NEW YORK – A fundraiser for Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney was held on June 10, via Zoom conference with many prominent members of the Greek community attending, including Michael Psaros, John Catsimatidis, AHEPA Supreme President George Horiates, American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis, Andy and Mike Manatos, and Lou Katsos, the host of the fundraiser.

AHEPA District 6 Governor and National Chairman of AHEPA’s Hellenic Cultural Commission, Katsos is also the Founder and President of the East Mediterranean Business and Culture Alliance (EMBCA), and President of the AHI New York Chapter. He introduced Rep. Maloney noting her dedication to serving her constituents and fighting for the serious issues of most concern to the Greek community as a champion of strong U.S. relations with Greece and Cyprus.

Rep. Maloney is running for re-election in the 12th Congressional District which includes Astoria and Long Island City in Queens; Williamsburg and Greenpoint in Brooklyn; and the majority of the East Side of Manhattan. She addressed the issues facing the city, state, nation, and the world during the pandemic and the protests against racial injustice, and noted the ongoing efforts in the House passing bills to help people in these difficult times. Maloney also thanked her supporters, many of them friends and members of the Greek community.  

Rep. Maloney is the first woman to serve as Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Joint Economic Committee in Congress, and is a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee and co-chair and founder of the Hellenic Congressional Caucus, a bi-partisan coalition of the Members of the House of Representatives that bring a focus on key diplomatic, military, and economic issues in Greece, Cyprus, and the Eastern Mediterranean.

She has delivered more than $10 Billion in federal aid for infrastructure to New York City, including the two largest transit construction projects in the nation, the Second Avenue Subway and the East Side Access project connecting Long Island Railroad to Grand Central Terminal. Her effectiveness in Congress in 2019 led to her ranking as the top leader compared to all Representatives, according to GovTrack.

A champion of strong U.S. relations with Greece and Cyprus, Congresswoman Maloney is outspoken on the issues concerning the community including the Turkish provocations in the eastern Mediterranean.

Maloney has fought for Hellenism, human rights and religious freedom, for the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. She was nicknamed “Bouboulina” after the heroine of the Greek Revolution, by Hellenes she represents, in the world’s largest Hellenic diaspora community. Maloney has been outspoken on Turkey’s violations of international law and illegal incursions into Greece. She also actively supports a just and lasting settlement of the illegal Turkish occupation of the Republic of Cyprus.

Following her remarks, Maloney took questions from the participants with many offering their thanks for her ongoing efforts for the community.

Businessman and philanthropist Michael Psaros praised Maloney, calling her “Axia” and noted that he will be returning to Maloney’s district soon. He gave an update on the progress of the St. Nicholas Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center, pointing out that the fundraising effort has been successful thanks to the efforts of many including Fr. Alexander Karloutsos and the leadership of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, and the work continues towards the opening in September 2021.

Billionaire John Catsimatidis said Maloney is a “commonsense Democrat” and that is why he and his family support her re-election campaign. He added praise for Maloney working with President Trump to secure the funding for the Second Avenue Subway to continue up to 125th Street, an important project bringing jobs and economic opportunity to the area.

Maloney concluded by thanking everyone for their support and generosity, noting that every two years the U.S. Representatives must run for re-election, and the primary election is June 23.