Foundation Founder and Chairman Chris P. Tomaras in his address to the audience revealed his future plans that include an endowment fund that will provide benefits to students in perpetuity, and a program titled “Birthright Greece” by which qualified American born students of Greek descent who have never visited Greece will do so on trips organized and paid for by the Foundation, so they can see for themselves and appreciate their heritage as such knowledge is their birth - given right.

This year, the Foundation received a record number of applications from all over the U.S with the largest number showing GPAs of 4.0 and higher. Of the fifty one award recipients, twenty five with documented financial need received a $10,000 scholarship grant each. The Invocation and a special prayer were offered by His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, while well known Greek-American actress and spokes model Patricia Kara served as the evening’s Emcee.

A second highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Foundation’s annual PARADIGM AWARD to world-renowned NASA Senior Planetary Scientist, Dr. Thanasis Economou, whose name is linked with most of NASA’s 50 year history. After accepting the award, Dr. Economou offered a fascinating presentation with images from space, including current NASA missions he is involved with.

Noted as Chicago Greek-American Community’s most illustrious social event, a number of clergy, political and civic leaders attended, including: Amb. Anastasios Petrovas, Consul General of Greece in Chicago, Alderman Richard Mell. Also in attendance were the Honorable Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer, the Honorable Judge James Booras, the Honorable Judge Peggy Chiampas, the Honorable Judge Anna Helen Demacopoulos-Kosmas, Mrs. Maryanna Spyropoulos, Commissioner of the Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Mr. Michael Halikias, Mr. John Calamos Sr., 2007 Paradigm Award Recipient and Chairman and CEO of Calamos Investments, Mrs. Eleni Bousis, President of the Greek American Rehabilitation & Nursing Centre, Mr. Demetrios Kozonis, Chairman of the Chicago Sister City - Athens Committee, Mr. Endy Zemenides, Senior Advisor to Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Vice President of The International Coordinating Committee "Justice for Cyprus", and Mr. Gregory Pappas, President of the Greek America Foundation.