This year’s event featured as honored guests Archbishop Demetrios of America and Archbishop Eirineos of Crete who had just arrived in New York. Actress Anthoula Katsimatides acted as Mistress of Ceremonies, while Soprano Emily Duncan-Brown, Pianist Areti Giovanou and Violinist Marina Fragouli serenaded the participants through a bouquet of beautiful opera arias.
Nicholas and Kathleen Chimicles were the keynote speakers, offering a very moving synopsis on the life and marvelous accomplishments of the late Constantine Papadakis. Manny Velivasakis, the event’s co-Chair, also contributed to this special eulogy by reciting memories from his visit to Papadakis native village in Crete.

Stavros Soussou, the GAEPIS Chairman, opened the night and Metropolitan Bishop Evengelos of New Jersey did the Invocation.

The Board of Directors of G.A.E.P.I.S. presents the Award to a person (or an organization) in recognition of his or her efforts in the advocacy of Hellenism. The Award was inspired by the Athenian herald Phidippides, who, Herodotus tells us, was dispatched by Miltiades, in 490 B.C., to request the aid of the Spartans in defending Athens from the Persians who had landed at Marathon. Phidippides is said to have accomplished an incredible feat as he ran 200 kilometers in two days to reach Sparta. A few centuries after the battle of Marathon, it is Lucian, circa 170 A.D., who informs us that it was also Phidippides who ran to Athens to announce the victory to the city of Athens. Upon his arrival to Athens, Phidippides is said to have called out "Rejoice. We have won!" and then expired.

The dedication and stamina of Phidippides to deliver the news serve as inspiration to Hellenic Public Radio in its work to bring quality coverage of the political, social, and cultural issues that concern Hellenic-Americans and philhellenes.

COSMOS FM (www.gaepis.org) broadcasts under the aegis of the Greek American Educational Public Information System, Inc. (GAEPIS) -- a not-for-profit media, educational organization. GAEPIS was founded in 1987 to meet the needs of Hellenic Americans, serving the Hellenic-American community in all its diversity. By providing quality coverage of issues and informative and educational programs in both English and Greek, GAEPIS seeks to address the needs of recent immigrants from Greece and Cyprus, Americans of Hellenic descent and Philhellenes.