NHS Announces Three Grants for Educational, Cultural Overseas Programs

WASHINGTON (March 6, 2012) — The National Hellenic Society (NHS), a foundation focused on the preservation of Hellenic heritage in America through the sponsorship of educational and charitable programs, is pleased to announce the approval of grants to three educational and cultural programs that provide Greek American students with the opportunity to connect with their Greek identity through a cultural immersion, study and camp programs in Greece.

The three programs that will receive NHS grants are: the AHEPA Journey to Greece Program, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Ionian Village Program, and the American Hellenic Institute Foundation Foreign Policy Study Abroad Program.

“It is vital to our community’s future for our youth to connect, or re-connect, with their heritage and culture,” said NHS Executive Director Timothy Maniatis. “Our mission involves the support of programs that provide invaluable opportunities for young Greek Americans to connect with their Greek identity by experiencing Greece.  The National Hellenic Society is a proud sponsor of each of these successful programs that help to accomplish this goal.”

NHS has provided substantial funding for these programs as means to expand student curricular activities and experiences including cultural and educational field trips to significant historical and religious sites such as the Parthenon, Temple of Sounion, Olympia, Meteora and the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the Phanar, Turkey.

Since NHS’ inception just three years ago, more than 900 young Greek Americans have benefited from NHS’ support of these programs.

The mission of NHS is to celebrate Hellenic heritage by sponsoring and organizing programs and activities that promote and preserve the values and ideals of our Hellenic culture thereby enriching our community and nation.