History

HIstory

Welcome to Our District

AHEPA members are proud of the contributions the ancient Greeks gifted to Western Civilization. As Americans, we share many of the values put forth by them: civic responsibility, philanthropy, education, family and individual excellence, and the ideals of democracy.

This is the essence of our heritage. This is the core of our mission.

Our History

About the Order of AHEPA

The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) is the largest Greek heritage group in the world, and a major community service organization in North America. The AHEPA Family also includes a women’s group, the Daughters of Penelope, and two youth groups, the Sons of Pericles and Maids of Athena.
The AHEPA Family’s members are organized into more than 500 local chapters and 26 regional districts, each with elected leadership. Its joint U.S. and Canadian leadership is provided by its Supreme Lodge and a Board of Directors.
The central objectives of AHEPA are philanthropy, education, civics and the promotion of Hellenic culture and heritage through local, district and national efforts.
AHEPA also works to educate American policy makers and the public on foreign policy issues of concern to Greek Americans.
AHEPA has awarded millions of dollars in direct scholarships to more than two hundred thousand Greek American students over the past seventy years.
From 1995-96 AHEPA raised more than two million dollars in chapter, district, national, and foundation fundraising. Recent AHEPA national projects benefiting from the fundraising include the AHEPA TRIBUTE sculpture, which is now one of two major artworks permanently displayed in Atlanta in conjunction with the 1996 Olympics; the AHEPA Educational Foundation; major underwriting of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island restorations; and funding of medical research.

A Brief AHEPA Family Timetable

Established July 26, 1922, in Atlanta, Georgia to battle the evils of bigotry spearheaded by the KKK.
First President was Nicholas C. Chotas, an Atlanta businessman.
First National Convention held in 1923 in Atlanta.
Sons of Pericles established February 3, 1926.
Daughters of Penelope established November 16, 1929.
Maids of Athena established July 5, 1930.
U.S. War Bond Drive, World War II, raised $162 million.
Late 1940s saw seven AHEPA Health Centers become operable, including the AHEPA Wing of the Evangelismos Hospital. In 1951, AHEPA Hospital at Thessaloniki dedicated.
Completed AHEPA Hall for Boys, St. Basil’s Academy, with $92,000 raised, in late 1950.
AHEPA School Building, St. Basil’s Academy, completed in 1962, $245,000 donated.
In 1970, the AHEPA Athletic Program takes form. AHEPA Athletics include: softball, golf, bowling, basketball, with regional and national tournaments held annually. Each year, at the Supreme Convention, inductions are made into the AHEPA Hellenic Athletic Hall of Fame.
In the mid 1970s the AHEPA Educational Foundation is formed. Over $1.6 million contributed to scholarship awards and endowment funds in 1996 at the local, district and national levels.
AHEPA Cooley’s Anemia Foundation established in the late 1970s to issue grants to medical researchers and doctors to discover a cure for this disease. The foundation issued grants in the amount of $90,000 in 1997.
Dedication of three more AHEPA Hall for Boys, St. Basil’s Academy, 1981, $1.5 million donated.
AHEPA National Housing Corporation formed in 1983 to pursue housing projects from HUD. Today, HUD commitment to AHEPA National Housing Corporation has accumulated to $330 million. 44 projects are completed.
Over $400,000 donated from 1986 to 1991 for Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Restoration.
AHEPA Bone Marrow Registry established in late 1980s to help find donors for the bone marrow transplants.
$775,000 raised for Tribute to Olympism Sculpture dedicated June 1996 in Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park as a gift from Greek-Americans on the occasion of the Centennial Anniversary of the Olympic Games.

