AHEPA
AMERICAN – HELLENIC – EDUCATIONAL – PROGRESSIVE – ASSOCIATION
ELLHNOAMERIKANIKH - EKPAIDEUTIKH - PROODEUTIKH - ORGANWSH
MISSION STATEMENT
The Mission of the AHEPA Family is to promote Hellenism, Education,
Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence
HISTORY:
The AHEPA was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 26, 1922 for the simple purpose of assisting all immigrants of Greek descent to achieve American citizenship. Through chapter “schools” of instruction, the members were able to learn the principals of American government and achieve proficiency in the English language. Also, members were encouraged to actively participate in the civic life of their American community.
In 1922, and in preceding years, practically all immigrants were the target of bitter abuse and unwarranted criticism, as well as grave discrimination from certain organizations, which blamed all of America’s problems on immigrants. The Greek immigrant was one of the last to enter this country and was included in these unjust attacks. The Order Of AHEPA set its goal to prove to its fellow Americans that these charges were untrue, unjustified and without any basis in fact. AHEPA provided the opportunity to all Americans to come to know their fellow Americans of Greek descent and helped clear the air of discriminatory accusations and charges. One of the first requirements for membership in the Order Of AHEPA was either to be an American citizen or to have made an application for an American citizenship. In these cases, AHEPA established committees to assist such applicants in quickly passing their examinations to become naturalized citizens. This work is even continuing today for new arrivals to the United States from Greece.
AUXILIARIES:
The Order Of AHEPA has three auxiliary organizations:
The Daughters Of Penelope (senior women’s auxiliary),
The Sons Of Pericles (junior men’s auxiliary) and
The Maids Of Athena (junior women’s auxiliary).
The Order Of AHEPA and its three auxiliaries make up the “AHEPA FAMILY”. There are over 1,000 chapters of the AHEPA Family throughout the United States and Canada.
CIVIC PARTICIPATION:
The local chapters of the AHEPA and its auxiliaries plan their own activities and participate in local civic affairs and projects. They are active in aiding and contributing to the major local fund drives of their own choosing, as well as in raising funds for AHEPA projects, such as fundraising for medical research to find a cure for Cooley’s Anemia, the Save A Heart Fund, scholarship programs, St, Basils Academy in Garrison, NY, the Deborah Heart & Lung Center in New Jersey, the Special Olympics, and the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island American Immigrant Wall of Honor. Combined the four organizations have contributed well over a BILLION dollars to national and local projects throughout their history. The AHEPA National Housing Corporation also provides affordable housing for the low-income elderly and disabled.
Dayton, Ohio CHAPTER #113
LOCAL HISTORY:
On November 1926, a traveling insurance agent in the person of Spiro Kansas, visited the City of Dayton, got in touch with most of the members of the Greek Community and sold them life insurance. However, he did more than that. He sold them on the idea of brotherhood and cooperation. He sold them the idea of AHEPA. In November of that year thirty Greek-Americans of Dayton assembled in the ballroom of the Beckel Hotel and were initiated into the ideals and principles of The Order Of AHEPA. Members from the South Bend (Indiana) chapter, with Rev. Louis Rocca presiding, conducted the ceremonies.
The first meeting of the new chapter was held in the back room of the Greek Orthodox Church at 15 South Robert Boulevard with the entire membership attending. Election of officers was the first order of business, with Brother James T. Leakas, George Steffens, and John Zonars being elected to the officers of president, vice president, and secretary, respectively. It was at this meeting that the second and fourth Tuesday of every month was designated as meeting night.
Carried away by enthusiasm of the membership, the Dayton Chapter was instrumental in establishing chapters in several neighboring cities: Middletown, Springfield, Cincinnati, and others not so near: Anderson, Muncie, Indianapolis and Kokomo Indiana.
In 1956, Ted Bourdouris, Dino Houpis, and Ted Leakas organized the first Dayton AHEPA Family Day, which has been held yearly, ever since. This event was so successful that eventually it came to the attention of the Supreme Lodge and was adopted as the AHEPA FAMILY DAY, a national event.
Our DAYTON AHEPA PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION has contributed well over $11,000/year towards Educational, Philanthropic, Cultural, and Local Civic causes.
AHEPA prides itself on the concept of FAMILY & INDIVIDUAL Excellence.
Our Hellenic history is one of which we should all be proud. The preservation and promotion of that history and the principles of Hellenism –basically man’s commitment to humanity-is one area where AHEPA has and always will be deeply committed.
As individuals we are all limited in the things that we can do in meeting our responsibility to our fellow man. However, it is when we come together as a group, organized and focused in our objectives that we can begin to realize the fulfillment of our mission. AHEPA and the AHEPA FAMILY is that vehicle to lead us to the fulfillment of our dreams.
We urge any individual that is interested in joining our brotherhood to contact Nick Zois, president of the DAYTON, OHIO CHAPTER #113, at 838-1411.
SUNEISFERONTAS GIA THN KALUTEREUSH THS ANQRWPOTHTAS
