LONDON – Almost 400 guests marked the 10th anniversary of The Hellenic Initiative (THI) at its London Gala on September 22 at London’s renowned The Dorchester Hotel. The Gala celebrated “Ten Years of Uniting the Global Diaspora for Greece” and raised over 305,000 pounds (340,000 Euros, $326,000) to support economic development, entrepreneurship, and crisis relief in Greece.

THI’s 6th London Gala began at 7 PM with a Reception and Silent Auction. The dinner was followed by a welcome from THI Board Member Nikos Stathopoulos. The event was co-chaired by Stathopoulos, THI UK Trustee Constantine Logothetis, and THI International Ambassador Princess Tatiana.

The event honored two UK-based charities active in Greece. Stathopoulos noted that it was fitting this year as the “eyes of the world were on the UK at the passing of our beloved Queen that we honor two UK-based charities, in this most philhellenic of countries.” Stathopoulos presented an award to the Conservation Collective and Princess Tatiana presented a second award to the Prince’s Trust International.

THI Gala Honoree, Conservation Collective is a global network of 17 local environment foundations dedicated to preserving the environment and reversing climate change. The Collective does work in the Cycladic and Ionian islands and in Greece’s Argolic Gulf.

Prince’s Trust International (PTI) is an organization founded by the Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, to address the global crisis in youth unemployment. PTI has supported over thousands of Greek youth through education and employment opportunities.

After dinner, Greek popular singer Despina Vandi performed for the enthusiastic crowd. Vandi is one of Greece’s most successful and multitalented performers, with her singing and acting career transcending Greece’s borders.

She was followed by DJ Avgoustinos Galiassos, a prominent Greek DJ who plays in London, Monte Carlo, Athens, and major events across Greece.

The event was also attended by Prince Pavlos, designer Mary Katrantzou who donated one of her designs to the Silent Auction, Minister Notis Mitarakis, and Greek Ambassador to the UK Ioannis E. Raptakis, among others.

George Stamas, THI Board President, stated: “Our London efforts started eight years ago at a small dinner with Nikos Stathopoulos, Constantine Logothetis, and Dimitris Goulandris, three outstanding leaders of the Hellenic community, who then built THI’s presence in London to the extraordinary and humbling success we now enjoy in that community. Thank you to all who made the London Gala last week so memorable.”

Nikos Stathopoulos, THI Board Member, Co-Chair, and THI UK Trustee stated: “The remarkable love and support of the diaspora for Greece and its people exists all over the world, from the USA to the UK to Australia to Europe. The London Gala is a shining example of this.”

More information is available on THI’s website: thehellenicinitiative.org

Follow THI on social media:

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Facebook @thehellenicinitiative

Twitter @THI_OneGreece

LinkedIn @TheHellenicInitiative

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/HellenicInitiative2

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