AHEPA Family in Action

American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association

Contact: AHEPA Headquarters Phone: 202.232.6300 E-mail: ahepa@ahepa.org

AHEPA strives to be a resource for its members and the community.

As stated below, we will ensure our mission is being fulfilled during the coronavirus pandemic.

We are beginning to see that to be true. The AHEPA family is answering the call. Ahepans, Daughters, Sons and Maids are springing into action by:

providing meals to health care professionals, to the elderly, and to the homeless,

Supreme President George Horiates provides a message on COVID-19 response.

donating blood,
handcrafting face masks for health care professionals, and
facilitating affordable access to COVID-19 tests.

Also, we cannot forget patients are being treated at AHEPA Hospital in Thessaloniki and in the AHEPA Wing of Evangelismos Hospital in Greece.

We are pleased to share examples of "best practices" of what our regions, districts, chapters, and individual AHEPA family members are doing while staying safe by following stay-at-home orders or adhering to proper government guidance and regulations if they are providing a service to the community.

Brotherhood transcends isolation.

It cannot be quarantined.

AHEPA Hospital in Thessaloniki

AHEPA is proud of the medical and health care professionals who are on the front lines of treating patients at all health care institutions, especially the AHEPA Hospital in Thessaloniki. They continue to amaze and inspire us.

Thank you!

E-Radio.gr interviews AHEPA Hospital ICU Director

AHEPA Cares:

An initiative to help those on the front lines and most vulnerable

AHEPA family chapters and members are providing assistance and conveying their appreciation to the medical, health care, and first response professionals on the front lines of COVID-19 as well as reaching out to help the most vulnerable and those who are in need.

If your chapter is donating food, or other essential goods and items, please include our " AHEPA Cares" flyer with the donated goods.

NOTE: If you do perform community service, we urge you to do so under strict adherence to federal, state, and local government orders and guidance and to the guidance provided by the institution you are visiting. Also, maintain social distancing .

Download & Distribute AHEPA Cares Flyer

Trenton AHEPA Family delivers meals and masks to hospital.

The AHEPA family of Trenton, N.J. successfully delivered meals and face masks handcrafted by the Sons and Maids for 10 nurses who worked the unit during Easter at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Hamilton.

AHEPA thanks Broad Street Diner, Trenton, N.J. for donating the homemade turkey dinners.

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The brothers of AHEPA Chapter 69, Cherry Hill, N.J. conveyed their sincere appreciation to the medical and health care professionals at Cooper University Hospital, and specifically, Ahepan Dr. Elias Iliadis, who attended to the recovery of John Pratsinakis from coronavirus.

Ahepans expressed their appreciation by donating and delivering meals to the health care staff along with a thank you card. The meals were provided courtesy of The Westmont Diner, Westmont, N.J.

John Pratsinakis is the son of Father Emmanuel and Presvytera Maria Pratsinakis.

Ahepans from Constantine XI Dragases Palaiologos Chapter HJ-41, Kalamaria, Greece , delivered care packages of food and water to the elderly residing in the municipality.

Kalamaria is located approximately seven kilometers southeast of downtown Thessaloniki. It is the second largest municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area.

Ahepans from Peter Baltis Chapter HJ-26, Larissa, Greece are donating blood.

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, it is important to maintain a sufficient blood supply, according to the American Red Cross.

Healthy blood donors needed during Coronavirus outbreak

"You can still go out and give blood. We’re worried about potential blood shortages in the future. Social distancing does not have to mean social disengagement.” - U.S. Surgeon General VADM Jerome Adams, MD

AHEPA Chapter 515, Radnor, Pa., represented by Executive Director Basil Mossaidis and Chapter Secretary Peter Mossaidis, donated and delivered hundreds of meals for the medical, health care, and emergency response professionals and administrative staff at Inova Alexandria Hospital. The meals came courtesy of Philadelphia Cheesesteak Factory, Alexandria, Va.

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AHEPA Cyprus gives blood to save lives, affordable access to test

AHEPA District 27, Cyprus, is issuing a call to its members to donate blood.

The Blood Bank of Cyprus has already created an AHEPA account. All AHEPA Cyprus members are now able to donate blood under the name of "AHEPA."

