Vol.1, Issue 2 - Monday, September 3, 2007

A Message from the Supreme President

In This Time of Crisis, AHEPA Responds!
This has been a week of great sadness and great inspiration. Stories and photos from friends and family, fighting the fires in Greece, have several times brought me to tears. Yet, amidst this crisis and tragedy has come an amazing outcry of support and heartfelt acts of kindness and generosity from our membership and friends. Almost immediately, AHEPA Headquarters was flooded with phone calls and emails from members wanting to help.

AHEPA has been working around the clock to lead our community's coordinated response and to use our network of friends to build broader support for the relief efforts. We have been meeting with high level Greek and U.S. State Department officials, Greek community leaders, and our friends at the helm of national coalitions in the Armenian, Italian, Jewish and Serbian communities. We have raised thousands of dollars already though our website and organized volunteers and care packages to help in the fire stricken communities. We are doing everything we possibly can to ease the suffering in Greece.

But there's still much more to be done! As you read this, we hope the last of the fires are being extinguished and now the real work of rebuilding the lives and homes of our friends and families in Greece begins. Help AHEPA with our commitment to assist those in need. We can't do this without you. Below are three easy ways to help make a difference today.

Ike Gulas,
AHEPA Supreme President

Three Easy Ways You Can Help

Contribute to the AHEPA Emergency Greek Fire Relief Fund!
Contribute directly to the relief efforts in Greece through AHEPA's secure online contribution form. 100% of your tax deductible contribution goes directly to the local relief efforts in Greece. Please Give Generously!
Send a Care Package!
AHEPA is working to coordinate the shipment of care packages to Greece. Items needed range from clothes to tooth brushes. Get the Care Package Checklist & Instructions!
Help Spread the Word!
The fastest way to help spread the word is by forwarding this email to your friends and family. For those not yet online, simply download, print out and distribute these 4x6" Palm Cards, at your church or upcoming festival. It's a fun way to meet new people and show that you care! Find Out More!

AHEPA Leads Emergency Greek Fire Relief Efforts

AHEPA & US Ethnic Groups Band Together to Send Emergency Aid to Greek Fire Victims
Washington, DC - The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), the leading association for the nation's 1.3 million American citizens of Greek ancestry, and Philhellenes, announced the creation of a coalition effort to raise emergency relief funding for those affected by the recent rash of wildfires throughout Greece. ... read more

AHEPA Applauds U.S. Government Response:
U.S. Government Releases $1.2 Million in Aid to Greece
Washington, DC - Statement by AHEPA International President Ike Gulas about the relief package the U.S. Government will send to the people of Greece: ... read more

AHEPA Continues Efforts, Assistance to Greece:
High-level meetings with U.S. Dept. of State, Ambassador Mallias ... read more

AHEPA Sends Non-Perishable Care Packages to Aid Greek Fire Victims ... read more

AHEPA Organizes Volunteers, Firefighters, to Help In Greece ... read more

AHEPA Online Launches "Operation PalmCard Sunday" ... read more

News From Greece, Cyprus and the Patriarchate

Greece is building the next day, following the recent forest fires
Athens, Greece (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) -- August 29, 2007 -- In the past few days, Greece is facing - for the first time on such a scale - a serious challenge brought about by multiple devastating fires in many areas of the country.

The loss of human lives, the environmental disaster and the major damage to houses and infrastructure have caused great suffering. At the same time, this natural disaster has heightened our determination to immediately and effectively heal the wounds.... read more from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Last Main Greece Fire Is Contained
Athens, Greece (AP) -- September 2, 2007 -- The last major fire in southern Greece has been brought under control after flaring up again over the weekend, fire officials said Sunday. ... read more from Associated Press

Cyprus mission largest among international fire fighting teams in Greece
Nicosia, Cyprus (Embassy News) -- August 30, 2007 -- Cyprus has sent the largest firefighting mission of firemen and volunteers to Greece, to combat the huge blazes that have reduced vast expanses of the country to ashes over the past few days. ... read more from Embassy News

Ahepans in the News

Greeks, Italians contributed greatly to Norwich
Norwich, CT (Norwich Bulletin) -- September 2, 2007 -- Once upon a time, an accountant told me there are three nationalities who know how to run restaurants successfully -- the Greeks, the Italians and the Chinese. It is a fact that in the business world, most restaurants go bankrupt, but at least in the Norwich area, the restaurants that have succeeded were usually run by Greeks or Italians. ... read more

Merrillville old-timer enjoyed life in Independence Hill
Chicago, IL (Chicago Post-Tribune -- September 2, 2007 -- "I've enjoyed my life," said Bill Rimer, 89, at the end of a recent interview ... Rimer now calls the AHEPA senior citizen housing in Merrillville his home and likes to spend time at the Merrillville Senior Center, where I found him talking with a couple of other old-timers. ... read more

Greeks of the Week

Chris and Patti Arapoglou - Atlanta, GA -- This past week, hundreds of online donations came through our website, providing direct relief to our loved ones in Greece. AHEPA wants to thank everyone who are making this fundraising appeal successful. One of the first contributions received showed the spirit of AHEPA. Though we only asked for $20, Chris and Patti Arapoglou of Atlanta know how vital this important relief effort is for the people of Greece, and generously gave $1,000. By the smiles on their faces in the picture they sent, it's clear how blessed they've been. We'd like to thank them for passing those blessings on to the people of Greece.

Chris and Patti Arapoglou Demitri Kokkinis - Bethesda, MD -- Dimitri also heard AHEPA's call for help, and though a very young man, gave a very generous online contribution. While safe in the U.S., these fires still devastated Demitri's home ... his heart. Both his parents were from villages hit by the fires. His grandparents, still there, were saved by helpful neighbors. Dimitris wants to personally thank all Ahepans for contributing online, channeling money directly to the villages in Greece!