Two lives have been lost, and widespread destruction has occurred as Storm Bora continues to batter Greece with torrential rains, gale-force winds, and snow.

Prior to her marriage, Marianne worked for a Middle East Embassy as the Program Director for Cultural Affairs. She oversaw the admittance and study programs for 2,500 graduate students studying in universities and colleges throughout the United States. While still at the Embassy she was offered a position with the Office of Protocol at the State Department. During the interim period of accepting the position at the State Department, she met Dean and they married.

The Hellenic Initiative (THI), the largest global non-profit uniting the Greek Diaspora – with supporters in over 47 countries – will host its 12^th Annual New York Gala on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Cipriani 55 Wall Street in New York City.  

Funds raised support THI’s vetted humanitarian partners and economic/entrepreneurial development in Greece. Prior to the event, THI’s hotly anticipated annual online auction will go live showcasing luxury items from renowned Greek designers. A bidding website is under development and will be available soon.

This year’s event will honor noted philanthropists Marianne and Dean Metropoulos. The Gala will celebrate their contributions to supporting the people of Greece and recognize their philanthropy worldwide. (Please see full biographies listed below.)

Themed “Dare to Dream,” the black-tie evening will open with cocktails and auction item viewing

at 6:30 p.m.  Dinner and awards will begin at 8:00 p.m. and dancing will kick off at 10:00 p.m. The event will feature a special performance by Greek singer Thanos Petrelis and dancing by the Jimmy Vali Band.

Special guests include Antonios Tsapatakis, 2024 Paralympian Silver Medalist in Swimming – 100m breaststroke and Alexandra Stamatopoulou, 2024 Paralympian Gold Medalist in Swimming – 50m backstroke.

More than 800 invitees, benefactors, and dignitaries are anticipated at this important annual celebration of community, heritage, and culture, which unites the Greek diaspora in a meaningful manner.

TICKETS: Individual $800, THI New Leader (45 years old or younger) $400. Table prices start at $15,000.

ABOUT THI: Founded in 2012, THI is a global, nonprofit, secular institution mobilizing the Greek diaspora and philhellene community to support sustainable economic recovery and renewal for the Greek people. THI's programs address crisis relief through strong nonprofit organizations and build entrepreneurial skills in a new generation of business leaders. Since its founding, THI has raised more than $37 million and has grown to be the largest Greek Diaspora organization in the world.  Visit: TheHellenicInitiative.org.

On November 22, 2024, the following press release was issued by the Office of U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5):

U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Dan Goldman (NY-10), and Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) led a bipartisan letter signed by 39 Members of Congress to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and ODNI Director Avril Haines, requesting a classified briefing on the threats to U.S. national security posed by Turkey’s growing relationship with Hamas. The letter is supported by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), American Jewish Committee (AJC), American Hellenic Institute (AHI), Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), and FDD Action.

The signatory list of 39 bipartisan Members of Congress includes Reps. Gottheimer (NJ-5), Bilirakis (FL-12), Goldman (NY-10), Malliotakis (NY-11), Auchincloss (MA-5), Bacon (NE-2), Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Cohen (TN-9), Davis (NC-1), Fleischmann (TN-3), Flood (NE-1), Frankel (FL-22), Hoyer (MD-5), LaLota (NY-1), Lee, Manning (NC-6), Menendez (NJ-8), Meng (NY-6), Miller (OH-7), Moskowitz (FL-23), Nickel (NC-13), Nunn (IA-3), Pallone (NJ-6), Pappas (NH-1), Sarbanes (MD-6), Schneider (IL-10), Sherman (CA-32), Soto (FL-9), Stevens (MI-11), Suozzi (NY-3), Thanedar (MI-13), Titus (NV-1), Torres (CA-35), Torres (NY-15), Trone (MD-6), Valadao (CA-22), Vargas (CA-52), and Wasserman Schultz (FL-25).

“We are alarmed by recent reports that senior members of Hamas’s leadership have relocated to Turkey with the intent of establishing a headquarters there,” wrote Congressman Gottheimer (NJ-5) and 38 bipartisan Members of Congress in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and ODNI Director Avril Haines. “We have serious concerns about the security implications of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member hosting, and potentially aiding, Hamas, a U.S. and EU designated foreign terrorist organization. With these concerns in mind, we request an immediate classified briefing for Members of Congress on the threats to U.S. national security posed by Turkey’s growing relationship with Hamas.”