Find blood donation stations in Cyprus

The blood drive initiative is the second prong of AHEPA's response to COVID-19 in Cyprus.

Through an agreement with NIPD Genetics, AHEPA Chapter CY4 “Photos Photiades” Idalion, under the auspices of AHEPA District 27, Cyprus, has facilitated affordable access for Ahepans and their families to get tested for COVID-19 by subsidizing a portion of the cost of each test. Test results can be received in 24 hours.

For more information about the test

Brotherhood transcends isolation:

Chapters worldwide hold virtual meetings, discussion forums

Pericles Chapter HJ-10, Harabolos, Greece held a virtual chapter meeting to discuss its response to COVID-19 and how it will distribute assistance to Greek border police.

Chapter 528, Palm Springs, California held its April chapter meeting virtually.

Oranje Eagle Chapter, Amsterdam, Netherlands held a virtual discussion forum with Dr. George Zarkadakis. The impact of artificial intelligence on society was the discussion topic.

Dr. Zarkadakis is a science writer and novelist, an artificial intelligence engineer, and a digital innovation professional. He holds a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence.

Region 10 Supreme Governor Phanos Pitiris, European District 28 Governor George Kritikos, Ahepans from Brussels supported the forum.

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These are a few examples of virtual meetings and conferences being held throughout the AHEPA domain by our regions, districts, and chapters.

AHEPA continues to encourage all organizational levels of the Order to hold them as a way to stay connected, foster fraternal relations, and plan ways to serve the community in a safe and responsible manner.

We will ensure our mission is fulfilled

Denver Ahepans prepared and delivered 500 meals to the homeless during the coronavirus outbreak.

Despite the global pandemic, we will strive to meet all facets of our mission .

The National Educational Foundation scholarship application deadline is extended to April 30. See our detailed notice on adjusted scholarship application requirements.

While staying at home, please take time to fulfill your civic duty and complete the 2020 U.S. Census. It is important for the community to be counted! The Census can be completed online. Also, beware of Census fraud.

Again, while staying home, take a moment to contact your U.S. senators and urge them to call on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring legislation that sanctions Turkey to the Senate floor for a vote. View our latest action alert.

We encourage you to seek philanthropic or charitable giving opportunities to help the most vulnerable in our society--but please do it safely and within the guidelines provided by government and public health officials.

Enjoy, share and stay connected to Greece and its splendor--from cuisine and arts to its music and mythology--all from the comfort and safety of home with #greecefromhome.

We are also connecting with our regions and districts around the world to gain an understanding of the challenges communities and individuals are facing so we can serve them in the most effective and safe manner possible.

We will continue to share best practices of our districts and chapters around the world and what they are doing in the face of this crisis.

AHEPA is launching its global emergency relief fund to provide assistance as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Donate to the AHEPA Charitable Fund today:

https://ahepa.org/donate/

We are sharing resources

Visit our COVID-19 resource page that is being updated frequently with information, including any new guidance issued by the U.S. government. Last updated on April 6, the resource page shares:

links to federal agencies that are providing relief,
public service announcements and "How To" videos,
resources that track the spread of the virus, and
announcements from various sectors of industry that you may find helpful.

Congressman Bilirakis' COVID-19 Address to AHEPA

(Left column: U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis, a Brother Ahepan, addresses the AHEPA family on the U.S. government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Above: U.S. Surgeon General VADM Jerome Adams, MD, explains how to make a face mask.)

Visit https://ahepa.org/news/ to view all our COVID-19 update posts.

Please be sure to stay connected (see below) to receive updates.

Visit our COVID-19 resource center

Here's how to stay connected

Email us . Your message will be returned promptly.

Call . All voicemails are forwarded direct to staff emails and can be listened to moments after receipt.

Connect . We are on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . You will find these platforms are tools where members are sharing resources and tips on how to navigate these times.

Let us all continue to support each other. It is more important than ever to draw upon the tenets of our mission to guide us, to remain vigilant , and to be compassionate, kind and understanding toward our members, family, friends and neighbors.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay strong.

Fraternally,

George G. Horiates

Supreme President