NEW YORK – For those in the know, Greek restaurants in New York have been “having a moment” for quite a long time. It is nice to see other media outlets “discovering” Greek restaurants from time to time, if only to remind the Greek community to appreciate even more the talented chefs and fantastic cuisine we often take for granted. Forbes recently published the article “6 Greek Dining Destinations in New York City” highlighting just a few of the top restaurants in the city. They placed Yefsi Estiatorio, 1481 York Avenue (at 78th Street) in Manhattan, at number one, followed by Anemos Estiatorio, 41-15 34th Avenue in Astoria at number two; and Under The Bridge, 1079 1st Avenue; Rodos, 37 West 24th Street; Fournos Theophilos, 45 W 45th Street; and Korali Estiatorio, 1662 3rd Avenue, all in Manhattan, rounding out the top six.

Yefsi’s chef and owner Christos Christou began at Molyvos, then was the executive chef at Milos before he ran the kitchen at Avra. The charming Yefsi serves homestyle dishes Christou grew up with in his native Cyprus. Among the classic dishes on the menu are zucchini croquettes, grilled sausage with black-eyed peas, and lamb souvlaki as well as delicious seafood options. The wine list includes many Greek wines to enjoy. For reservations by phone: 212-535-0293.

Forbes also spoke with Christou about his homeland and the best souvenir travelers can bring home from Greece. Christou told Forbes, “When I was growing up there, my parents were farmers, and we made all our own cheese, vegetables, raised our own animals, and my grandma owned a taverna. The island has amazing beaches, and while there are plenty of upscale restaurants, the best food you can get is at the local tavernas. The owners cook for you themselves and only have fish which was caught that morning.”

When asked what travelers should bring back from their vacation in Greece, Christou told Forbes, “Ouzo, that’s what I always bring back.”

Christou also runs the kitchen at Anemos Estiatorio in Astoria, Forbes reported, noting the seafood specialties on the menu, including plaki, and “whole fish, such as black bass from Montauk and red snapper from Florida, is exceptional.” As if another reason was needed to visit Anemos, live Greek music entertains on Saturday and Sunday nights. Phone: 718-255-6111.

Aptly named for its location beneath the 59^th Street/Queensboro Bridge, Under The Bridge features the home-style cuisine you would expect from a Greek taverna and a “by the glass” wine list with many Greek wines to choose from, Forbes reported. Phone: 212-583-0695.

Rodos, opened in January by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse and Yiannis Chatiris, Eleni Vareli, and the new consulting division of Lagasse’s company We Love Food Hospitality, “features traditional Greek favorites like grilled branzino and Greek salad, diners will also find choices that Emeril is more known for like duck wings and New Orleans barbecue shrimp,” Forbes reported. Phone: 212-989-8811 and 917-250-4613.

Fournos Theophilos features affordable, tasty, classic Greek pies including favorites like cheese and spinach pies, as well as Greek lunch bowls, salads, and desserts, making it a favorite spot for lunch in the area. Chefs and native Athenians Dionisis Liakopoulos and Yannis Tsiakos created the menu. Named for the artist who painted the bakery scene which appears on the restaurant wall, Fournos Theophilos offers a taste of Greece in Midtown Manhattan. Phone: 212-278-0015.

“While seafood is a staple of the Greek diet, Korali takes it to the next level by taking sourcing crustaceans directly from Greece several times a week,” Forbes reported, adding that the restaurant’s “Greek island feel,” makes it seem “like taking a mini vacation.” Besides its wonderful seafood, Korali also offers vegan and gluten free items on the menu and many Greek wines on its list. Phone: 646-964-5470.

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UPPER DARBY, PA – The Greek American Heritage Society of Philadelphia holds its first annual general assembly meeting, open to the public, on Monday, February 4, 7 PM at St. Demetrios Church, 229 Powell Lane in Upper Darby. Current and future projects around the community will be discussed and elections for the new board under the recently adopted and updated by-laws will take place. The meeting is a perfect opportunity to get to know fellow members and find out how you can participate in celebrating and preserving Hellenism around the Delaware Valley.

The annual Photo Tour, now in its fifth edition will take place on Saturday, March 16, 5:30 PM at the Stotesbury Mansion in Rittenhouse Square, 1923 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. This year’s premier event “Axia – A Celebration of Extraordinary Greek American Women” will honor and celebrate the extraordinary women of our community who have steadfastly contributed to our rich Hellenic heritage. These are women of resilience, courage, dignity, and creativity who excelled in commerce, philanthropy, medicine, arts, education for the last 100 years, some who may be familiar to you and others perhaps not. All are invited to attend this yearly affair that is like no other in Philadelphia. It is truly a unique affair that unites Hellenes and Philhellenes and roots us as Greek-Americans.

More information is available Eventbrite search: 2019 Photo Tour “AXIA -A Celebration of Extraordinary Greek American Women” and on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jE9WPIlwa8s.

The Greek American Heritage Society of Philadelphia is a volunteer-based organization with the mission of preserving and promoting Hellenism with a goal of inspiring social change and triggering personal growth by reconnecting both youth and adults to their heritage.

More information is available online: gahsp.org

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ALBANY, NY – Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, along with the Senate Majority Conference, passed the Child Victims Act (S.2440) and reformed New York State’s outdated statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. The Child Victims Act will raise the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse crimes by five years and raise the civil statute of limitations for causes of action brought by someone seeking redress for physical, psychological or other injury caused by child sexual abuse to age 55. Additionally, this legislation will create a one-year window, starting six months from the effective date of the bill, for past victims of child sexual abuse to initiate lawsuits against their abusers and the public and private institutions that let the abuse happen. The bill will eliminate onerous “notice of claim” requirements that create hurdles for victims to sue public institutions that negligently allowed the abuse to occur, during both the revival window and going forward.

Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris said, “Protecting the most vulnerable in our society is the moral test of leadership. By passing the Child Victims Act, the new New York Senate is standing up for people who have been denied a chance for justice.”

The Child Victims Act passed by the Senate Majority will:

Extend the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse offenses by five years, giving survivors until age 28 to press charges for felonies and age 25 for misdemeanors.

Extend the statute of limitations in civil actions arising from child sexual abuse, which currently range from one to five years at most, to allow survivors to bring suits until they reach age 55.

