Once in a Millennium, chaired by Honorary Chairman Mayor Rahm Emanuel, was a dazzling evening of celebration at the Rooftop Terrace in Millennium Park. Chicago civic leaders and socialites, representatives from Chicago’s Greek community, and Greek Americans from around the country were on-hand to welcome a fresh voice to the city’s rich cultural scene.
Emcee Lou Canellis from FOX Chicago News deftly guided the evening as guests enjoyed live entertainment and danced the night away to Greek and American music. Museum Executive Director Stephanie Vlahakis and Board Member John Calamos, Sr., both spoke passionately about what opening the museum means to them and the community.
The event was co-chaired by: Aristotle P. Halikias, Chairman, Republic Bank, and Museum President, with his wife, Lisa, Michael Marks, Vice President, Investments, Marcus & Millichap, with his wife, Betsy, and A. Thomas Skallas, Partner, Thompson Coburn LLP, and Museum Vice President with his wife, Christy.
Prominent attendees from the business community included: Mr. and Mrs. William Brodsky, CEO, Chicago Board of Options Exchange, John Calamos, Sr., CEO, Calamos Investments LLC and his wife Mae, John Koudounis, President and CEO, Mizuho Securities, with his wife Joanne, Peter Parthenis, Sr., Chairman, Grecian Delight, and his wife Ethel, Peter Fasseas, CEO and Chairman, Metropolitan Bank, and his wife Paula, founder and chair of PAWS Chicago, Michael Halikias, Chairman, Inter-Continental Real Estate and Development Corporation, and his wife Francesca, and John Vlahakis, President, Earth Friendly Products, Prof. George Kontogeorgis, former President of Panteion University, Athens, Anna Davlantes, FOX Chicago’s “Good Day Chicago”, Ioanna Efthymiadou, Consul General of Greece, Andrew Athens, Board President, hellenicare, Chris P. Tomaras, Chairman, Pan Hellenic Scholarship Foundation, Jane Monzures, WGN-TV’s “Healthy Living Chicago” and WLUP-FM, Art Dimpopoulos, Publisher, Odyssey Magazine, and Metropolitan Bishop Iakovos of Chicago.
Public officials in attendance included: Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President, Robert W. Fioretti, Alderman, 2nd Ward, Chicago, Ricardo Muñoz, Alderman, 22nd Ward, Chicago, and Alexi Giannoulias, Former Illinois State Treasurer.
The historic Inaugural Ball was made possible by the generous support of Inaugural Ball Grand Benefactors Calamos Asset Management, Republic Bank and the Halikias Family, and Peter and Paula Fasseas, as well as Inaugural Ball Benefactor Earth Friendly Products and the Vlahakis Family.
The National Hellenic Museum celebrated its grand opening on Dec. 10, 2011 with the opening of the special exhibit Gods, Myths and Mortals: Discover Ancient Greece. Kids play and learn in this engaging voyage back in time, navigating rocky caves and open seas on The Odyssey: A Hero’s Journey, belting out tunes in the Sirens Karaoke Cave, matching wits with Aristotle in a game of 20 questions, and climbing into a 13-foot-tall Trojan Horse. The Museum also features an oral history center and educational and cultural outreach programs.
The National Hellenic Museumis the only major museum in the United States dedicated to telling the story of Greek history, culture and arts from ancient times to today. The Museum connects all generations – past, present and future – to the rich heritage of Greek history and the Greek American experience. It is located at the corner of Halsted and Van Buren in the heart of Chicago’s famed Greektown. For more information, people can visit www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org or call 312-655-1234.
