WASHINGTON, DC – The leaders of the Order of AHEPA concluded the 87th annual overseas excursion to Greece, Cyprus, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate that took place May 6 to 16.

Supreme President Phillip T. Frangos, Daughters of Penelope (DOP) Grand President Anna-Helene Grossomanides, and Maids of Athena Grand President Deana Socaris led the delegation. AHEPA Executive Director Basil Mossaidis and DOP Executive Director Elena Saviolakis also participated.

“I commend the members of the delegation for taking the volunteer time out of their professional and personal schedules to participate on this important excursion,” Frangos said. “I appreciated their support, and their participation helped to make this excursion a tremendous success.”

The Leadership Mission concluded in Athens, and included meetings with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, President of Hellenic Parliament Zoe Konstantopoulou, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, and Alternate Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura.

In addition, the group met with Webster University President Dr. Vasilis Botopoulos and separately with Ambassador Vassilis Kaskarelis, senior advisor to the Board of Directors and member of the Executive Management Team of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation; to discuss AHEPA’s Journey to Greece Program.

On May 15 the delegation met with Deputy Chief of Mission Suzanne Lawrence at the U.S. Embassy, where the delegation took a moment to visit the George C. Marshall Statue, which was donated by AHEPA.

“We have been extremely well-received in Athens,” Supreme President Frangos said.  “Our meetings were productive and informative, touching on a range of important issues.  We look forward to continuing our work together to further enhance and strengthen relations between the United States and Greece.”

He added, “We discussed the multitude of programs we have either launched, or helped to support in cooperation with other charitable organizations, to address Greece’s humanitarian crisis…We look forward to continuing to our work to help the people of Greece and to strengthen the bridge of cooperation between the United States and Greece.”

AHEPA donated $10,000 for the Ecumenical Patriarchate during an audience with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on May 7.

The delegation participated at Hellas District 25’s Convention in Komotini, May 8 and 9.  There, District 25 Governor George Plokamakis presented Supreme President Frangos with a $2,600 donation toward the AHEPA campaign to help rebuild Saint Nicholas National Shrine at World Trade Center.

In addition, the delegation visited the AHEPA Hospital in Thessalonki to meet with hospital administration officials.

In Cyprus, meetings were held with: U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus John Koenig, President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus Ioannis Kasoulides.

In addition, the delegation visited Apostolos Andreas, which is located in the Karpasia Peninsula, on May 12.

Also on May 12, the delegation met with Minister of Finance of the Republic of Cyprus Harris Georgiades.