Past District Governors and Convention Cities

Year	Name	Chapter	Convention City	Host Chapter
1932	Dr. George Paskopoulos	61	Scranton, PA	84
1933	Phokion Sober	26	Reading, PA	61
1934	Phokion Sober	26	Chester, PA	79
1935	Chris Dromazos	26	Wilkes-Barre, PA	55
1936	William Essaris	68	Philadelphia, PA	26
1937	William Essaris	68	Scranton, PA	84
1938	Peter P. Kaldes	84	Lancaster, PA	71
1939	Arthur A. Karkalas	34	Wheeling, WV	68
1940	Arthur A. Karkalas	34	Allentown, PA	60
1941	Thomas P. Birris	34	Washington, PA	156
1942	Thomas P. Birris	34	Reading, PA	61
1943	No Convention.	34	DG Served until 1944.
1944	Aris Carpousis	61	Harrisburg, PA	64
1945	Aris Carpousis	61	Bethlehem, PA	65
1946	Peter J. Carres	26	Bethlehem, PA	65
1947	Peter J. Carres	26	Pottsville, PA	109
1948	Peter V. Paulus	34	Harrisburg, PA	64
1949	Peter V. Paulus	34	Lancaster, PA	71
1950	Spero Custis	322	Wilkes-Barre, PA	55
1951	Thomas D. Cook	34	Philadelphia, PA	26
1952	Thomas D. Cook	34	York, PA	322
1953	William Seras	55	Erie, PA	107
1954	Dr. N.S. Nicholas	26	Easton, PA	56
1955	William Zacherellis	84	Harrisburg, PA	64
1956	Peter A. Cardiges	34	Wheeling, WV	68
1957	Steve Depos	109	Scranton, PA	84
1958	Steve Depos	109	Bethlehem, PA	65
1959	Michael Manesiotis	34	New Castle, PA	87
1960	John Mandros	65	Wilkes-Barre, PA	55
1961	John Nicholas	64	New Kensington, PA	330
1962	Perry Chappen	84	Reading, PA	61
1963	George J. Gialas	116	Harrisburg, PA	64
1964	Gus W. Gekas	64	Allentown, PA	60
1965	William Makrides	432	Washington, PA	15
1966	Michael Kavoulakis	156	Philadelphia, PA	26
1967	Michael Kavoulakis	156	Pittsburgh, PA	34
1968	Charles T. Adams	79	Chester, PA	79
1969	Nick C. Morkides	26	Bethlehem, PA	65
1970	Nicholas M. Kappottas	435	Pittsburgh, PA	34
	(William V. Bell competed term)	65
1971	William V. Bell	65	Allentown & Bethlehem	65 – 70
1972	George P. Gabriel	60	Valley Forge, PA	432
1973	Michael S. Economos	34	Lancaster, PA	71
1974	Emmanuel Pelekanos	60	Allentown, PA	60
1975	William Makrides	432	Harrisburg, PA	64
1976	Peter Hombis	65	Chester, PA	79
1977	Spero Tsipras	432	Norristown, PA	432
1978	Dr. Constantine Elliott	60	Reading, PA	6
1979	Peter Pakuris	26	Harrisburg, PA	64
1980	Michael Firilas	60	Philadelphia, PA	26
1981	Dr. Demetrios Moutsatsos	432	Beaver Valley, PA	400
1982	James D. Tanos	445	Harrisburg, PA	64
1983	George Kaffes	79	Allentown, PA	60
1984	Peter Poneros	71	Lancaster, PA	71
1985	Steve Pahides	79	Chester, PA	79
1986	Nick T. Mavros	64	Wilkes-Barre, PA	55
1987	Louis Peronis	400	Chester Co., PA	484
1988	John Triantafillou	400	Reading, PA	61
	Served 6 mo. Gus Kaffes 6 mo.	79
1989	Gus Kaffes	79	Pittsburgh, PA	34
1990	John Herron	65	Bethlehem, PA	65
1991	John Herron	65	Chester-Delco, PA	79
1992	Gus Pappas	99	Allentown, PA	60
1993	Ed Shober Jr.	109	Harrisburg, PA	64
1994	Spiro G. Patton, Served 6 mo.	79	Radnor, PA	515
	Angelo Loulis 6 mo.	116
1995	Angelo Loulis	116	Lancaster, PA	71
1996	Paul T. Neal	515	Uniontown Monesson	116
1997	Cleon Kordistos	116	Beaver Valley, PA	400
1998	Basil N. Mossaidis	515	Radnor, PA	515
1999	Anthony J. Drakos	400	Chester, PA	79
2000	Anthony J. Drakos	400	Pittsburgh, PA	34
2001	Louis Peronis	400	Philadelphia, PA	26
2002	George Mervosh	34	Pittsburgh, Beaver Valley	34, 400
2003	Philip Yamalis	400	Atlantic City, NJ	Joint 4&5
2004	Peter Krelis	34	Allentown, PA	60
2005	Stamtis Loulis	116	Cannonsburg	156
	Served 6 mo. John Mesogitis	156
2006	William Kandianis	65	Bethlehem, PA	65
2007	John Mesogitis	156	Moon Township, PA	156
2008	Issak Sotolides	445	Pittsburgh, PA	District Host
2009	Jack McCabe	156	Wilkes-Barre, PA	515
2010	Jack McCabe	156	Coriopolis, PA	400
2011	John Kamp	445	Philadelphia PA	445, 26, 515
2012-13	Photi Skolikas	34	Seven Springs, PA	District 4
2013-14	Jim Gregorakis	400	Philadelphia, PA D4 & D5	District 4
2014-15	Jim Gregorakis	400	Philadelphia, PA D3 & D4	District 4
2015-16	Nick Voutsaki	400	Pittsburgh, PA	District 4
2016-187	Alex Barlamas	400	Bethlehem, PA	60 & 65
2017-18	Alex Barlamas	400	Ambridge, PA	400
2018-19	Charles Mackenzie	60	Grantville/Hershey, PA	D4 Host
2019-20	Charles Mackenzie	60	Virtual Convention	D4 Host
2020-21	Christopher Shaffer	400	Virtual Convention	D4 Host
2021-22	Harry Mackrides	432	Canonsburg, PA	156
2022-23	Harry Mackrides	432	Valley Forge, PA	D4 Host
2023-24	Christ Megoulas	64	Beaver Valley	Beaver Valley
2024-25	Christ Megoulas	64	Gettysburg, PA	DH Host

Welcome to Our District

Our History

About the Order of AHEPA

A Brief AHEPA Family Timetable

Promoting Hellenism

Since 1922

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