BOSTON – The Ethnikos Kirix/The National Herald Foundation made donations in excess of $22,500 to St. Michael’s Home for the aged and to three Greek day schools. Specifically, it donated $10,000 to St. Michael’s, $5,000 to the Greek School of St. Demetrios in Astoria, $5,000 to the School of St. Nicholas in Flushing and $2,500 to the Cathedral School of the Archdiocesan Cathedra of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan.

The Ethnikos Kirix/The National Herald Foundation was established on February 4, 2015. It is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. The donations to the Foundation come from dedicated readers of the newspapers from throughout the United States.

The president of the Foundation, Antonis Diamataris notified in writing His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America as well as the principals of the schools.

In his letter to Archbishop Elpidophoros dated April 8, 2020 he wrote: “It gives me great joy to inform Your Eminence that the Board of Directors of the Ethnikos Kirix/The National Herald Foundation of which I am president and whose donations come from our Omogenia, having in mind the terrible situation we are in due to the coronavirus pandemic, has decided to put at your disposal the sum of $10,000,000 for the needs of the St. Michael’s Home for the aged.

Respectfully,

Antonis Diamataris.

Advisor to the Publisher of the National Herald

Former Deputy Foreign Minister

President of the Ethnikos Kirix/The National Herald Foundation”

Diamataris also sent the following letter to the principals of the schools:

Dear Ms….,

I am pleased to inform you that the board of directors of the Ethnikos Kirix/The National Herald Foundation, of which I am President, and which receives its donations from our Community, are aware of the painful situation we are facing due to the coronavirus pandemic, and have decided to donate the amount of…for the needs of the school at the…

Sincerely,

Antonis H. Diamataris

Advisor to the Publisher of the National Herald

Former Deputy Foreign Minister

President of the Ethnikos Kirix/The National Herald Foundation.”

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros in a statement to TNH said, “I was happy to be informed about the donations of the exceptional readers of the National Herald to the institutions of our Holy Archdiocese. It is not accidental that the Greek-Americans have chosen the credible and popular National Herald to make their donations which shows their trust and love for the historic newspaper. I thank my beloved Mr. Antonis Diamataris, who inspires and leads this newspaper for his sensitivity for the issues of Greek Education and Christian Philanthropy.”

Dr. Anastasios Koularmanis Director of Greek Education of the Archdiocese said that “in such a difficult period in which we live the donations of the Ethnikos Kirix/ The National Herald Foundation to the Greek day schools is an act of love and hope and it should be an example for others to follow.”

FILE – The diplomas were handed out to the graduates of the William Spyropoulos Greek-American Day School of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing at the 35th Commencement Exercises. (Photo by TNH/ Costas Bej)

Francesca Mannino, Principal of the Cathedral School said, “thank you so very much for your very generous contribution. In this time of uncertainty, we sincerely thank the directors of the Ethnikos Kirix/The National Herald Foundation as well for making this very thoughtful, conscious, and considerate decision in regard to the needs of our The Cathedral School. As we are all facing financial difficulties this donation is received at a time that it can be well applied and is most appreciated. We pray that you, your family, and organization are safe, warm, healthy, and together.

Educationally yours,

Ms. Mannino.”

Helen Karagiorgos, Principal of the St. Demetrios Cathedral of Astoria School said: “On behalf of the entire administration, teaching staff, and especially the students and parents of St. Demetrios School, I thank the National Herald and Mr. Diamataris for the generous donation of $5000 which will be used towards tuition assistance during this difficult time, when parents may be struggling financially to keep their children in a private parochial school. The newspaper has been a supporter of Greek-American education for many years and we value the fact that the work being done by Saint Demetrios School is recognized.”

Mary Tzallas, Principal of the St. Nicholas Greek School in Flushing said that “words can’t express the joy and the gratitude that I felt when I received the letter of your generous donation of $5,000 for the needs of our School because of the coronavirus pandemic. Your gesture is very humane and worth praising. I hope others will follow your example to help our Greek day schools during these difficult times when many parents of our pupils will face financial difficulties and they won’t be able to cover the tuition of their children.”