Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund to Celebrate 20th Anniversary with Star-Studded Gala & Leadership Workshops

The Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund will honor actor Gilles Marini, star of the hit ABC drama, Brothers & Sisters, and business leader Spiros Milonas, Chairman/CEO of Ionian Management, at its 20th Anniversary Gala at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel on Saturday, May 14, 2011. A superstar concert will also be headlined by Greek singing sensations Thanos Petrelis and Kalomira, as well as Sister Slede (“We Are Family”) and Harold Melvin’s Bluenotes (“If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” and “The Love I Lost”).

In celebration of its 20th Anniversary, the HTSF will also be sponsoring an exciting program as it takes its mission to the next level by inviting past honorees back for several workshops to inspire students with their various career dreams. The workshops will be held earlier in the day from 9am to 2pm at the NY Marriott Marquis, where the Saturday evening Anniversary Gala will be as well. Topics will include how to succeed in Business, the Dramatic & Recording Arts, Journalism, Law & Politics, Law & Real Estate, and Health & Medicine. Admission to the workshop is free with the purchase of a Gala ticket.

For 20 years the HTSF has awarded scholarships to over 750 students totaling nearly $2 million. It also endeavors to provide a once in a lifetime experience for these scholars by creating an unforgettable evening for them where they are recognized before a crowd of over 1200 people. Now, imagine what a thrill it would be for them to attend a workshop with pillars in the industry, who they can get first hand advice from.

The Business Workshop, sponsored by The John & Mary Pappajohn Scholarship Foundation, will feature business giants: John Catsimatidis (Chairman & CEO of the Red Apple Group), and Spiros Milonas (2011 HTSF Honoree and Chairman & CEO of Ionian Management.

The Dramatic and Recording Arts Workshop will feature Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis (2001 HTSF Honoree, who will also be on hand this year to present our Humanitarian Award to Gilles Marini), John Aniston (1997 HTSF Honoree and star of “The Days of Our Lives”), Frank Dicopoulos (2008 HTSF Honoree and star of Guiding Light) and International Recording Artists Kalomira and Kathy Sledge, who will both be back to take the stage at the Gala once again, having performed in 2009 and 2008 respectively.

P. Roy Valelos, M.D. (Retired Chairman and CEO of Merck & Co.), Caroline Monti Saladino (President of the Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation and daughter of 2000 HTSF Honoree Tita Scandalis Monti) and Mark Adams (an HTSF Scholarship recipient in both 1996 and 2002 and now Executive Chief Resident, Orthopedic Surgery at NJ Medical School) will headline our Health & Medicine Workshop sponsored by P. Roy & Diana Vagelos.

The Dream Team of Ernie Anastos (1992 & 2005 HTSF Honoree and Fox-5 News Anchor), Alexis Christoforous (2006 HTSF Honoree and CBS News Anchor & National Correspondent) and Nick Gregory (2006 HTSF Honoree and Fox-5 Metereologist) will speak to students in our Journalism Workshop.

In the Law & Real Estate Workshop, co-sponsored by Jim & Nora Orphanides, look for panelists Constantine Katsoris (Wilkinson Professor of Law at Fordham Law School), James Orphanides (2010 HTSF Honoree and Partner of Centurion Holdings, LLC and Chairman Emeritus of First American Title Insurance Company of New York) and The Honorable Nicholas Tsoucalas (1995 HTSF Honoree and Judge on the U.S. Court of International Trade).

The Law & Politics Workshop will feature Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Senator Mike Gianaris, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and the Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, who was also a 1996 Hellenic Times Scholarship Recipient.

Other past HTSF honorees will be participating in the evening’s program via video including 1994 Honoree and Emmy Winning Actor Michael Chiklis, 1995 Honoree Melina Kanakaredes (star of CSI:NY and Providence) and others.

Dinner Chairman and HTSF President is New York Attorney Nick Katsoris, General Counsel of the Red Apple Group. Katsoris is also author of the Loukoumi children’s book series. General Chairs are humanitarians and business leaders Margo & John Catsimatidis. John is Chairman if the Red Apple Group and Publisher of the Hellenic Times with his wife Margo, who co-Publisher of the Hellenic Times and an advertising executive in New York City, and they are active in numerous charities including the Police Athletic League, The National Alzheimer’s Committee, The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and others.

Ticket prices are as follows: General admission tickets are from $225 per person; Youth tickets are $175 (35 and under if purchased by April 29; $195 thereafter) and Student Tickets are also available for $150 with a valid student ID. Tables (including sponsorships of scholarships and workshops) may also be purchased as follows: Humanitarian Table ($50,000), Corporate Chair Table ($25,000), Vice-Chairman Table ($15,000); Tribute Table ($10,000); Benefactor Table ($7,500); Patron Table ($3,500).

For further information, to receive an invitation or to purchase tickets, visit our Website at www.HTSF.org or call 212-986-6881. Also Visit the HTSF on Facebook.