Create a one-year window during which presently time-barred civil claims could be revived.

Permit claims against both public and private institutions by explicitly eliminating the notice of claim requirement for bringing suits against public institutions both prospectively and during the revival window.

Provide training for judges handling cases involving the sexual abuse of children.

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BOSTON, MA – Thomas Leonard Phillips, originally named Athanasius Leonidas Philippides, died at his home in Weston, MA on January 9, a few months shy of his 95th birthday.

Born in Constantinople to Greek parents, Phillips immigrated with his sister and widowed mother to Canada in 1929 and then to the U.S. in 1936, settling in Boston. His mother married a Greek-American who ran a café there, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.

A poor kid from Mission Hill who excelled at the Boston Latin School, studied Electrical Engineering at Northeastern, he was drafted to serve in World War II, but the Japanese surrendered before he was sent to the Pacific theater, WSJ reported. He married Gert in 1944 and enrolled at Virginia Tech. Patty was born while he was still in the Army, and Bobbie while he was still a graduate student. He distinguished himself in electrical engineering and was eventually recruited by Raytheon on a tip from his buddy John Goode. Phillips spent his entire career at Raytheon, rising rapidly through the leadership ranks based on his intellect, discipline and integrity. He was always a modest man and liked to remind people that he got some breaks along the way, including the mentorship of T.C. Wisenbaker and Charles Francis Adams IV. He served as CEO from 1968 to his retirement in 1991, adding the Chairman title in 1973.

Phillips served on the boards of many corporations and foundations, including John Hancock, Digital Equipment Corp, Knight Ridder, Mass General and the Joslin Diabetes Center, as well as Gordon College, where he endowed the Phillips Music Center in 2000. Phillips was a devout Christian, and he believed deeply in the importance of faith in everyday life. He also believed in the value of a liberal arts education, and with Raytheon he endowed the Phillips Scholarship Fund at the Boston Latin School in 1992. For over forty years, Phillips hosted monthly First Tuesday breakfasts, assembling local businesspeople and friends to develop personal and professional leadership in his Christian community.

A lifelong athlete, Phillips grew up on the basketball court, was a formidable tennis player, a competitive squash player well into his sixties, and a devoted golfer in his later years. Through his nineties, he rode his stationary bike several times a day. His competitive drive in sports was undiminished to the end and played out in hourless games of Rummikub with children, caregivers, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Services were held at the Trinitarian Congregational Church in Wayland, MA, on January 20.

Phillips is survived by his four children and their spouses, Patty and Bob Fraser of Concord, MA, Bobbie and Dan Suratt of Wellesley, MA, Debbie Phillips and Lee Robertson of Rye, NY, and Tom Phillips and Ellen Hopkins of New York, NY. He is also survived by his eleven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Phillips was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 73 years, Gertrude Van Iderstine Phillips.

Phillips achieved the pinnacle of business success as Chairman and CEO of Raytheon Company, where he spent his entire professional career. But he is remembered most by the legions of people he touched and influenced for his values and generosity, which have left a lasting legacy for his family. His family was preeminent in his life, and he loved bringing everyone together, providing experiences that created a lifetime of memories. In his last thirty years, he looked forward to frequent visits and calls as the family grew up and spread around the world.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in Phillips’ honor may be made to the Phillips Scholarship Fund at the Boston Latin School, www.blsa.org (go to Giving/Donate and please note the Phillips Scholarship Fund in the comments box). The mailing address is Boston Latin School Association, 27 School Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02108.

(Material from the Boston Globe obituary, published Jan. 13, was used in this report.)

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ALBANY, NY – Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris and the Senate Majority Conference on January 23 passed the New York State DREAM Act (S.1250). This legislation will allow undocumented children, who are already students in New York State, the ability to qualify for state aid for higher education, create a Dream Fund for college scholarship opportunities and remove barriers that prevent undocumented families from college saving programs. Allowing undocumented youths to access financial assistance will enable them to earn degrees, access highly skilled employment and support their local economies across New York State.

Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris said, “As a child of immigrants, I know firsthand how the contributions of immigrant families enrich our communities. Passing the DREAM Act commits New York to delivering on the promise of a better life to another generation. The new New York Senate is fighting for our immigrant neighbors and will not deny anyone the opportunity to succeed.”

The DREAM Act will:

Create a DREAM fund commission and a DREAM fund in order to advance the educational opportunities of the children of immigrants by providing scholarships to college bound students.

Eliminate potential financial obstacles to obtaining State financial aid and extends the opportunities for undocumented students to attend higher education institutions.

Eliminate barriers for immigrant aliens to save for their families higher education expenses by allowing such individuals to open a New York State 529 family tuition account under the New York State College Tuition Savings Program and/or be a designated beneficiary on an account if they have a taxpayer identification number.

Video of Senator Gianaris’ floor speech on the DREAM Act is available here: https://youtu.be/YGyrhLAns1c.

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PETERSBURG, FL – Billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis, owner, president and CEO of Red Apple Group, said of the plan to construct a 50-story tower in St. Petersburg, “I’m going to be personally invested in it, and I want everybody in St. Pete to be proud of it,” the Tampa Bay Times (TBT) reported.
“Don’t forget: We have the cash,” Catsimatidis, 70, added. “We don’t need other people’s funding. We’re capable of writing a check.”

Red Apple Group purchased the 2.3-acre site in 2017 for $16.5 million, the TBT reported, adding that the plans for 325 condos and 200 hotel rooms were unveiled in a New York Times advertisement on January 17.

Catsimatidis said the plans are about “95 percent solid,” TBT reported.

According to Forbes, Catsimatidis’ net worth is $3.1 billion, allowing him a great measure of freedom as a real estate developer.

Other developers would have to “presell around 60 percent of the units to secure construction financing and break ground” on the downtown St. Petersburg project, “the most pioneering stand-alone project proposed in the Tampa Bay region” with construction costs estimated at about $250 million, TBT reported.

Catsimatidis told TBT that “the units will likely be priced from $1 million.”

He told the Tampa Bay Business Journal, “I’m building it to be able to proud of it, and if I’m not proud, I’m not doing it. I’m going to be personally invested in it, and I want everybody in St. Pete to be proud of it.”

