NEW YORK – Under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the Athenagoras Human Rights Award Banquet, the premier event and fundraiser of the Annual Archon Weekend, took place on October 21 at the New York Hilton Midtown Grand Ballroom. The black-tie gala began with a cocktail reception, followed by the introduction of the dais by Archon Michael Psaros, and the presentation of the 2023 Athenagoras Human Rights Award to The Prince’s Trust, a youth charity founded in 1976 by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, now His Majesty King Charles III. His Majesty then founded The Prince’s Trust International in 2015 in order to share his successful programs and experience with strategic partners in countries outside the United Kingdom, including Greece, among others.

Prince Pavlos, Vice President of Prince’s Trust International and the eldest son of the late former King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, accepted the 2023 Athenagoras Human Rights Award on behalf of the Prince’s Trust. Prince Pavlos has been a major source of strength and guidance for Prince’s Trust International since its founding in 2015. He was the Chair of the charity’s Global Advisory Board, steering its strategic direction in its early days. He was also instrumental in establishing, piloting and growing Prince’s Trust International programs in Greece, where he opened doors, helped with fundraising, and was on hand to offer advice where needed.

Following the introduction of the dais, Archbishop Elpidophoros gave the invocation. Mike Emanuel, Fox News Chief Washington Correspondent, served as Master of Ceremonies for the event and introduced the Honorable B. Theodore Bozonelis, National Vice Commander of the Archons, who gave the welcoming remarks noting that the evening’s honoree, the Prince’s Trust, has improved the lives of over 1.1 million young people.

Will Straw, Prince’s Trust International CEO, spoke about the charity and read a special message from King Charles noting the expansion of efforts in 23 countries, including the United States- in the Bronx, NY, and on the South Side of Chicago, helping “young people achieve their full potential, its mission remains the same today to help young people into secure, sustainable jobs and enterprises… to build brighter futures.”

Straw noted that the organization “is truly humbled to receive the Athenagoras Human Rights Award” and announced “the creation of the Prince’s Trust Bartholomew Patrons to thank individuals who pledge $100,000 or more to our work in the year of His Majesty’s coronation,” recognizing Dean and Marianne Metropoulos as honorary Bartholomew Patrons, among others, and inviting all those present to consider joining the effort to help deserving young people.

Cappella Romana chanted a selection of hymns during the musical interlude.

National Commander of the Archons Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis in his remarks noted that after the invitation was sent, Buckingham Palace informed the Order that “as Founder and President, His Majesty King Charles III was delighted to hear of the very kind award to the Prince’s Trust.”

The Prince’s Trust is dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged young people. Its royal charter states that the Trust’s primary objective is “to promote by all charitable means the mental, spiritual, moral and physical development and improvement of young people, and to provide opportunities for them to develop to their full capacities and enable them to become responsible members of society so that their conditions of life may be improved.”

In recognizing the Prince’s Trust’s long and impressive record of philanthropy, Dr. Limberakis said: “The Prince’s Trust is a shining example of the Christian Faith put into practice, with innovative and effective programs that have helped over a million young people turn their lives around. The Trust’s selfless and generous work in Greece has greatly aided that nation and helped enable it to weather its financial crisis. His Majesty King Charles III has a profound understanding of the scriptural admonition to love your neighbor as yourself, and in the Prince’s Trust, he has brilliantly demonstrated the meaning and importance of that divine command. The Trust thus richly deserves to receive the Athenagoras Human Rights Award.”

A video presentation also highlighted the impressive achievements of the Prince’s Trust.

Prince Pavlos in his acceptance speech said: “I am delighted and honored to be here today to accept the 2023 Athenagoras Human Rights Award on behalf of our President His Majesty King Charles III for the work of the Prince’s Trust in Greece and all around the world.”

“This is an award for human rights, the right to work is a human right enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration every young person deserves the chance to be employed, to start their own business,” he continued. “Since adopting the program in Greece in 2018, we have been able to help thousands of young people re-engage with education, secure permanent jobs or set up their own businesses, even during the pandemic it was impressive to see young people in these programs securing a place of work. The programs focus on giving young people the skills and experience relevant to the labor market and where they live. Last year in Greece alone over three quarters of the young people who went through the employability program secured employment or continued their education.”

Prince Pavlos noted the entrepreneurial spirit of the Greeks and their success in the United States. “The entrepreneurial spirit is something that the Prince’s Trust is very keen to push forward. It’s wonderful to see the trust supporting entrepreneurs with scores of businesses in Greece already launched these young people are turning from job seekers to creating jobs, 99 business have already been launched in Greece through our programs.”

He mentioned King Charles’ idea of creating a “virtuous circle” and one business in particular, Hashtag Digital, launched through the Prince’s Trust enterprise program in Crete which grew “and returned to the Prince’s Trust as an employer partner offering job openings to young people who are out of work, thus closing the circle His Majesty was looking for.”

“During these times when our world is being tested, it is now more imperative than ever to stand by our youth in every possible way,” Prince Pavlos said. “Most recently all of us witnessed our ‘patrida’ Greece being hit by natural disasters such as biblical floods and the megafires that left thousands of Greeks in despair, in these moments solidarity and mutual support is the only way to move forward. These programs can help dislodged people find new beginnings. As we speak, millions of people are being impacted by conflict, it is necessary to stand by those impacted especially young people and try to rebuild communities and help them find their footing again.”

“Ladies and gentleman, an immense thank you to the National Council of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for honoring the Prince’s Trust with this prestigious award,” Prince Pavlos said. “I humbly thank you, God bless you all.”

The Archon Class of 2023 was also recognized at the event with the names of each new candidate for investiture read by Peter J. Skeadas, Archon Hieromnimon and National Treasurer of the Archon National Council. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity on October 22, the Archon Class of 2023 will be invested and presented with their Offikia and Cross of Saint Andrew.

In 1986 the National Council of the Order of St. Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America established The Athenagoras Human Rights Award. The Award is presented every year at the Annual Banquet of the Order to a person or organization, which has consistently exemplified by action, purpose and dedication, concern for the basic rights and religious freedom of all people.

The Award was named after one of the great Church leaders of the 20th century, the late Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Athenagoras I.

Previous recipients of the Athenagoras Award include His Beatitude Theodore II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa; His Beatitude Epiphaniy, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine; then-Vice President Joseph Biden; former President Jimmy Carter; former President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush; Nobel Laureate and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev; Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel; Mother Theresa of Calcutta; and the scientists who developed the COVID vaccines and treatments.