This past weekend, the National Hellenic Society was pleased to be in Chicago as guests of the National Hellenic Museum for their Gala celebration!  The Museum and the NHS co-hosted a well attended VIP reception in honor of Doctor George Korkos, a Board Member of both organizations.  On the following day the NHS held its Board Meeting in collaboration with the NHM to explore mutual collaboration on joint projects advancing our shared mission to preserve and pass on Hellenic Heritage in America.  Following the board meeting, the NHS held a lunch reception with keynote speaker Lea Soupata, former Board Member and Senior Executive of United Parcel Service (UPS), who serves as a mentor to many of the Heritage Greece Alumni.  A mentorship meet and greet followed the lunch which also included Pan Hellenic Scholars.  On Saturday evening the National Hellenic Museum hosted their annual gala for their entire parea at The Geraghty in Chicago. 

The National Hellenic Museum (NHM) hosted its spectacular 2017 Gala on Saturday, May 13th in the magnificent Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier. This year’s Gala, themed “Stories of Our Journey”, celebrated the diverse stories of the Greek American experience -- the history that NHM collects, preserves, and shares every day of the year. Under a dome of twinkling lights, and surrounded by the magnificent Chicago skyline, over 650 Greek Americans gathered with their friends and family to celebrate their heritage and give to the Museum in the spirit of philanthropy.

Greek American Chicago sportscaster Lou Canellis served as Master of Ceremonies and began the evening by sharing how he had been inspired by his Greek heritage. Governor Bruce Rauner paid tribute to the contributions of Greek Americans to culture and society. NHM Board Chairman John P. Calamos, Sr. and NHM President Dr. Laura Calamos then spoke about how the Museum inspires and educates many generations of Americans through the NHM’s exhibits, classes, and programs. This year’s event also featured both silent and live auctions to benefit the NHM and its educational mission. After dinner, Greece's Elli Kokkinou and Christos Menidiatis brought the crowd to their feet as the gala audience danced into the night Όλοι μαζί (All together).

The National Hellenic Society (NHS) and National Hellenic Museum (NHM) programmatic collaboration on the traveling ​exhibit, “The Spirit of the Marathon” was showcased at the prestigious Museum of Science in Boston in celebration of the 119th running of the Boston Marathon. The Exhibit traces the history and impact of Marathon from its ancient roots, when the Greek herald, Pheiddippides, after a grueling 26.2 mile run, proclaimed victory over the Persians: defeat would have been an end to Athenian democracy and would have changed history.

The National Hellenic Museum and the National Hellenic Society hosted renowned author and journalist Nicholas Gage, in a fascinating and moving presentation, “A Writer’s Odyssey.”
More than one hundred guests heard Gage review his life’s experiences as a Greek immigrant, as well as a journalist, investigative reporter and foreign correspondent for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Associated Press.

NHS Chicago regularly holds meetings and events at and in collaboration with the National Hellenic Museum. Most recently, a reception was hosted in honor of the Museum’s Ambrosia Ball and the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (USA).