Libra Group Announces Internship Program with Greek America Foundation

George Logothetis, Chairman and CEO of Libra Group, a global conglomerate with diverse corporate holdings, took the stage at the 2011 Gabby Awards and made a major announcement about a new initiative his company was launching in partnership with the Greek America Foundation and the American College of Greece.

The new internship program will provide unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to young Greek Americans enrolled in college to participate in internships at Libra companies throughout the world.

Founded on the solid foundation of shipping, Libra has evolved under Logothetis’ leadership into a diverse group that spans shipping, aviation, renewable energy, hotels and real estate comprised of 30 operating companies on four continents.

Logothetis, a British national who recently relocated to the United States “not via Ellis Island but via a British Airways 747,” spoke enthusiastically about the hope and opportunity the internship program would offer young people in his adopted nation of the United States, as well as his own personal desire to help the younger generation achieve their dreams in his ancestral homeland of Greece.

In remarks that touched the audience – and given from an authentic Ellis Island podium which was used to process tens of thousands of immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s – he spoke of the Greek ideal of philotimo and noted that it was the foundation on which his entire business model was based.

The Libra internship program will be offered through the Greek America Foundation in North America and the American college of Greece in Athens. The initiative will offer students the chance to be placed in one of Libra’s company. Plans include launching the program with 20 slots in year one.

Applause greeted Logothetis’ remarks about the current situation in Greece and how he felt it a responsibility to do something:

“Given the current crisis that Greece is enduring, I believe that we, as Greeks, all have a higher duty to assist in any way we can. We should ask ourselves more how we can actively help Greece and complain less about how Greece cannot actively help itself,“ Logothetis said.

Logothetis also added that “One commodity in short supply right now in young people both here at home and in Greece is hope… elpida. We hope to inspire hope… We hope to show to a small group of young and hungry kids that it is possible, the future is bright and dreams are worth fighting for. Through this export and import of hope we aspire to inspire many more than just the students that will participate in the program.