A general contractor has not been chosen to date, and files have not yet been filed formally with the city, but Miami-based Arquitectonica is the project’s architect.

Catsimatidis began in the supermarket business, perhaps best known for the New York City chain Gristedes. His work in real estate development accounts for 15-20 percent of his business, according to the New York Times, TBT reported.

At the EMBCA’s fall panel discussion which was in honor and memory of renowned architect Costas Kondylis, Catsimatidis said, “the buildings built by creators and visionaries, you look at it and you say ‘Wow, I want to live there,’ and those are the kind of buildings I want to create and build. We built one like that on Myrtle and Flatbush Avenues [in Brooklyn] and it’s beautiful and I’m proud of it.”

At a previous panel discussion, he spoke about his Coney Island towers project, built on the waterfront in Brooklyn, noting that he argued with his people over balconies for each unit. Catsimatidis said, “You can’t live on the ocean without a balcony,” adding that he builds buildings that he would want to live in. At that time, he pointed out that the St. Petersburg/Tampa area of Florida is a “hot, growing area,” for development.

“He’s been visiting St. Pete for more than 30 years,” TBT reported, adding that Catsimatidis “thinks the city will continue to evolve,” with hundreds of people willing to spend the requisite amount of money to move into the new tower.

“I’m willing to write my own checks, and I believe we’re going to do well. Maybe I won’t make a lot of money, but we’re not gonna lose money. I think people from the Midwest and high tax states are going to continue coming on down,” Catsimatides said, TBT reported.

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NEW YORK – The Hellenic-American Cultural Foundation (HACF) hosts its latest event at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 W 67th Street in Manhattan, on February 21, 7 PM with Kiki Karoglou, Associate Curator in the Department of Greek and Roman Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, presenting the exhibit she curated, Dangerous Beauty: Medusa in Classical Art. The exhibit, originally on view at The Met until January 6, has been extended through February 24.

Beginning in the fifth century B.C., Medusa — the serpentine-haired Gorgon whose gaze turned men to stone — became increasingly anthropomorphic and feminine, undergoing a visual transformation from grotesque to beautiful. A similar shift in representations of other mythical female half-human beings, such as sphinxes, sirens, and the sea monster Scylla — took place at the same time. Featuring sixty artworks, primarily from The Met collection, this exhibition explores for the first time how the beautification of these terrifying figures manifested the idealizing humanism of Classical Greek art, and traces their enduring appeal in both Roman and later Western art. The Winter 2018 issue of the Met Bulletin was devoted entirely to this exhibit.

A reception with Kiki Karoglou will follow the program.

Please note, only registered attendees will be admitted to this event. No walk-ins will be permitted.

Due to the overwhelming number of acceptances to attend the “Dangerous Beauty” event, it was relocated to the Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Music Center in order to accommodate more attendees.

Please note, however, interested persons will now need reserved tickets (at no charge). For those who have already responded that they will attend, do not have to do anything further, as the tickets in your name will be held at the box office at Merkin Hall.

For those who have not yet responded and wish to attend, please reserve your ticket online or by contacting the ticket office at Merkin Hall, 212-501-3330.

In the past, HACF has had a substantial number of people reserve places but ultimately not show up for the event. This creates a serious problem for planning for attendance numbers and the reception. HACF asks that if you realize you will be unable to attend, to please let them know as soon as possible prior to the date of the event, to avoid foreclosing others’ ability to attend.

The Hellenic-American Cultural Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, was established to promote high quality and relevant educational and cultural programs, concerts, lectures, exhibitions, and similar events for all persons interested in the history, culture and affairs of Greece and its people and the Greek Diaspora.

More information is available online: hacfoundation.org.

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NEW YORK – On January 27, the Hellenic Film Society USA presented two screenings of Maria By Callas, the first feature length documentary to tell the life story of the legendary Greek-American opera singer entirely in her own words at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. Hellenic Film Society USA President James Demetro, spoke with The National Herald about the screenings, the film itself, and the Always on Sunday film series which is drawing crowds to enjoy Greek films.

He told TNH, “Something amazing is happening at the Museum of the Moving Image. People are turning out in huge numbers to see the films in the Always On Sunday monthly screening series presented by the Hellenic Film Society USA and the Museum of the Moving Image. One sell out after another. The series has been such a success that we have already reached an agreement to extend it well into 2020 and who knows how much beyond that!

“One of the goals I wanted very much to achieve was to establish a permanent presence for Greek cinema in New York, and Always On Sunday is doing just that.

“People come up to me after the screenings– many of them total strangers. They tell me how much they enjoy the films and they thank the HFS for making it possible for them to see them. This is just incredible to me. People are actually grateful.”

Demetro continued, “One lady last night came up to me and said that she comes to the screenings because she knows she will see something of quality. That’s wonderful to me but also somewhat frightening. We have a responsibility to the public to bring to them the best of what is available. It is impossible to find a film that all 275 people sitting in a theater will love.

“Nobody can do that. But you can’t insult your audience’s intelligence by showing junk.

If they can say the film was interesting and worth seeing, that’s more than enough for me.

“Most noteworthy as well is something that happened at the 6 pm show last night. When the names of the benefactors of the Hellenic Film Society appeared on screen, the audience broke out into prolonged applause. I have been working on festivals for more than 12 years, and I’ve never seen that happen. The audience was thanking the people, the foundations, the businesses that pay to make what we do happen. I find that touching.”

Demetro told TNH, “As for the Callas film, what can I say? We gathered to celebrate one of our own– New Yorker, Greek-American, legend. La Divina! Every time she finished an aria in the film, I wanted to applaud. I cry when I hear her sing Vissi d’arte from Tosca. Lots of sopranos do it well. Nobody does it like Callas.

“Nektarios Antoniou, himself a formidable baritone, added substantially to the screenings’ pleasures with his comments focusing on what Callas’ contemporaries had to say about her very special talent. The voice was not always perfect, but the total effect was always mesmerizing.

“Another surprise is the image of Callas that the film projects. Instead of the self-indulgent tempestuous diva that the press created during her lifetime, the film shows an elegant, intriguing woman of beauty, intelligence, and emotional depth. That’s a nice way to remember her. I am old enough to have seen Callas live on stage, but I unfortunately never did. We had many of the recordings at home. I still have those LPs. But watching as well as hearing her sing in the film is more special than the recordings. There is no doubt in my mind that everybody who saw the documentary left the theater with an increased and lasting awareness of what great singing is all about,” Demetro concluded.

