SOUTHAMPTON, NY – The annual Blue Dream Summer Gala, one of the largest charitable fundraisers of the Greek-American community held its annual event – a sold-out dinner and celebration – on August 26 at the Kimisis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons.
The annual tradition having begun in 2011, this year’s proceeds will go to the National Navy SEAL Museum and Memorial, which offers help and shelter to families of U.S. Marines, and to the Lonely Whale Foundation, which generally strives for environmental protection, particularly of the seas, said Kimisis’ presiding priest, Fr. Alexander Karloutsos.
Each organization would receive $150,000; to date, Blue Dream donations have exceeded $750,000. “These gifts not only benefit the institutions and organizations that receive money but also the Community of the Assumption and the Greek Orthodox Church in general,” Fr. Karloutsos said.
Honored were Adrian Grenier, the actor who is Lonely Whale Foundation Honorary co-Chair, along with National Navy SEAL Museum and Memorial Master Chief SEAL Rick Kaiser.
Karloutsos was very pleased that AHEPA Supreme President Carl Hollister was in attendance and that the organization is close to raising its targeted goal of $1 million for the construction of the St. Nicholas Shrine at the World Trade Center.
Hollister told TNH that AHEPA “will exceed that target by far,” and is expected to turn over the funds to the Archdiocese by the end of September.
The post Sold-out Blue Dream Gala Raises $300K for Charities (Video) appeared first on The National Herald.