The Johns Hopkins Hellenic Student Association’s “Friend Raiser“

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Only George Petrocheilos and Santa Claus could have brought such a group together.

By Zach Winters

Such was the sentiment voiced by members of the crowd at the Johns Hopkins Hellenic Student Association’s “Fall Reception & Friend Raiser.” The event took place at the estate of Aris Melissaratos, with guests ranging from financial CEOs and philanthropists to restaurant owners and politicians. Of particular note was the appearance of Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, former Senator Paul Sarbanes, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Elija Cummings, Rep. John Sarbanes, Rep. Andy Harris, Rep. Helen Delich Bentley, State’s Attorney Gregg Bernstein, State Senator Nancy Jacobs, State Senator Verna Jones-Rodwell, and Councilwoman Rochelle ‘Rikki’ Spector.

“The crowd is phenomenal,” Mr. Melissaratos says fondly, leaning back in his chair and shaking hands with a procession of cheerful and smiling guests. The former Secretary of Business and Economic Development in Maryland and current Senior Adviser to the Johns Hopkins President, Mr. Melissaratos, has an impressive resume of his own, but makes everyone he talks to feel special and worthy of his time. “There’s such a cross section of people here,” he continues excitedly. “It’s not just about being Greek tonight. America is a cultural mosaic, and this room is a snapshot of that. It’s great to see that everyone is able to be proud of their own culture and heritage.”

One thing that the diverse crowd of roughly 250 people had in common was that they were all well fed. The smell of strong, rich coffee floated through the air as waiters walked among the throngs with silver plates of drinks and hors d'oeuvres held high. The catering proved worthy enough for even the most determined appetites, and it seemed that every guest held a plate of food piled high with shrimp and lamb chops.

Even with the enormous crowd there was plenty of room inside the house, but those guests who did wander outside were met with a spread of delicious confections. Beneath a spacious tent that shielded them from the pattering rain, senators, manufacturers, and businessmen all mingled in the crisp, refreshing nighttime air, talking contentedly while they nibbled at chocolate-covered baklava and fruit tarts. When the rain at last relented, guests meandered out into the mansion’s enormous backyard and admired the Walt Disney designed swimming pool. No one was short of compliments for the magnificent estate and for Aris Melissaratos himself, but perhaps no one had as many to give as the President of the Hellenic Student Association and organizer of the event, George Petrocheilos.

“It’s because of Aris that I have met all of the people in this room,” George said, addressing the crowd at large. “I feel blessed that I ‘m able to spend so much time with someone so successful, so generous and so brilliant.” Melissaratos himself was just as humble, beginning his speech by individually introducing and praising the numerous politicians in the room, thanking them for giving back and lending a hand to their community. By the end of his speech, he had the entire crowd laughing and at ease.

He seemed to have as much pride in George as George had admiration for him. “If you were invited, then you’ve already met George. And if you didn’t meet George, then you weren’t invited,” Melissaratos said, to raucous laughter from the crowd. The reason it was such an amusing joke was that just about everyone has met George. At the party he seemed to be everywhere at once, talking and meeting with every guest and giving them each their own individual time and attention. “Where’s George?”, seemed to be the most repeated phrase of the night.

But the Hellenic Student Association’s President made sure to direct attention to the real focus of the event. “This is a ‘friend raiser’ not a ‘fundraiser’,” he said seriously to the guests. “The point is meeting old friends and making new ones, networking, bringing people together.”

The crowd full of successful businessmen and leaders of the community listened attentively to the 21 year old silently and intently. After all, not every senior in college can get a few senators and congressmen to come to his party.

“Everyone who donates to the HSA – that’s great,” George continues. “But I want people to know where their money is going. We try to get out into Baltimore and do events there. Baltimore is a fun place. Hopkins people come here and they say, ‘it’s not Athens. It’s not New York.’ But Baltimore is a fun place, and we prove that by doing events out in the city.”

George went on to talk about some the HSA events that he is most excited about. They range from the annual Greek Night (which drew over 800 people last year) to an upcoming event in February which aims to combine both Greek and African-American cultural pride.

“Each ethnicity has had its turn in this melting pot that is America,” Mr. Melissaratos comments. “We all have things to contribute.”

With the joint efforts of both George Petrocheilos and Aris Melissaratos, it’s difficult to imagine a limit to the possibilities of the Johns Hopkins Hellenic Student Association. Maybe the next event will be one that even Santa Claus himself couldn’t have put together.

©2012 NEOCORP MEDIA





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