More information about the Hellenic Film Society USA and the Always On Sunday film series is available online: hellenicfilmusa.org.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged people to stay off western New York roads Wednesday as authorities dealt with an arctic blast that caused whiteout conditions and was expected to create dangerously low windchills.

“Stay off the roads. Let the plows do their work,” he said while joining state and local officials for a news conference at a state Department of Transportation facility in the Buffalo suburb of Cheektowaga.

Cuomo said there was already 11 inches of snow on the ground by late morning, with up to 2 feet expected by the time the storm ends. High winds and plunging temperatures will create dangerous conditions that “should not be taken lightly,” he said.

Travel bans for tractor-trailers and buses remained in effect for several western New York highways. Those vehicles were also banned from traveling on the northern stretch of Interstate 81 from I-90 at Syracuse to the Canadian border starting at noon Wednesday, Cuomo said.

Erie County officials said crews responded to accidents overnight and Wednesday. WKBW-TV in Buffalo reported some truckers ignored the tractor-trailer ban on major highways. But others were on board with it.

A blast of wind on the highway could “turn you sideways or flip the truck completely over,” trucker Steve Lorber said.

Winds gusting to 35 mph will make it feel like 20 to 30 below zero on Thursday, the National Weather Service said.

The storm will affect all of upstate New York, but downstate areas won’t be hit as bad, allowing officials to deploy snowplows from the New York City region if needed, Cuomo said.

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STATEN ISLAND, NY – The Feast of the Three Hierarchs and the Greek Letters were celebrated by the Greek and parochial schools of the Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas community of Staten Island on  January 25 at the Katsoris Hellenic Center.

At the event, co-organized by the Parent Teachers Association and the Philoptochos Society, the students made handicrafts related to the Orthodox Christian faith, enjoyed participating in various activities, read, and finally received a book of Aesop’s Fables.

Philoptochos President, Diana Vernados told The National Herald that this beautiful event started 10 years ago by the society in order to honor the memory of the Three Hierarchs, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom, whose work, as she noted, all, students, parents, and teachers must continue.

PTA President Paraskevi Lagkis, thanked the members who contributed to the celebration’s success and congratulated the children for their participation.

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NEW YORK – In celebration fo the Feast of the Three Hierarchs and Greek Letters Day on January 30, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America released the following encyclical:

To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We give glory and thanksgiving to God on this blessed commemoration as we honor the memory of three holy luminaries who continue to guide and inspire us through the wisdom of their teaching and the sanctity of their lives.  Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom, recognized in the tradition of our faith as the Three Great Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers, offer to us through the witness of their lives beautiful examples of commitment to God and service to Him and others through the power of His divine love.  Through their work as pastors and faithful stewards of the people of God, they are true images of the grace revealed to us by Christ.  As skilled and prayerful theologians, they show us that the path of faith and truth is followed by those who are transformed by God’s love and offer it to others.

The Three Hierarchs understood and experienced the love of God as revealed in Christ, and this love was the foundation of their service and teaching.  In advancing and applying the work of earlier theologians and defenders of the Christian faith, they often used the word philanthropia to express the relationship of God’s love for us to our calling to show this love in our response to the needs of others.  Basil the Great uses the word philanthropia when speaking of God’s revelation through Christ, “Shall it strike us with amazement at the mighty power and love to humankind of the Savior, in that He both endured to suffer with us in our infirmities and was able to come down to our weaknesses” so that He might end our “conflict with death” and give us “freedom from suffering.” (On the Spirit)

Gregory the Theologian addresses the love of God for us throughout many of his writings, and he expresses the meaning of philanthropia as the “manifold love of God toward humankind” in following the use of the word by the Apostle Paul in his letter to Titus.  In his exhortation Paul states, But when the goodness and lovingkindness of God appeared, He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy…which He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that we might be justified by His grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)

For the Three Hierarchs the revelation of the abundant and saving love of God through Christ and His love for humankind was the foundation of our love for others.  The grace revealed should be known and expressed through our response in love to the needs of our fellow human beings.  St. John Chrysostom also used the word philanthropia to express this essential truth of our faith.  At the conclusion of many of his homilies, he exhorted his hearers to be filled with the “grace and love for humanity of Jesus Christ.”  Chrysostom also shared with his other contemporaries the understanding that our philanthropia is our response to the grace of God expressed through our worship and through the Holy Eucharist.   As our worship is an expression of love, and as through the Eucharist we receive the love of God, that love guides us to confirm our shared humanity and respond to the poor, the sick, and any who have need.  For Chrysostom, just as the love of God for us has no boundaries, our philanthropia should be unlimited.

The use of the word philanthropia by the Three Great Hierarchs affirms another aspect of our commemoration of this day.  Our tradition is to join the feast of these Saints with the celebration of Greek Letters Day in recognition of the rich and beautiful connections between our Orthodox faith and our Hellenic heritage.  This relationship is deep and meaningful in so many ways, especially in language.  Philanthropia in ancient Greek culture was seen as a primary virtue of rulers, embodying the expression of benevolence and kindness to their subjects.  Following its use by the Apostle Paul, the word was applied by Christian theologians, and as seen above, by the Three Hierarchs to describe both the love of God for humanity and the love we should also have and share for humanity.  On this day of Greek Letters, we have before us a beautiful example of how language and its application can expand the meaning of our faith and broaden our understanding of our relationship with God and our calling to be witnesses of His Grace.

In our celebration of this Feast of the Three Hierarchs and our observance of Greek Letters Day, let us be thankful for the relationship of our faith and heritage and the multitude of connections that we see and experience.  In our philanthropia toward others, may we continue to share this relationship as we engage and understand our human experience and purpose, and especially as we are witnesses of God’s limitless and transforming love that is offered to each and every human being.

With paternal love in Christ,

†  D E M E T R I O S
Archbishop of America

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ATHENS – Fourteen Greek agencies and companies submitted proposals in response to an invitation from the Hellenic Space Agency (ELDO), as part of its submission for participation in NASA’s “Invitation to Exploration Campaign” for a mission to explore the Moon, ELDO announced on Tuesday.
Those responding to the invitation included Greek state agencies, academic institutions, private companies and independent researchers from all over Greece, who submitted high-level proposals that will form the backbone of the Greek participation in the mission.

