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The 11th Annual

GALA

December 2, 2023
NEW YORK CITY

SOLD OUT

Welcome

The Hellenic Initiative is proud to bring our 11th Annual Gala back to New York in support of Crisis Relief and Entrepreneurship opportunities in Greece. This year’s Gala will feature our amazing honorees, exclusive networking and upbeat entertainment. We hope you enjoy!

2023 Honoree

Ted Leonsis

Majority Owner and Chairman of the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, and Washington Mystics

Ted Leonsis is founder, chair, principal partner, and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, one of the world’s most valuable regional sports and entertainment companies with one of the most diverse ownership groups in all of sports. He owns and/or operates seven major and minor league teams, six entertainment and athletic performance venues, two media platforms and several additional ventures. Those include the 2018 Champion NHL’s Washington Capitals, the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the 2019 Champion WNBA’s Washington Mystics, Capital One Arena, and the broadcast and digital network with local TV media rights across all franchises, Monumental Sports Network.
He is also a cofounder and partner at Revolution Growth, a venture capital fund investing in growth-stage companies around the country that are disrupting multi-billion-dollar industries. He serves on the boards of governors for the NBA and NHL, the executive committee of the NHL, and the NBA’s blockchain advisory subcommittee, as well as chairing the NBA’s and NHL’s media committees. Leonsis also sits on several corporate boards, including American Express and Groupon.
In the 1980s, Leonsis launched six personal computing magazines. His early new media company, Redgate Communications, was acquired by America Online in 1994. After nearly 14 years as a senior executive at AOL, he retired from active management in 2006 and retains the position of vice chair emeritus. He is a Peabody- and Emmy-winning filmmaker having backed prominent features including Nanking and Willie, about the first Black hockey player in the NHL. His also wrote the bestselling book, The Business of Happiness: 6 Secrets to Extraordinary Success in Work and Life in 2010.
A committed philanthropist, through the Leonsis Family Foundation, the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation and his personal giving, Ted is actively involved with dozens of nonprofits – many are notably focused on stopping the cycle of hunger and poverty like D.C. Central Kitchen and the Capital Area Food Bank. Another large area of Ted’s work is in education, and he has made great contributions serving as board chair of the D.C. College Assistance Program (DC-CAP), a program which has fostered 14,000+ graduates and awarded $55+ million in scholarships to D.C. students.
Ted is also a long time Board member of The Hellenic Initiative, one of the world’s leading philanthropies focused on economic development as well as charitable endeavors in Greece.
Read More
A portion of the evening’s proceeds will go towards the

THI Summer Youth Academy

Empowering Underprivileged Youth
Together with Eurohoops, a renowned basketball organisation, we have partnered to create a new, unforgettable summer experience for 100 young people who deserve every opportunity to succeed.
LEARN MORE ABOUT EUROHOOPS

THI’s Previous Gala Honorees

2017

Mariana V. Vardinoyannis

ELPIDA Friends Association of Children with cancer, Founder & President

2017

The Libra Group

2016

METAdrasi

Founder, Lora Pappa

2015

John A. Catsimatidis

Founder, The Red Apple Group

2016

Together For Children

Vice President, Alexandra Martinou

2014

Peter G. Peterson

Founder and Chairman, Peter G. Peterson Foundation

2014

John Pappajoh

Founder, Pappajohn Capital Resources

2014

George D. Behrakis

Founder, The Behrakis Foundation

2015

The Agnes Varis Trust

Founded in 2011

2015

George Marcus

Founder, Marcus & Millichap

2013

Muhtar Kent

Chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company

2013

Andrew Liveris

President, Chairman and CEO, The Dow Chemical Company

2013

Andreas Dracopoulos

Director & Co-President, The Stavros Niarchos Foundation

2019

The Coca Cola Foundation

Nikos Koumettis and Beatriz "Bea" Perez, Founded in 1984

2021

Alex Gorsky

Chairman of the Board and CEO, Johnson & Johnson

2018

Paul Polman

Chairman and CEO, Pfizer

2022

Dr. Albert Bourla

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer

Gala Details

6:30PM    Cocktails and Silent Auction
8:00PM    Dinner and Awards
10:00PM   After party Entertainment and Dancing
Cipriani Wall Street
55 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005
Entertainment by the Jimmy Vali Band

Silent Auction

Right now, The Hellenic Initiative is auctioning off a number of fun and unique items ranging from trips abroad classic Greek cultural items! There is something for everyone!  All funds from this auction will go directly towards supporting families and funding programs in Greece. Auction closes on the night of the gala, December 2 at 11:00 pm.

