Endowed Scholarship Named for Baltimore Philanthropist Nicholas Tsakalos Announced
June 24, 2011
The Greek America Foundation launched several major initiatives during the weekend of the 2011 Gabby Awards in New York City. These initiatives will broaden the scope of the organization and allow it to impact more people in a positive way while maintaining it’s core mission of promoting Greek culture, history, heritage and ideals in America.
An endowed scholarship in the name of Nicholas Tsakalos was announced, launched with a $100,000 gift by the Baltimore businessman and philanthropist, with a pledge of an additional $100,000 coming from family and friends from the Baltimore-Washington Greek American community who wish to honor Tsakalos’ work in their community.
The idea for the endowed scholarship came from Chrysovalantis Kefalas, one of Greek America’s Forty Under 40 winners in 2010, who has since become an active member of the Foundation’s efforts and wanted to honor Nick Tsakalos in a lasting and meaningful way.
In the spirit of Pericles, who said "What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others," the Nicholas Tsakalos Endowed Scholarship of the Greek America Foundation will provide a student the life-changing opportunity to spend an entire semester studying in the land of his/her ancestors, Greece, in perpetuity.
The Foundation plans to host a dinner in September, during which time Mr. Tsakalos will present his $100,000 check and the remaining funds will be pledged by family and friends from the local community. The event will include special remarks by the legendary screen and theater actress Olympia Dukakis, who is a spokesperson for the Foundation’s efforts that surround programming for young people.
The Hellenic Legacy Scholarship Endowment Fund is an integral component of the Greek America Foundation. Launched after the first Gabby Awards in 2009, the fund has provided three full-semester scholarships for students to study at the American College of Greece in Athens, offering a stable academic environment, with the city of Athens and the entire nation of Greece available for the students to explore.
Applications are currently available for students wishing to apply for the Fall 2011 semester here.