The 14 proposals submitted concern the moon cubesats microservice modules, the construction of photo-taking algorithms, the creation of conditions for cultivating food in space, mining applications on the Moon’s surface, the design and use of spectroscopic instruments and calibrators for the safety of astronauts and moon settlers, as well as general operating mechanisms for deep space communications, the specifications for human habitation systems and chemical analysis systems for the soil and Moon environment, which were considered to be extremely interesting and were presented by ELDO to NASA, in the context of their cooperation in this field.

The 14 proposals were submitted by:

The academic institutions:

1. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

2. Agricultural University of Athens

3. Democritus Polytechnic

4. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

5. National Technical University of Athens

6. Technical University of Crete

7. University of Patras

The research centres:

1. National Observatory of Athens

2. National Demokritos Research Center

Private companies, including:

1. ADVEOS

2. Diopsis

3. Mechatronics

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NEW YORK – Researchers in the UK, led by Cambridge University’s Dr. Antonis Antoniou, recently published a study revealing their work in developing a tool to assess the risk of breast cancer in women to help determine whether or not screening is needed, the Guardian reported.

Published in Genetics in Medicine, the study, entitled “BOADICEA: a comprehensive breast cancer risk prediction model incorporating genetic and nongenetic risk factors,” came to the conclusion that “this comprehensive model should enable high levels of breast cancer risk stratification in the general population and women with family history, and facilitate individualized, informed decision-making on prevention therapies and screening.”

BOADICEA, stands for the Breast and Ovarian Analysis of Disease Incidence and Carrier Estimation Algorithm, and the risk model has been updated “to include common genetic risk factors for breast cancer,” GenomeWeb.com reported, adding that “the model previously included the cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, CHEK2, and ATM.”

Dr. Antoniou said, “This is the first time that anyone has combined so many elements into one breast cancer prediction tool,” the Guardian reported, noting that “this should help doctors to tailor the care they provide depending on their patients’ level of risk. For example, some women may need additional appointments with their doctor to discuss screening or prevention options and others may just need advice on their lifestyle and diet.”

“We hope this means more people can be diagnosed early and survive their disease for longer, but more research and trials are needed before we will fully understand how this could be used,” Dr. Antoniou said, the Guardian reported.

The researchers are hoping general practitioners in the UK will begin testing the tool this year and “if the calculator works well, it could lead to more of those at risk being identified early, when they could be successfully treated,” and “it would also mean that breast cancer screening, through mammograms, could be more accurately targeted,” the Guardian reported.

The tool could also help women decide whether or not to be screened at all if their risk is very low or if they have concerns about false positive results, the Guardian reported. Genetic, familial, and lifestyle data are taken into account to determine the level of risk for the individual.

The post Researchers Led by Greek Scientist Develop Tool to Help Determine Risk of Breast Cancer appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – Ajax the Movie LLC is currently developing a feature-length film called The Origins of Ajax, an entertaining English-language comedy/tragedy set in Greece. Production is set to begin in the Peloponnese this May. Described as “Little Miss Sunshine set in spectacular Greek landscapes,” the film is intended for audiences of all ages, for U.S. and international theatrical exhibition, and distribution in all media.

A co-venture between New York-based Ajax the Movie LLC and Athens-based Blonde Films, the film follows Ajax, a troubled 27-year-old Greek-American from New York, returning to Greece for the first time since a childhood holiday tragedy. As he and his travel mate set out on a suspenseful, hilarious, and heartbreaking road trip across Greece, Ajax is confronted by funny and terrifying mythological hallucinations.

The filmmaker, Gabrielle Pfeiffer spoke to The National Herald about the film and shared photos she took herself while scouting locations in Greece.

Pfeiffer told TNH, “The project is currently in development and the Greek community has already offered support in a variety of ways.

“Since the film has a number of scenes which are centered around Greek food and the importance of eating together, celebrity chef Maria Loi became interested in the project and has been a great support. She has also agreed to play a delightful, small role as a taverna owner.”

She continued, “Since the story concerns Ajax visiting a number of ancient Greek theaters, I met with Diazoma, the Athens-based association that takes care of ancient theaters across Greece, and worked with their support to identify theaters that fit our story and that we could shoot in. I scouted approximately 12 ancient theaters across Greece and interviewed scholars of ancient Greek theater in Athens.

Pfeiffer said, “We are currently seeking funding from various sources. The screenplay is written, the leads are cast, and casting of smaller roles is underway. I am currently interviewing cinematographers, production designers, and other crew members. We plan to shoot the film in May and June in the Peloponnese.”

“I have done three scouting and research trips to Greece, driven some 5,000 km across the country and have identified most of the principal shooting locations, which you can see from the photos. I drove from Athens, north to Thessaloniki, and east to Alexandropouli. More recently, I drove from Athens, east to Evia, and then south to the Peloponnese, where most of the production will take place,” she said.

The award-winning Greek-Canadian actor Steven Koutsomitopoulos will play Ajax in the film. He completed his MFA degree in Drama at the celebrated Actors Studio Drama School in New York in 2018. Originally from Ottawa, he lives some months of each year in Greece and speaks Greek. Pfeiffer discovered Steven in the feature film, Lovers Lost, for which he won Best Actor at the Trinity International Film Festival. She cast him as the lead in her film Stiff. They collaborated on the story for The Origins of Ajax.

Pfeiffer told TNH, “I cast Steven as the lead in my last film and we became friends. He lives part of the year in Samos where his family is from, and we decided to develop a road movie in Greece for him to star in and me to write and direct. We came up with the story together and I wrote the screenplay.”

Hayat Kamille will play Suha and is a tremendously talented dramatic and comedic Iraqi-British actress who was cast from among 200 actors who were submitted for this role. She is based in London and speaks fluent English and Arabic. Hayat is recognizable from programs and commercials on UK television, in theater and, most recently, from a small role in Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express.

