IN THE NEWS

A Year to Remember

On the last day of 2015, the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation would like to take this opportunity to wish our friends and supporters a Happy New Year. We hope that everyone has a healthy and prosperous 2016.  

2015 was a very eventful year for the Foundation. In June, close to 500 guests attended the Annual Awards Ceremony & Gala at the Hilton Chicago. The Foundation once again presented $250,000 in scholarship awards to 40 exceptional undergraduates of Hellenic descent. The 2015 Paradigm Award winner, ultra-marathon man Dean Karnazes, inspired students with his own motivational story and compelling speech.

Following the gala, twenty students traveled to Greece for the first time through our cultural enrichment and educational program, Hellenic Birthright. During the four-week program, the students toured the country and visited Greece's most prominent cities and sites. They also completed a 3-credit academic course at Anatolia College in Thessaloniki (ACT). We would like to thank our wonderful partners at ACT for helping us run this successful program.

In September, the Foundation pledged to offer $250,000 in scholarship awards to students in 2016. The awards will once again be offered at the $10,000 and $2,500 levels. The 2015/16 scholarship application is available to download here. The submission deadline is February 1, 2016. 

On October 14, 2015, we all were saddened by the passing of our beloved Founder, Chris P. Tomaras. His absence has been deeply felt by his family, friends, and supporters of the Foundation, and he is greatly missed.  "We have lost a great philanthropist, mentor, and Hellene," said Yanni Valsamas, Executive Director of the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation. "Mr. Tomaras was the pillar of the Foundation and we will do all that we can to carry on his legacy. As we step forward into the future without him, we are prepared to continue the work he started under the leadership of our new Chairman and Board members." Please save-the-date for our 2016 Awards Ceremony & Gala, which will be held in honor of Mr. Tomaras at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago on Saturday, June 18, 2016.

Finally, we would like to thank all of our friends and donors for your support throughout 2015. Your gifts are vital to the life of the Foundation, and we ask that you continue to remember us with your contributions in 2016.