CHICAGO – The National Hellenic Museum (NHM) raised over $1 million this past weekend at its 2022 Gala in support of its mission to share Greek history, art, culture and the Greek American story. NHM Chairman John P. Calamos, Sr. and Gala Chairman John S. Koudounis were joined by more than 650 civic and cultural leaders and philhellenes from across the country at the festive black-tie optional event to celebrate the museum’s grand reopening this month.

Guests of honor at the NHM Gala included HRH Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana, Consul General Emmanuel Koubarakis and His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago. Attendees enjoyed a spectacular dinner and live auction led by auctioneer Keith Jones, and festivities continued late into the evening with Gala After Dark, featuring an energetic performance from popular Greek singer Thanos Petrelis as hundreds of additional guests packed the Hilton Chicago ballroom.

2022 NHM Gala sponsors included: Diamond Level sponsors Calamos Investments, The John S. Koudounis Family, The Halikias Family and Republic Bank; Platinum Level sponsor Peter Parthenis of Grecian Delight Foods; and Gold Level sponsors Michael and Robin Psaros, and Kenny Kondraros of Dyros Inc.

The museum’s reopening celebration continues this fall with two new exhibitions. NHM is proud to host Prince Nikolaos’ North American exhibition debut, Resilience, a striking collection of photographs exploring Greece’s strong relationship with nature and environmental preservation. This major exhibition opened to the public on September 16 and will run through December 30, 2022. Resilience is sponsored by NHM Trustee John S. Koudounis.

A second new exhibition, Gather Together: Chicago Street Photography by Diane Alexander White, showcases historic images of Chicago’s Greek American celebrations alongside other ethnic and cultural festivals and parades, primarily from the 1970s and 1980s. This exhibition also opened on September 16 and will run through April 30, 2023.

Originally founded in 1983, NHM opened its permanent home in the heart of Chicago’s Greektown neighborhood just ten years ago, and has become the premier national institution dedicated to sharing Hellenic and Greek American culture in relevant and meaningful ways, including an extensive collection of more than 10,000 artifacts, hundreds of oral histories, exhibits and educational programs. Museum hours are Thursday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

For more information, visit nationalhellenicmuseum.org or call 312-655-1234.