Celebrity Chef Maria Loi will play the Taverna Owner in the film. She is an international ambassador of Greek gastronomy, a restaurateur, and public personality, widely regarded as “the Martha Stewart of Greece.” The author of multiple cookbooks, including the official cookbook for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Loi is known to be the authority on Greek cuisine. She has cooked at the White House for President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and 250 guests. She opened Loi Estiatorio in the heart of Manhattan to rave reviews.

Christopher Læssø, a Danish actor based in Copenhagen, will play Hilarion. He is best known for his unforgettable performance in the 2018 Oscar-nominated film, The Square. Christopher is a graduate of the Danish National Theater School and is known to Danish audiences for his work in dozens of films and television series, including the international hit series, The Bridge.

Principal Producer/Director/Writer Gabrielle Pfeiffer of Ajax the Movie LLC – New York/Berlin is an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter from New York. She has eight feature film credits as a writer and script supervisor, and 35 director, writer and producer credits for her work on Arte, BBC, Channel Four, Discovery, National Geographic, PBS, and ZDF documentaries. Her films have been broadcast all over the world and won awards at numerous international film festivals. She is a Swiss-American dual national, studied Filmmaking at New York University, and has been based in Berlin since 2000.

Greek Co-Producer Fenia Cossovitsa is the founder of Blonde Audiovisual Productions S.A, a film and television production company based in Athens that has produced numerous Greek and international feature films, major cultural and sports events, television programs, commercials, and music videos. Cossovitsa is an award-winning producer with 25 years of experience in the film and television industry.

The post The Origins of Ajax, Currently in Development, Filmmaker Pfeiffer Talks to TNH appeared first on The National Herald.

BROOKLYN, NY – The Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church community in Brooklyn honored Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas with the Hellenic Heritage Award for her valuable service in the field of justice and her contributions to the Hellenic community on January 29 in the community’s event hall.

The ceremony took place after the Great Vespers service for the Feast of the Three Hierarchs, presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, assisted by the community’s presiding priest, Archimandrite Eugene Pappas and a number of local area priests.

In his remarks, Archbishop Demetrios described DA Singas as an excellent example of the Hellenic community’s ethos with her great contribution to society.

His Eminence said, ”Justice must work effectively against any wrongdoer, no matter how high his position, or how strong he is. The DA is a guarantor of the civil and social rights of citizens. In the person of Madeline Singas, justice has a prosecutor performing her duties with responsibility, professionalism, and a sense of justice, and we warmly congratulate her for that.”

Singas then warmly thanked the Three Hierarchs community for their great honor, spoke warmly and proudly of her Greek origins and her Christian faith.

She said, ”Each year, I represent the state before the court in 30,000 cases in the Nassau region of New York with the primary purpose of fairly prosecuting the case.

In each trial, my counselor and judge are the Greek-Christian ideals and values ​​I was taught by my parents. Justice, dignity, honesty, courage, respect, and humility.

We Greeks are proud of our culture, history and our Orthodox Christian faith. On the occasion of the celebration of the Greek Letters, the message I would like to send is that it is a duty and an obligation for all of us to maintain our national identity and to pass it on to the younger generations.”

Archbishop Demetrios, Archimandrite Eugene Pappas, congratulated Singas, noting that this year’s honor is particularly important as she is the first woman to receive the Hellenic Heritage award since its establishment in 2003.

Three Hierarchs Parish Council President John Eugenis thanked the faithful who honored the community with their presence at the church’s feast and congratulated the honoree.

Dr. Steven Gounardes, President of the Saint Basil Academy, made reference to the history of the Academy, which, he said, is celebrating 75 years of operation this year and asked the Greek community for assistance and support for the institution to continue its sacred mission.

President of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York Cleanthis Meimaroglou congratulated the honoree and then asked for the financial and moral assistance of all the Greek community for the successful organization of the annual Greek Independence Parade on 5th Avenue, which this year will take place on April 14.

Following the event, the Philoptochos Society of the community presented Archbishop Demetrios a cake for his 91st birthday, with all the attendees wishing him the best for many years to come.

Also among those present was AHEPA Supreme Vice President and member of the Three Hierarchs community James Kokotas.

The post Nassau County DA Singas Receives Hellenic Heritage Award at Three Hierarchs (Vid & Pics) appeared first on The National Herald.

BOSTON – The parade in Boston in commemoration of the liberation of Greece after four hundred years Turkish occupation will take place this year on Sunday April 7 at 1PM, as has been officially announced by the organizers.

The Federation of Hellenic American Societies of New England under the presidency of Bill Kafkas had its first general meeting on January 27 at the Maliotis Cultural Center in Brookline. The Federation is in charge of the parade’s organization in cooperation with the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston and the Consulate General of Greece in Boston.

Some 25 representatives of the various societies that constitute the Federation were present. Rev. Vasilios Bebis represented the Metropolis of Boston and Maria Koukoutsis the Consulate General of Greece.

Kafkas announced that this year there will be a change in the usual program regarding the celebration at the Massachusetts State House. Usually it was done the Friday before the parade, but this year due to the fact that the all rooms are taken on April 5, the celebration will take place on Friday March 29 at 12 noon. He also announced that the annual reception at the Consulate General of Greece will take place on Friday April 5 at 6 PM.

It was also noted that the Federation has received all the authorizations and permits from City Hall required for the parade.
Kafkas pointed out that the parade costs annually between 70 and 75 thousand dollars, which is raised through raffle sales and participation fees.

The annual Gala Dinner of the parade will take place on Saturday, April 6 at the community center of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Boston located at 165 Goddard Avenue in Brookline, MA. The ticket cost per person has been set at $100 dollars.

The memory of Kostas Katsifa, who was killed on October 28 by Albanian police in Northern Epirus will be honored.

The Freedom Award will be given to the Paideia organization established by Elias Tomazos in Connecticut, and which established and built the facilities of the Center for Hellenic Studies “Paideia” at the University of Connecticut.

Demetris Papaslis, former president of the Federation of the Hellenic Societies of New England who is now in charge of a Greek-American unit of evzones, urges, through The National Herald, young Greek-Americans of New England to join the evzones group; practice begins in February.

Takis Lampropoulos said that four bands have been secured and two more will be hired over the next few days. The cultural events following the parade will again be held at Boston Common where five or six dance groups will perform.

