross School of Theology. Mr. Charles H. Cotros will head the fund.

The 25-year-old organization has distributed close to $27 million in grants since its inception in 1984, principally to support the National Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, as well as aiding in such national and international emergencies as September 11, Hurricane Katrina and Greek Fire Relief.