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General News
Meropi Kyriacou Honored as TNH Educator of the Year
NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.
Undoubtedly nursing homes are necessary institutions for our Greek-American community. Especially since the members of our Community, in ever greater numbers, are entering old age.
And yet, in New York City, with far more Hellenes than any other city in the United States, there is only one home for the elderly and it is not large enough to meet the needs of our Community nor to provide care for them once they enter a certain level of deterioration to their health.
Nevertheless, the St. Michael’s Home in Yonkers, NY – a project of Archbishop Michael, who was succeeded by Iakovos and was one of the best Archbishops we have had, though he is not well-recognized – has provided invaluable services to generations of residents since it was founded in 1950.
Senior citizens, who for various reasons, usually not of their own choice, were unable to stay in their homes during the twilight of their lives, have found warmth in a Greek environment with people speaking the same language, sharing the same religion, customs, cuisine, etc.
They found a dignified Greek environment, which honors the institution itself, the Church, and our Greek community.
However, as I noted above, St. Michael’s Home is not big enough to meet the needs of the Greek-American Community.
Thus, it is a gift from God that a few dedicated Greek-American volunteers, under the leadership of Bishop Anthony, after years of real estate market research, have purchased a space – 11 acres – that formerly was the home of a Catholic school in Uniondale, Long Island, to which St. Michael’s will be moved.
I had the opportunity to visit the site recently and I can say that when completed it will be one of the most brilliant and useful institutions of Hellenism in America.
Despite the difficulties caused by the coronavirus, I saw about 100 people working feverishly to complete it.
The project is undertaken in an orderly, professional, and transparent manner. And that is the key: transparency.
Already the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), as it does in so many other cases that deserve support, has donated the sum of $15 million for its completion.
Businessman Steve Valiotis also donated the substantial sum of $10 million for the same purpose.
Both the SNF and its co-president Mr. Andreas Dracopoulos, as well as Mr. Valiotis, have earned an honorable place in the history of the Community with these donations alone.
However, for the project to be completed, it needs our urgent support. Should work on it be halted, because of lack of funds, it will be difficult, and more costly, to resume it at a later date.
So, I too make a heartfelt appeal to each and every one of you to give what you can.
No amount is negligible.
The need is great.