Five scholarships will be given to Greek-American students at the Gala Dinner on April 6 to Greek-American college students. The National Herald will also sponsor a $1,000 scholarship for a student who will be chosen by the Federation according to its rules.
The company that makes the floats will create four of five for the Federation this year, and each association may order its own if it wishes to have a float.

Representatives of the Federation will be visiting various states and cities of New England to inform the local Greek-American communities about the parade and the activities and to distribute parade material.

The post Preparations Have Begun for Boston’s Greek Parade appeared first on The National Herald.

BOSTON – The administration of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology will start implementing reductions and dismissals of personnel due to the dire financial situation of the institutions, The National Herald has learned. Directives were given to the President, Fr. Christopher Metropulos by the Board of Trustees during their meeting on January 25 presided over by Archbishop Demetrios according to a news release issued after the meeting.

TNH has also learned that there were have been some critical attacks from professors who are former deans against Fr. Metropulos. Presently there are at least three different factions at the School fighting each other while each tries to protect “its own people.”
Discussion took place at the Board meeting about the viability of Hellenic College and its possible elimination. Two opinion trends were manifested. One is in support of keeping Hellenic College, arguing that the priests who study at both Hellenic College and Holy Cross for seven years are better equipped than those who only study three years at the School of Theology. The other trend maintains that there are graduates who studied for seven years and were ordained but were still completely unprepared.

It is widely believed that the release which was issued after the Trustees meeting indicates a negative predisposition about the future of Hellenic College because it makes reference to the closing of small colleges in the United States.

The release states among other things that, “a full presentation on the state of the school was presented by Trustee committees as well as the President, Rev. Christopher Metropulos. This included, but was not limited to, the financial condition of the school as well as past and expected enrollments for the fall of 2019.”

It was also emphasized that, “throughout the United States, numerous small liberal arts colleges are facing closure or planning to close or to shutter programs in light of decreasing enrollment across the country. HCHC functions in this environment. The Trustees reiterated their commitment to the strengthening and growth of the school, but also directed the leadership of the school to ensure that we live within our means and offer programs which create and nurture future leaders for our Church and society.”

The announcement also stated that, “it was decided by the Trustees to authorize the administration to begin immediate modifications of the operating budget in order to strengthen the school’s mission and to bring about a more balanced budget. In addition, the Board of Trustees directed the President to form a committee of Trustees, Faculty, and Administration to seek new ways to strengthen the institution and re-imagine education on the Hill of Hope. Updates will be provided as plans take shape.”

It is reminded here that last year Archbishop Demetrios of America, who is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hellenic College-Holy Cross School of Theology, dismissed most of the trustees and replaced them mainly with obedient priests and some laypersons. The dismissed Trustees had challenged both Archbishop Demetrios and Fr. Metropulos on accountability, because they could not defend the spending and the School’s dire financial situation.

In June of 2018, TNH published the entire contents of a confidential letter to Archbishop Demetrios by 11 Trustees, including some from the Executive Committee, warning that the College faced the danger of closure and the School of Theology of losing its accreditation, even as its own future was doubtful.

They wrote about “the very serious state of the institution” and requested Metropulos’ immediate removal: “as trustees of HCHC, we have become recipients of a special spiritual and legal duty. How we exercise this duty is not only something for which we must answer to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts but, much more importantly, something for which we must answer to God and to all the faithful members of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America who love and depend on HCHC. In addition, those of us who are members of the Executive Committee serve as representatives of all of the other trustees; they depend on and expect us to oversee the institution’s well-being, to report to them, and to communicate their insights and concerns to Your Eminence and the other corporate officers.”

The letter’s authors revealed that, “The overall financial trend is alarming and is not sustainable. Over the three-year period, HCHC has incurred or will incur cash deficits ranging from $2.2 -$3.1 million per year. Over the past 36 months, we have been averaging a monthly cash deficit of $190,000, and HCHC is now unable to make payroll without further endowment borrowing. During Fr. Christopher’s presidency, we have borrowed a total of $6.7 million from our unrestricted endowment funds (pooled accounts), and as of April 30, 2018, HCHC only had $1.1 million of such unrestricted pooled account funds remaining, as compared to a projected cash deficit through the calendar year ending December 31, 2018 of $2.6 million. Absent a significant cash infusion, HCHC will run out of money before the end of the current fiscal year (June 30). Realistic projections for the next two fiscal years are equally dire. As is evident from these figures, which project cash deficits over the next two fiscal years ranging from $3.7-$3.9 million per year, HCHC’s financial situation has reached crisis levels. In order to fund operations for the balance of this fiscal year (which will require $1,050,000) and achieve a balanced budget for the next two fiscal years, which is essential in order to justify admitting the next incoming class, HCHC will require $8.7 million of incremental funds through either additional revenues or reduced costs.”

They emphasized the oversized faculty. “HCHC has 22 full-time faculty for only 164 students. This overall ratio is nearly three times higher than the ratio at comparable institutions, and the ratio comparisons are even worse for some specific programs.”

The post Reductions, Changes and Dismissals Are Expected at Hellenic College & Holy Cross as Crisis Deepens appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – Assemblymember Aravella Simotas announced on January 31 that she is introducing legislation to correct a shortcoming in the record sealing law enacted last year as part of New York’s Raise the Age reforms. While the law currently allows individuals to apply to have a felony conviction sealed if a judge granted them youthful offender treatment, those who did not receive that status are left behind.

The Simotas bill would amend the New York State Criminal Procedure Law to allow people who have stayed out of trouble for ten years, to apply for conviction sealing if they were eligible for, but did not receive, youthful offender treatment when they were sentenced.

“Expanding eligibility for conviction sealing will give people who committed crimes in their youth the chance to become full members of society in adulthood. If someone has stayed out of trouble for ten years, I think they should be granted the chance to move beyond the burden of a criminal record,” said Assemblymember Aravella Simotas.

Simotas said she became aware of the lapse in the law after state Supreme Court Justice Joseph Zayas, the administrative judge for the criminal term in Queens Supreme Court was interviewed by the New York Law Journal about a December 12, 2018 decision he issued, reluctantly denying the sealing request of a 50-year-old woman identified as Jane Doe who had been convicted of attempted second degree robbery when she was 16 years old. Doe was eligible to receive youthful offender treatment, but did not receive it. Doe completed her sentence of five years’ probation in 1988 and stayed out of trouble ever since. In his decision, Justice Zayas noted that he was constrained by current law and forced to deny Doe’s request to have her conviction sealed, an outcome he said was “inconsistent with the laudable goals of the sealing statute.”

