NEW YORK – Paulette Poulos, the executive director of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Fund, was the recipient of the 28th Phidippidean Award, presented every year by the nonprofit organization Hellenic Public Radio-Cosmos FM, which broadcasts under the aegis of the Greek American Educational Public Information System, Inc. (GAEPIS).

Among the guests at the Manhattan Gala were Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Consul General of Greece in New York, Dinos Konstantinou, Director of the Economic and Commercial Office of Greece in New York, Nikolaos Thomopoulos, Supreme President of AHEPA, Savas Tsivicos, Treasurer of the Archdiocesan Council, Elaine Allen, Senior Advisor of ALMA Bank, Nancy Papaioannou, as well as the Board of Directors of GAEPIS and the volunteer producers and presenters of Cosmos FM.

“I want to express a great thank you to you, Paulette, and to all those who tirelessly ensure that my grandchildren will have opportunities in the future to participate in events, organizations, camps, and activities that will keep their Greek spirit alive. For this, we owe you tremendous gratitude,” declared Stelios Taketzis, Chairman of the GAEPIS Board of Trustees.

Taketzis also made a special reference to two longtime supporters of Cosmos FM who recently passed away, Dimitris Pantelidis and Nick Andriotis. “Dimitris Pantelidis served as a member of the Board of Directors, as Treasurer, and as a fervent supporter of Cosmos FM since its establishment. Nick Andriotis was an important part from the inception of this radio station. He was a supporter, advisor, and a sincere, critical voice throughout his life,” Taketzis said.

Paulette Poulos was introduced by Archbishop Elpidophoros, who spoke warmly about her activities and overall contribution to the Archdiocese of America. “Everyone knows Paulette. Not only for her leadership presence in Leadership 100, as has been the case for the past decades. Paulette is a treasure for the life of the Diaspora, even before Leadership 100 existed,” said the Archbishop, who also focused on her “constructive contributions to the Greek-American community.” The President of the event’s committee, Argyris Vassiliou, also addressed a greeting to Poulos, characterizing her as a “dear friend and collaborator.” He then noted that, “from 2018 to 2022, it was a period of financial challenges, but also of a pandemic. Therefore, I can say that you cannot find another person with such experience, wisdom, and ease to work with.”

For her part, the executive director of Leadership 100 thanked the GAEPIS Foundation for the honorary distinction, but she dedicated a significant part of her speech to the late Archbishop Iakovos, with whom she had a special relationship and to whom she was wholeheartedly devoted. “Although I served Orthodoxy from many leadership positions since 1965, it was in 1984 when I fully understood the importance of being a true Greek, thanks to my collaboration with this great man for global Hellenism. He fought for Greece, Cyprus, and all humanitarian causes. He never accepted the word ‘defeat’,” said Poulos.

Michael Stratis, lawyer and radio program producer, was the M.C.