Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation Establishes Investment Committee

Serving as Vice Chair of the Investment Committee is Archon Robert A. Buhler. Other Committee members include Christopher F. Allwin; Michael N. Bapis; Frank D. Catrickes; John A. Catsimatidis, Jr.; and William H. Spell. Ex officio members are John A. Catsimatidis; Anthony J. Limberakis, MD; and Michael G. Psaros.

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America stated: “The Investment Committee of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation is a further step to ensure that the Holy Mother Church of Constantinople will be able to function long into the future, and to continue to be a light and blessing for Orthodox Christians everywhere, and for the world at large.”

Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and Chair of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, said: “Our gratitude to our Lord Jesus Christ and His All-Holy Mother is immense, as He has enabled us to undertake this holy initiative for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and to see it come to fruition. The Investment Committee constitutes an additional blessing of our mission to provide for the Holy Great Church of Christ.”

Archon Koudounis noted: “I’m honored to serve as the Chair of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation’s Investment Committee. Pursuant to the Foundation’s goal of ensuring the financial stability and independence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, we will be doing everything we can to ensure that the Foundation’s investments are managed properly and with an eye toward the ability for the Ecumenical Patriarchate to fulfill its sacred mission.” Archon John Koudounis is CEO of Calamos Investments. He serves on the Board of Directors for The Hellenic Initiative and the National Hellenic Museum. He is an active member of Leadership 100 and a major donor to the St. Nicholas National Shrine and Panhellenic Scholarship Foundation.

Archon Robert A. Buhler is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation. He is President and Chief Executive Officer of Open Pantry Food Marts of Wisconsin, Inc. He is also a member of Leadership 100 and a lifetime member of the Hellenic American Women’s Council.

Christopher F. Allwin is the CEO of Aetos Capital, a diversified alternatives manager. Aetos Capital provides institutional capabilities for niche asset classes including distress and carbon. Christopher chairs the Investment Committee of Aetos Capital. Christopher also sits on the National Board of Directors of Communities in Schools. He earned his BA from Yale University and his MBA from Columbia Business School.

Archon Michael N. Bapis is a member of Leadership 100. He has served extensively as member of the Board of Directors of Leadership 100 and as the director of the Young Professionals group within Leadership 100. He volunteers for the Greek Division of the Ronald MacDonald House, a residence for the parents of hospitalized children.

Archon-elect Frank D. Catrickes is an executive of Wellington Financial Management and a member of Leadership 100. He offers much time to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, where he serves as an active member of the OCMC Board. He currently serves as the Chair of the Investment Committee for a $75 million endowment of an educational institution in the Boston area.

John A. Catsimatidis, Jr. is a Principal at the Red Apple Group, which owns and operates assets in the energy, real estate, finance, insurance, and supermarket industries. In addition to his involvement in the operations of portfolio companies, John also leads the investment team which looks at both private and public opportunities. John is involved in all of the philanthropic activities of the Catsimatidis Family Foundation, which supports organizations such as the Police Athletic League and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Archon William H. Spell is a fulfilled member of Leadership 100 and a major contributor to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Through the Spell Family Foundation, he also supports many other philanthropies. Archon Spell is a private equity investment manager.

Archon John A. Catsimatidis has served over the years in a variety of volunteer positions in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, including Vice Chairman of the Archdiocesan Council, board member of Leadership 100 and a founder of the Faith Endowment. He chairs the Religious Freedom Committee of the Order of St. Andrew and is a longtime member of the National Council of the governing board of the Order of St. Andrew. He has been a strong supporter of the Police Athletic League for nearly 30 years and is a leader in the business, real estate, insurance, supermarket and energy arenas. He also serves on the Board of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and of the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund.

Archon Anthony J. Limberakis, M.D., is a member of the Archon National Council of the Order of St. Andrew since 1988, and has served as National Commander of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, an organization comprised of the leading Orthodox churchmen in the United States whose mission is to defend and support the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Limberakis is a current member of the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, a fulfilled member of Leadership 100 and past member of the Board of Trustees of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology. Previously he served on the Board of Visitors of Duke University Medical Center and was the president of the Duke University Medical Alumni Association and the Medical School’s major gifts organization, The Davison Club.

Archon Michael Psaros is a Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of KPS Capital Partners, LP. He has served as the Treasurer of the Holy Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America and currently serves on its Archdiocesan Council. He is also a founding member of FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism; and serves on the Board of Trustees of The Leadership 100 Advancing Hellenism and Orthodoxy in America, the Executive Board of The Hellenic Initiative, and is a member of AHEPA. Psaros serves on the Board of Directors of Georgetown University, and is Vice Chairman of the Executive Board of Advisors of Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and the Board of Advisors of the Georgetown University Center for Financial Markets and Policy.

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation has to date raised $13.839 million, including the matching $1 million grant from the Nicholas J. and Anna K. Bouras Foundation.