The post Simotas to Introduce Legislation to Improve Criminal Record Sealing Law appeared first on The National Herald.

NEW YORK – The Awards Committee and the Board of Trustees of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) have voted the distinguished physician and professor of cardiology Dr. George Dangas the ACC Distinguished Fellow Award 2019.

As the ACC President Dr. Michael Valentine noted, the award was in recognition of Dangas’ outstanding service to the College and of the fact that his activities have made him a role model for others.

Dangas is a Professor of Cardiology and Vascular Surgery and Director of Cardiovascular Innovation at the Mount Sinai Medical Center and the Icahn School of Medicine in New York City.

The Award ceremony will take place at the 68th Annual ACC Scientific Sessions of the organization in New Orleans on March 18, 2019.

Notably, Dangas was also honored with ACC Distinguished Teacher Award 2017 during the 66th Annual ACC Scientific Sessions two years ago in Washington, DC. He had served as an Associate Professor at NYU when he was at Lenox Hill Hospital 15 years ago and subsequently at Columbia University Medical Center. He had also been at the Washington Hospital Center, an affiliate of George Washington University in the earlier stages of his career. From 2009-10 he was the Chairman of Cardiology at the Onassis Heart Center in Athens and he has been subsequently elected a Professor of Cardiology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where he had originally conducted his medical and doctoral studies.

In an interview with the National Herald, he said, “this is an outstanding honor since only one such award is given each year, and I was very pleasantly surprised since I had no idea about the selection. The committee’s deliberations are kept secret. It is exceptional to receive an honor from our colleagues, and knowing that there were many other great candidates makes me feel especially proud to emerge from the robust process as the winner this year.”

Asked if he ever imagined receiving such honors when he was studying medicine in Athens, he said, “this a great question and I have thought about it many times: not in my wildest dreams did I imagine such things, that I would be a candidate and ultimately an honoree for such an award. Let me also note that the ACC is an international organization with over 25-30 chapters in different countries all over the world. Hence, many of the Award candidates and winners have been cardiologists who had initially studied abroad and then came to the USA as faculty. The Award competition is thus a global competition.”

He spoke to TNH about progress in the cardiovascular field. “Innovations in cardiology, heart surgery, and vascular surgery are amazing. Developments include minimally invasive procedures, which may include the opening of blood vessels with lasers or miniaturized atherotomes, and treatment with specialized balloons and metallic stents manufactured in very special ways to include bio-friendly polymers and medicated with factors that avert re-clogging of the blood vessels. Essentially each device combines 3, 4, or 5 innovations! We can now repair or replace heart valves without the need to open the chest wall as in traditional surgeries. Similarly, we have developed many techniques for avoiding amputations of toes of parts of the legs as we can restore the blood flow and revive them.”

He noted, however, that “the minimally invasive techniques are best applied one a time and in a gradual way. When patients have multiple problems and can tolerate traditional open heart surgery, this may be preferred as many things can be corrected at once.”

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CHICAGO (BUSINESS WIRE) – As part of its continued commitment to ‘quality without question,’ Grant Thornton LLP has named three executives to the firm’s Audit Quality Advisory Council. The three-person council now includes two independent members – Chris Mandaleris and Ann Yerger – and Grant Thornton Partnership Board member Seth Siegel.

As advisers to Grant Thornton’s Partnership Board, the council will provide deep, practical and objective advice regarding ways Grant Thornton can continue to deliver high audit quality. In so doing, this council will champion the audit profession and its role in supporting the trustworthiness of our public markets.

“At Grant Thornton, we are committed to delivering the highest quality audits to our clients,” said Mike McGuire, CEO of Grant Thornton. “Chris, Ann and Seth bring more than 75 years of combined professional services experience to our council and we look forward to working alongside them to strengthen our position as a leader in the profession for quality. This group will, in turn, help make our firm the auditor of choice for companies committed to excellence.”

Mandaleris, a retired Ernst & Young LLP Audit partner, joins the Audit Quality Advisory Council after having spent 25 years working in EY’s Audit practice and having helped open the firm’s Greensboro, North Carolina office. Most recently, he was the senior deputy director in the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s (PCAOB) inspections division. After 13 years with the PCAOB, Mandaleris retired in 2016 and dedicated his time to serving the Greek Orthodox Church in the southeast as a volunteer strategy, governance and internal control advisor. He is a certified public accountant (CPA) in Alabama and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Yerger joins Grant Thornton’s council after spending the past 20 years at the Council of Institutional Investors, where she served as the executive director. She has also served as the executive director of EY’s Center for Board Matters, as a member of the PCAOB’s Investor Advisory Group, and as a member of the SEC’s Investor Advisory Committee. She also served on the U.S. Treasury Department’s Advisory Committee on the Auditing Profession. Yerger is currently a member of Spencer Stuart’s North American Board Practices and is an independent director of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, where she chairs the nominating and governance committee and serves as a member of its compensation committee.

Siegel, who serves as an Audit partner and as Grant Thornton’s Florida Audit practice leader, will function as the council’s Partnership Board representative. He joined the firm in 1996 and has more than 20 years of public accounting and corporate finance experience. He provides services to both publicly-traded and privately-held entities with a focus on companies in a variety of industries, including financial services, private equity, real estate, hospitality and energy. Siegel is a CPA in Florida and a member of the Florida Institute of CPAs and the AICPA.

Jeff Burgess, national managing partner of Audit Services at Grant Thornton, sums up the additions of Mandaleris, Yerger and Siegel by saying this: “These new members not only reaffirm our focus on quality above all else, but the council itself complements Grant Thornton’s approach to providing the audit of the future, which is built around innovation and quality.”

To learn more about Grant Thornton’s audit initiatives, visit www.grantthornton.com/auditinnovation.

About Grant Thornton LLP

Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. Grant Thornton, which has revenues in excess of $1.8 billion and operates 58 offices, works with a broad range of dynamic publicly and privately held companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and civic and religious organizations.

“Grant Thornton” refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another’s acts or omissions. Please see grantthornton.com for further details.

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