Gala supports National Hellenic Museum's legacy

At its annual gala, "Connecting Generations," Saturday, May 12, at the Chicago Marriott Magnificent Mile, the National Hellenic Museum and more than 500 Greek Americans, friends and community members from across the country raised more than $800,000 during the night of auctions, live music, dancing and celebrating the legacy of Hellenism.

The philanthropic support from the evening is set to benefit tens of thousands of museum visitors, with 83 cents of every dollar spent on programming.

The event was emceed by WGN's Dean Richards, with live musical stylings by the Chris Sarlas Orchestra, with George Dimas and Voula Karahaliou, and The Levendes, featuring singer Nikos Koutras.

"What a wonderful night it was with so many elegant attendees, the spectacular live music, and, of course, the great generosity of our donors," said Dr. Laura Calamos, president of the National Hellenic Museum.

Celebrity emcee Dean Richards of WGN TV and Radio, thanked the mothers in the room, recalling the importance of his own mother and yiayia to his upbringing.

Cubs legend and National League All-Star Ryan Dempster wowed the crowd by offering signed jerseys to bidders in the live auction.

One highlight of the evening included the presentation of the inaugural Alec K. and Viena P. Gianaras Philanthropy Award, given this year to The Gianaras Family and Frank S. Kamberos, in recognition of donors who have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the National Hellenic Museum and to the ideal of philanthropy.

The National Hellenic Museum Philanthropy Award is named after Alec K. and Viena P. Gianaras because they exemplified all the aspects of true philanthropists. Their vision in supporting the National Hellenic Museum modeled to others the spirit of giving to great causes in the Greek American community.

Boasting a rich repository of 20,000-plus artifacts, photos, historic newspapers, books and an archive of 450-plus recorded histories, the National Hellenic Museum serves as the physical hub of Greek American history, now many generations strong, and celebrates the mosaic of the Greek diaspora, immigrant journeys and the breadth of the American experience.

The museum preserves the largest collection of artifacts and oral histories dedicated to the Greek American story anywhere in the world, serving as a central repository for researchers, teachers and students of all ages. For information, visit www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org.