“AHI is grateful for the leadership of Rep. Goldman, Rep. Gottheimer, Rep. Bilirakis, and Rep. Malliotakis on this initiative, which will ensure policymakers are informed about the true extent of Turkey’s role in supporting Hamas. We appreciate working with them on this important issue which will help strengthen U.S. national security in the Eastern Mediterranean.”- American Hellenic Institute

“Erdogan’s support for Hamas and its campaign to destroy the state of Israel has reached new heights. Turkey has emboldened Hamas by hosting its leadership and permitting terror cells to operate within its territory. The U.S. must now make it clear to Erdogan that his deliberate facilitation of Hamas will carry serious consequences. FDD Action supports efforts to hold Turkey accountable for sanctions evasion, money laundering and terror financing on behalf of Hamas. As a NATO member, Turkey must reject Hamas and actively combat terrorism—or risk losing the benefits of the alliance.” – FDD action 

“President Erdoğan’s support for the Iran-backed terror group, Hamas, and his venomous opposition to America’s most reliable ally in the Middle East, Israel, is deeply concerning. It is no secret Hamas members have been in Turkey for some time, but it is outrageous to see reports that President Erdoğan has allowed Hamas leadership safe passage to his country. Hamas leaders deserve isolation, not legitimacy — especially from a member of the NATO alliance. American Jewish Committee (AJC) applauds Representatives Josh Gottheimer, Nicole Malliotakis, Dan Goldman, and Gus Bilirakis for shining a light on this matter and making clear the United States will not stand by as President Erdoğan harbors terrorists who continue to advocate for the destruction of our ally, Israel,” said Julie Fishman Rayman, Managing Director of Policy and Political Affairs, AJC.

Full text of the letter sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and ODNI Director Avril Haines can be found here and below:

Dear Secretary Blinken and Director Haines:

We are alarmed by recent reports that senior members of Hamas’s leadership have relocated to Turkey with the intent of establishing a headquarters there, following Qatar’s announcement that it would suspend its mediation role between Israel and Hamas.

We have serious concerns about the security implications of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member hosting, and potentially aiding, Hamas, a U.S. and EU designated foreign terrorist organization. With these concerns in mind, we request an immediate classified briefing for Members of Congress on the threats to U.S. national security posed by Turkey’s growing relationship with Hamas. Throughout the tenure of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s relationship with Hamas has long been an issue of concern. Turkey has maintained relations with Hamas and openly expressed support for its mission and movement. In spite of Hamas’s heinous October 7, 2023, terrorist attack against Israel, the Turkish government has continued its unreserved public support for the terrorist group responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians, including Americans and nationals from NATO allied countries. In the year following the attacks, support for Hamas in Turkish government policies and rhetoric from top Turkish officials, including President Erdoğan, has intensified over the last year.

Top Turkish officials have also consistently offered praise and support for Hamas — an Iranian backed terrorist organization — while using every opportunity to try to delegitimize the State of Israel. Just last month, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Hamas political leaders in Istanbul, two days after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed Hamas’s leader and architect of the October 7 massacre, Yayha Sinwar. Following that meeting, the Foreign Minister’s office released a shameful statement that “expressed his condolences to Hamas officials on the martyrdom” of the Hamas leader. In August, while speaking at a Turkish government event in Istanbul, top Hamas official Khaled Mashaal called for the resumption of suicide bus bombings throughout Israel. Two months earlier, Shin Bet claimed it foiled a Hamas suicide bombing plot in the West Bank that was orchestrated and directed from Turkey. 

The United States has clearly recognized the problematic relationship between Hamas and the Turkish government. Recently, the Department of Treasury sanctioned three Turkish individuals and a sham Turkish charity after determining that they were in fact a part of a prominent international financing network for Hamas. Reports of Hamas’s potential relocation of its headquarters to Turkey, a NATO ally, are deeply concerning and dramatically escalate existing concerns about Turkey’s relationship with the terrorist group. With these concerns in mind, we request an immediate briefing in a classified setting to discuss the following questions: 

1. Are the reports that Hamas’s senior leadership relocated to Turkey accurate? Are the reports that Hamas intends to establish its headquarters in Turkey accurate?
2. What is the nature and extent of the Turkish government’s relationship with Hamas? Specifically, to what extent has the Turkish government or its affiliates provided material, financial, or other forms of support to the terrorist organization?
3. Does the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) have any information to suggest that Hamas has planned past terrorist attacks or is currently operating from Turkish soil or territory controlled by Turkey? This includes the Turkish occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and Turkish occupied Syria.
4. What actions have been, or will be, contemplated by the United States and NATO allies to address the possibility of a NATO country harboring a designated terrorist organization?
5. Would the U.S. seek extradition of Hamas officials from Turkey based on the U.S. criminal charges brought against Hamas by the Department of Justice? We look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,