NEW YORK – One of the key aspects of the Leadership 100 mission is to advance Hellenism. As part of that mission, the organization invited all of its members to the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA) Virtual Gala coming up on May 6. ASCSA is a consortium of nearly 200 North American colleges and universities dedicated to preserving, promoting, and protecting Greece's rich past.

Leadership 100 Chairman Argyris Vassiliou and Executive Director Paulette Poulos said via email on April 28, “on behalf of George Marcus and Alex Zagoreos, Leadership 100 members and ASCSA Trustees, we invite you to join the American School at their Virtual Gala next week on Thursday, May 6, 5:30 PM EDT. Your complimentary admission to the Gala has been made possible through their generosity, so please save the date and time!”

The ASCSA Virtual Gala offers an extraordinary evening of culture, education, and inspiration – from the comfort of your own home! This year, the American School will honor Professor Curtis Runnels for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge of post-antique Greece. Watch inspiring stories about the incredible people and work of the American School and help support ASCSA’s essential mission. Join the Virtual Gala online: https://virtual.givergy.com/ascsagala.

The scheduled events include a Virtual Cocktail Hour, 5:30-6:30 PM, Virtual Gala Program, 6:30-7:30 PM, and the Breakout Sessions: 7:30-8:30 PM. A Silent Auction is also ongoing to help support ASCSA.

Join Dr. John Camp, Director of the Athenian Agora Excavations at the American School, and Dr. Stéphanie-Anne Ruatta, Historian at Ubisoft Québec, on a journey through ancient Greece in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, a video game featuring a virtual world created in part using American School research. The trailer is available for viewing on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/541633814.

Also part of the Virtual Gala Program is a preview of The Free and the Brave: American Philhellenes and the Glorious Struggle of the Greeks (1776–1866), an exhibition at ASCSA’s Gennadius Library that commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution.

The presentation of the Gennadius Prize to Professor Curtis Runnels will be followed by the premiere of Curtis Runnels: Philhellene, Scholar, Bibliophile, Benefactor, a new film that documents the honoree's passionate pursuit and acquisition of rare Greek books, manuscripts, and artifacts.

Immediately following the Gala, all are encouraged to join the exclusive breakout sessions and interact online with renowned scholars, including Professor Runnels, and special guests who are at the heart of the American School.

The Gala provides an important source of funding for the American School and its academic programming, excavations, outreach, publications, and research, as well as a wide range of free public lectures, exhibitions, concerts, and award-winning short films. Participating in the silent auction is one way to show your support as 100% of the proceeds will benefit the School. To view and bid on auction items, click on the link: https://www.gala.ascsa.org/lite-ui/?controller=home. New items will continue to be added to the silent auction, so check back often.

Founded in 1881, the American School of Classical Studies at Athens is the oldest and largest U.S. overseas research center. More information about ASCSA is available online: https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/about.