We are here to recognize 25 years of a project of the Fifth District to help stamp out cancer that started a quarter century ago.
25 years ago: We had President Ronald Reagan, the Exxon Valdez disaster, and the first text message was sent. A gallon of gasoline cost 97 cents. An alcoholic beverage, say a Grand Marnier, cost $1.90.
What also started over 25 years ago was the establishment of a fact finding committee by way of a proposal by our dearly beloved the late Woody West. Woody would go on to become a District Governor in AHEPA as well as the first chairperson of this Foundation we celebrate tonight. Woody’s memoirs relate ” I am totally committed to seeing this project through to its inception, believing that it will provide an element, which has been missing from the Order for many years, namely a purpose, which we can all unite behind and be proud to be a part of. ..such a project would be beneficial to cancer research and the Order of AHEPA…drawing all family members into one united group, for who of us has not been touched by the effect of cancer at least once”.
Throughout this evening, you will celebrate our archives exhibition. Yes we are here to say thank you to our donors, to our chapters, to our participants and of course to wish God speed to our researchers, some of the greatest cancer researchers the world has ever seen. Yet on this Silver Anniversary occasion, take the time to look, explore and pay tribute, to do honor to those that have come before us as well. These greats, all in our AHEPA family,
that have left us this incredible legacy, of a cause for humanity.
AHEPA is at it’s core a mass populous grass roots organization. Our success is using that power for great causes, and not just for Greeks because cancer does not discriminate. Some Greek American organizations, much smaller than AHEPA are productive because they consist of individuals that cut big checks, they are to be commended for their works and they are welcomed to join us as well. AHEPA’s 25 year commitment that we celebrate tonight is a testament to all of our members working in the grass roots, raising cancer research monies by the dollar, by the quarter and by the penny. We are proud to have raised these monies as fassouli to fassouli yemizi to sakouli.
25 years of bowl a thons, 25 years of chapter donations, 25 years of canister collections at our restaurants, 25 years of our individual donations…over these 25 years we have given out $885,000. We are approaching the million dollar mark through our collective efforts. This is what makes The Fifth District Cancer Research Foundation one of the greatest jewels in all the AHEPA domain.
And we do it at our 25 year silver anniversary in Grand style – this year we have raised over thirty thousand in benefactors donations, chapters and individuals, indeed we have broken the record. We will be awarding $40,000 in cancer research grants. To all of our benefactors, individuals, chapters, to our AHEPANS, Daughters, Sons and Maids as well as to our researchers that have dedicated their life’s work to this cause, thank you. May our work continue to new heights, for the next 25 years and beyond.
Law Office of George G. Horiates, Esq.
7010 Kaighn Avenue
@ US HWY 70
Pennsauken, NJ 08109