VIEW ALL ITEMS AND PLACE YOUR BID

Thank You Sponsors

Gala Chairs

Andrew N. Liveris, Chair
George P. Stamas, Chair

Dean Dakolias and Monique Cusson
Ted and Lynn Leonsis
Corinne Mentzelopoulos
Michael G. & Robin Psaros

Vice Chairs

American Express
Gibson Dunn
JP Morgan Chase
Koudounis Family Foundation
Andrew N. and Paula Liveris
Dennis & Karen Mehiel
Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Pericles and Neda Navab
George P. & Georgia Stamas
Jeff & Penny Vinik 

Patrons

Aramco
Maria Allwin
George and LeeAnn Anderson
Michael and Christine Angelakis
Mark Affolter, James Miller, Michael Arougheti, Ares Management
Peter and Adrienne Barris
Drake and Maria Behrakis
Gary Bettman, Commissioner National Hockey League
Scott Brickman
Kenneth & Kathryn Chenault
Donn & Sharon Davis
Delta Air Lines
Demoulas Super Markets, Inc.
Theane Evangelis & James Kousoulas
Mina Faltas
Raul & Jean-Marie Fernandez
John D. Georges
Goldman Sachs
Stephen Greenberg, Allen & Co.
Peter Guber, Mandalay Entertainment
Jeff Skoll Group LLC
Sheila Johnson and Honorable William T. Newman
Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation
Jr. Bruce Karsh, Karsh Family Foundation
Jeong & Cindy Kim
Nikos Koumettis, The Coca-Cola Company
Ambassador Eleni and Markos Kounalakis
John & Suzanne Luetkemeyer
Dean & Marianne Metropoulos
Roger Mody
Jeffrey S. Moorad
Stephen & Judy Pagliuca
Curtis Polk, Hornets Sports and Entertainment
Russell & Norma Ramsey
David Rubenstein, The Carlyle Group
Cathy & George Sakellaris
Fredrick Schaufeld, SWaN & Legend Venture Partners
Adam Silver, Commissioner National Basketball Association
Starbright Floral Design
Teneo Holdings
The Nicholas J. and Anna K. Bouras Foundation
Kevin Virostek, Ernst & Youngst
Ted Virtue, MidOcean Partners

Supporters

Chris Ashton, Worley
Bank of America
The Boro Hotel
George Casey, Shearman & Sterling
Anthony Diamandakis, Citi
Dow
Alexander & Evee Georgiadis
Alex Gorsky, Johnson & Johnson
Tom Kartsotis, Shinola Detroit
McKinsey & Co
Michael Miebach, MasterCard
Polydor Foundation
Nick Scandalios
Simos Simeonidis, Delsona Therapeutics
SMBC
Soupata and Zervoulias Family Foundation
George & Grazia Svokos
Earl & Amanda Stafford
Stergios (Terry) Theologides
Vardinoyannis
Spiro & Roman Verras

Hosts

Dimitrios Athanasopoulos, AXIA Ventures
Kostas & Laura Alexakis
John and Mimi Anderson
Leon & Robyn Andris
Michael Bapis
Robert & Violeta Buhler
Neil and Marcy Cohen
Athanasios & Annie Damis
Jack Davies
Demetri & Lea Fifis
Michelle Freeman
Mr. Savas Konstantinides
Paul & Kelly Lountzis
Pedas Family Foundation
Dennis & Jamie Scurletis
Constantine N. Skarvelis

List as of November 27, 2023

Become a Sponsor

Chairperson

$100,000

Premium dinner seating for 20.
“Co-chair” listing in printed materials.
SOLD OUT

Vice Chair

$50,000

Premium dinner seating for 10.
“Vice-chair” listing in printed materials.
SOLD OUT

Patron

$25,000

Preferred dinner seating for 10.
“Patron” listing in printed materials.
SOLD OUT

Supporter

$15,000

Preferred dinner seating for 10.
“Supporter” listing in printed materials.
SOLD OUT

Host

$2,500

Preferred dinner seating for 2.
“Host” listing in the printed materials
SOLD OUT

Individual Ticket

$800

Individual ticket for THI’s Gala.
SOLD OUT

New Leader Ticket

$400

Individual ticket for THI’s New Leaders only.
SOLD OUT

New Leader Ticket on the Balcony

$350

Individual ticket for THI’s New Leaders only.
The stage view from the balcony is limited but screen view will be provided.
SOLD OUT

2023 Gala Chairs

  • Andrew N. Liveris, Chair
  • George P. Stamas, Chair
  • Dean Dakolias
  • Ted and Lynn Leonsis
  • Corinne Mentzelopoulos
  • Michael G. & Robin Psaros

2023 Host Committee

  • George Anderson
  • Michael N. Bapis
  • George A. Casey
  • Father Alex Karloutsos
  • Toula Livanos
  • Dennis Mehiel
  • Peter J. Poulos
  • Constantine N. Skarvelis
  • Lea Soupata
  • Princess Tatiana

Ways to Support

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About THI

The Hellenic Initiative (THI) is a global, nonprofit, secular institution mobilizing the Greek Diaspora and Philhellene community to support sustainable economic recovery and renewal for Greece and its people. Our programs address crisis relief through strong nonprofit organizations, led by heroic Greeks that are serving their country. They also build capacity in a new generation of heroes, the business leaders and entrepreneurs with the skills and values to promote the long term growth of Hellas.

THI Vision / Mission Statement

The Hellenic Initiative is a global nonprofit organization that brings together Diaspora Greeks and Philhellenes to invest in the future of Greece through programs focused on crisis relief, entrepreneurship, and economic development

750 Lexington Ave., 9th floor
New York, NY 10022
United States

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