John Calamos, Sr. Honored at AHEPA Gala

John Calamos, Sr.

John Calamos, Sr. was honored recently by American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) Midwest, District 13. The award was conveyed at the group’s annual Gala, which centered around the theme of family. His daughter, Dr. Laura Calamos Nasir, accepted the honor on his behalf.  John’s father, Peter, joined AHEPA in 1928.

Calamos is the Founder, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Naperville-based Calamos Investments, a global asset manager (calamos.com). AHEPA presented him with the Aristotle Award, for his contributions to the business community over the past 46 years. John Calamos along with his wife, Mae, and the John P. Calamos Foundation were the generous underwriters of the current exhibition The Greeks—Agamemnon to Alexander the Great at The Field Museum, co-presented by the National Hellenic Museum (NHM) with companion programs and exhibitions at the NHM. He is also a member of The Hellenic Initiative and a supporter of a variety of Greek organizations and causes. A strong supporter of education, Mr. and Mrs. Calamos recently endowed two chairs at the Illinois Institute of Technology, his alma mater, one in business and one in philosophy.

The AHEPA gala is held annually to honor such outstanding contributors to the community. AHEPA has over 400 active chapters in the United States, Canada, and Europe that promote the message of responsibility, family, education, and community. The AHEPA family annually grants over $1.8 million dollars in scholarships and sponsors the Journey to Greece program for college students to study Hellenic culture while earning college credit. The AHEPA Housing program operates 92 housing units with over 5,000 apartments for the elderly. The AHEPA family has provided over $7.5 million in Greek relief with food and medical supplies while supporting Greek Orthodox institutions such as the rebuilding of St. Nicholas at Ground Zero, St. Basil’s Academy, and St. Michael’s Home for the Aged.

Dr. Laura Calamos Nasir accepting the Aristotle Award on behalf of her father, John Calamos, Sr.

Annually, AHEPA presents issues of Hellenic-American concern to political decision makers in Washington, state capitals, and local governments, including the annual Capitol Hill Day in Washington, DC.

The event also honored Rev. Dn. Chris Avramopoulos, philanthropist Eleni Bousis, Northern District of Illinois Judge Honorable Charles P. Korcoras, and U.S. Representative Peter Visclosky (First Congressional District of Indiana).