Cleveland, OH – The Greek Garden Association of Cleveland (GGAC) was honored to welcome E. Chris Kaitson, Supreme President of the Order of AHEPA, and Craig A. Theros, Supreme Governor of AHEPA Region 5 to the Buckeye State.
The Order of AHEPA was founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, on the principles that undergirded its fight for civil rights and against discrimination, bigotry, and hatred felt at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan. AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Its mission is to promote the ancient Hellenic ideals of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, family and individual excellence through community service and volunteerism.
During the formation of the Greek Cultural Garden from 1935-1940, the local AHEPA chapters in northeast Ohio took a leading role in fundraising and community mobilization, and they look once again to rise to the occasion in helping complete the stone frieze entitled “The Gift of Greece to Civilization” consisting of 34 of the most important Hellenes flanking the enthroned winged goddess Athena. The Brothers of AHEPA Chapter 36 invited GGAC Executive Director Pascalis Papouras to discuss partnership on January 18th, while he was also invited to speak with the Brothers of Chapter 389 and Chapter 480 on January 21st.
Supreme President Kaitson and Supreme Governor Theros insisted on visiting the Greek Cultural Garden itself on January 19th, notwithstanding a Cleveland blizzard, joining GGAC President Louis A. Frangos, Executive Director Papouras, and The Honorable Major James P. Trakas, member of the GGAC Board of Directors.
Pascalis Papouras, Executive Director
Craig A. Theros, AHEPA Supreme Governor, Region 5; The Honorable Major James P. Trakas; E. Chris Kaitson, AHEPA Supreme President; Pascalis Papouras, GGAC Executive Director; Louis A. Frangos, GGAC President.
