NEW YORK – The GAEPIS foundation and the radio station Hellenic Public Radio COSMOS FM, which is based in New York, honored AHEPA with its Pheidippides Award at its anniversary gala at the iconic Terrace on the Park catering hall in Queens, NY.

Welcoming the attendees was the President of GAEPIS and well-known COSMOS FM producer-Presenter Stelios Taketzis. He thanked everyone for their support and referred to the goals and vision of COSMOS FM, which he said have been adapted to the needs of a new era. He highlighted the renewal of the programming and the shift towards the new generation, but also on the special role that COSMOS FM is now called upon to play in the Internet era.

Ambassador of Greece to the United States Alexandra Papadopoulou stressed that she traveled to New York for the event, recognizing the important contribution of COSMOS FM as a Greek-American media outlet both in its informational and its entertainment roles, noting as well its broader mission in support of Hellenism in America.

George Horiates, who served as AHEPA’s Supreme President during the challenging pandemic period, took the podium and spoke about the station’s activities promoting Hellenic national issues, focusing on current geopolitical developments and Turkish provocations.

Immediately afterwards, the current Supreme President of AHEPA Jimmy Kokotas, receiving the award from Taketzis, presented a historical overview of the organization, which has recorded a century of contributions to the Greek-American community and Greece. He expressed pride in the pioneering Greek immigrants and founders of AHEPA, which was established in difficult times and was an important promoter and supporter of Hellenism.

The event was emceed by Michael Stratis, while Costas Tsourakis performed the national anthems. The long-time producer-presenter at COSMOS FM, Father Eugene Pappas, gave the customary prayer before the start of the event.

Also present were the Consul General of Greece in New York, Dinos Konstantinou and the Consul of Greece, Dimitrios Papageorgiou, the President of the Hellenic Medical Association in New York Dr. Antonios Gasparis and its former President Dr. Panagiotis Manolas, Nancy Papaioannou, AHEPA leaders such as Nicholas Karakostas and Harry Giannakis and all the radio producers, staffers, and members of GAEPIS and COSMOS-FM, including Ioanna Giannopoulou, Dimitris Folios, and Sylvia Papapostolou.