Cleveland, OH – The Chios Society of Cleveland showed its support to the mission and work of The Greek Garden Association of Cleveland (GGAC) at its Annual Scholarship Banquet and Dance on November 8th, 2025, at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. In attendance were GGAC President Louis A. Frangos and Executive Director Pascalis Papouras.
Dimitrios G. Kalafatis, President of the Chios Society of Cleveland and Supreme President of the Chios Societies of America and Canada, awarded a grant to GGAC for its work on the monumental stone frieze entitled “The Gift of Greece to Civilization.” The stone frieze includes the sculptures of 34 of the most important Greeks in history and prominently features the epic poet Homer on the center panel. The famous blind poet was the composer of seminal western literary poem The Iliad and the Odyssey, and was a native of Chios. President Kalafatis proudly stated, “We, the descendants of Homer, stand in support of the Greek Cultural Garden today, in honor of the Poet.” GGAC President Frangos, a son of Chios himself, graciously accepted the grant.
GGAC Executive Director Papouras spoke to the gathering about the restoration of the Greek Cultural Garden and the work on the frieze, currently being brought to life by world renowned Master Stone Carver Nicholas Fairplay. Papouras said, “the Bronze Age collapse led to four centuries of the Greek Dark Ages. It was left to a blind poet of the island of Chios to spark Western Civilization and illuminate the whole world with his poems. So too now do you all, his heirs, stand proudly with that torch, continuing his legacy.”
Pascalis Papouras, Executive Director
Louis A. Frangos, GGAC President; and Pascalis Papouras, GGAC Executive Director
GGAC Executive Director Pascalis Papouras addressing the Chios Society of Cleveland
