"We are very fortunate to count Brother Steve as a member of AHEPA and for all he has done for the organization in his 50-plus years of service to the community," said Supreme President Ike Gulas. "Most recently, Brother Steve served as General Chairman of the historic Athens Supreme Convention and he played an integral role in the success of the convention. Moreover, he continues to be engaged and interested in Greek American issues."
Betzelos, a lifelong resident of Chicago, served as Supreme President in 1988 and Chairman of the Board from 1999 to 2002. He was instrumental in raising funds for AHEPA's Cooley's Anemia Foundation in the 1980s with a telethon. Moreover, Betzelos served his country in World War II, in the Army Air Corps reserves, and later the Air Force reserves where he retired as a Major.
"There are no words with which I can convey that properly honor Brother Steve; however, I salute his service and proudly award him the AHEPA Lifetime Achievement Award," said Gulas, who added that Betzelos served as a mentor to him and countless other younger Greek Americans.
The AHEPA Lifetime Achievement Award was established to honor those individuals whose body of work and service to AHEPA are unparalleled. There are only five recipients of this highly coveted award.
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AHEPA is the largest Greek-American association in the world with chapters in the United States, Canada, Greece, Cyprus, and sister chapters in Australia and New Zealand. It was established in 1922 by visionary Greek Americans to protect Hellenes from prejudice originating from the KKK, and in its history, AHEPA joined with the NAACP and B'nai B'rith International to fight discrimination.
The mission of the AHEPA family is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and family and individual excellence through community service and volunteerism.
For more information about the AHEPA family, or how to join, please contact AHEPA Headquarters, (202) 232-6300, or visit www.ahepa.org.
