$17 Million AHEPA Gift Will Open Doors For A Generation Of Students

By Athena Efter on July 11, 2024

In March of 2024 AHEPA, America’s largest Greek-American philanthropic organization, announced it was the recipient of an historic donation of $17.3 million dollars from an anonymous donor. It was a transformational gift, one that would significantly boost AHEPA in its mission to promote Hellenism. It is also another touchstone in Basil Mossaidis’ successful two-decade tenure as AHEPA’s Executive Director.

Basil Mossaidis, AHEPA’s Executive Director

The gift was made to The AHEPA Foundation, Inc., the charitable arm of the organization’s programs and will be devoted – as per the anonymous benefactor’s request – towards scholarships for students of Greek ancestry who will pursue studies in the sciences, technology, and medicine. The assistance will be housed under The John George Tsitsos Scholarship Fund. Mossaidis reflected on its significance, saying: “This endowment has quadrupled our ability to support students in higher learning. Additionally, it provides a sense of permanency for the AHEPA Educational Scholarship program.”

The idea of “permanency” becomes significant as we move through the 2020s and many Greek-American organizations find challenges to sustain their relevancy in an evolving community. More and more Greek-Americans today are third-generation and beyond, the language and culture growing a bit more distant in their daily lives – not to mention the revolution of the information age. “The advent of computers, the internet, social media, and 24 hour news cycles have made organizations like AHEPA struggle to maintain and increase membership,” says Mossaidis.

So what does that effort look like? Well, the primacy of a well-funded scholarship fund is a magnificent opportunity. And a well-coordinated effort at the chapter level to bring in more and more younger members. “AHEPA’s strength lies within its chapters. We cannot dictate how that works in every community, but we try to motivate our chapter to host events to bring in younger people and to showcase their commitment to community service,” says Mossaidis. And, he adds: “The AHEPA is here to stay.”

But, there are also societal aspects that encroach on sustaining Greek identity and the core values AHEPA seeks to uphold. The recent political divide in America is foremost among them. Mossaidis finds the answer in finding common values. “I can clearly remember on of our past Supreme Presidents when he said ‘America was built for us, the Greek-Americans – not only because she accepted our principles of democracy and law – but because America allowed our grandparents opportunities to advance their families with education and rewarding careers,” he says. “I feel the same way. We must look back and find what makes us great Americans. That’s the only we will be able to maintain our heritage.”

Most certainly, Mossaidis has lived that example. Growing up in the Philadelphia area, he followed in his father’s footsteps in joining AHEPA as a young man – a road that led to becoming its Executive Director, a position he’s held since 2003. And, although, he and his family now live Washington, DC, he still maintains his membership at the St. Demetrios parish in Upper Darby, PA where he was raised – “The best church in America,” he boasts proudly. And his own role as a parent has had him reflect on what it means to be a Hellene. “It is more than knowing two Greek words; it is a flame in your soul that make you love all things Greek.”

Most likely, the answer to the preservation of Hellenism lies in simple altruism. And, that’s truly at the core of AHEPA and many other Greek-American organizations – the idea of paying it forward. A newer generation of scholarship recipients and members, through gratitude, will surely find a path to preserving the cultural identity and values of those who came before them. It’s a simple proposition. “If we help the young people, they will in turn remember us when it is their time to join,” says Mossaidis. And with the legacy of the new Tsitsos Scholarship, it will prosper for generations to come.

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