DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE FOUNDATION, INC. ANNOUNCES ESTABLISHMENT OF EIGHT NEW SCHOLARSHIPS
The late Paula J. Alexander whose memorial scholarship is one of eight new ones established by the Daughters of Penelope Foundation, Inc.
WASHINGTON-The Daughters of Penelope Foundation, Inc., founded in 1983 to promote the social, ethical, philanthropic, cultural, educational, and
intellectual interests of its members, announces the establishment of
eight new scholarships for the 2003 - 04 academic year, according to Athena Economy, president of the foundation.
"This is such a special year as we are celebrating our 20th
anniversary," said Economy. "We are grateful to the benefactors for their generous contributions that will enable young Hellenes to pursue their academic dreams. Our consummate goal will always be to increase the number of scholarship endowments and scholarships awarded. "
Of the eight new scholarships, two are perpetual and six are one-year
grants. A record total of 16 scholarships will be administered by the
foundation this year.
"We are extremely pleased and excited about the addition of these eight
scholarships to our program this year," said Daughters of Penelope Grand
President Angela Kavounas, who along with her husband, Greg, sponsored a new, one-year scholarship grant of $1,000. "We are equally proud that
the Daughters of Penelope has been chosen as the vehicle in awarding these scholarships."
The eight new scholarships are:
Perpetual
* Paula J. Alexander Memorial Scholarship. Made possible by an $18,000
endowment by family members Eppaminondas (Eppie) Johnson, brother;
Richard Bruce, son; and Demetrios Bruce, son. Alexander, a 50-year member and past Grand Lodge officer, dedicated her life to the educational programs of the organization. Born in Jersey City, NJ the late Paula Alexander was a member of the Daughters of Penelope in both Chapter 5, Sacramento, CA and Chapter 119, Hollywood, CA. and a member of Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles, CA. She was the daughter of the late George E. Johnson, a Past Supreme Vice President of the Order of AHEPA and a facilitator of the first Greek American Educational Exchange Student program in 1968, and Fotini Mousmoules. It will be awarded annually to a young woman in pursuit of an undergraduate degree.
* The Big Five Scholarship. Made possible by an $18,000 endowment by
Daughters of Penelope Past Grand President, Hon. Elizabeth "Betty"
Athanasakos of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The scholarship honors "Five
Friends" all of whom have served the Daughters of Penelope as Past Grand
Presidents (PGPs) and their husbands. It will be awarded to a graduate
student (law students are included for consideration) in honor of: PGPs
Kay Brotsis, Josie Chase and husband Thomas, Elizabeth Athanasakos, and Joanna Merakos; and in memory of PGP Mary Kapsos, Ted Kapsos, George Brotsis, Charles Panagopoulos, and Steve Merakos.
One-Year Grants
* Georgia D. Caloudas Scholarship. Made possible by a $1,500 grant by
Mrs. Caloudas who, along with her deceased husband, Steve, have been
ardent supporters of educational endeavors of the AHEPA family and the Greek American community of Houston, Texas. The scholarship will be awarded to an academically talented and financially needy individual.
* Angelina P. Kostas Scholarship. Made possible by a $1,500 grant by
Angelina P. Kostas, wife of philanthropist George Kostas, of Houston,
Texas.
A 20-year member of the Daughters of Penelope, Mrs. Kostas and the
Kostas Family have over the years displayed unwavering dedication to education and the Orthodox Church.
* The Kavounas Family in "Memory of Papou" Scholarship. Made possible
by a $1,000 grant by Daughters of Penelope Grand President Angela Kavounas and her husband, Greg of Kirkland, Washington.
* John C. Stamatiades Scholarships. Two (2)-1,000 grants will be
awarded in memory of Ahepan John C. Stamatiades by his wife, Karen B.
Stamatiades, Grand Governor Zone II, and his daughters, Becky E. and Connie J. Stamatiades of Atlanta, Georgia. The two scholarships will be awarded to deserving students. John Stamatiades was a Past District Governor of AHEPA District One. The family has committed a third scholarship grant for the 2005 academic year.
* Evellyn Tsiadis, Past Grand President Scholarship. Made possible by
a $1,000 grant by Past Grand President Evellyn Tsiadis and her husband,
Steve, of South Plainfield, New Jersey.
The deadline to apply for all 16 scholarships offered by the Daughters
of Penelope Foundation is June 1, 2004. Applications are available for
download at www.ahepa.org/dop/forms under the heading "National
Scholarship Awards."
According to Mrs. Economy, the challenge annually is to secure funding
for these scholarships. As a result, the foundation embarks on projects
that help to sustain income for its scholarship fund. For example, the
Children' s Literacy Project "Penelope's Books" is a book program in its second year aimed to encourage children to read. Profits from the program go toward a perpetual scholarship for a student majoring in the field of education.
"In its first year, the program yielded the sale of 1,500 books throughout
North America," she added.
For information about the "Children's Literacy Project" and other
projects of the Daughters of Penelope Foundation, Inc., or how you can contribute to the scholarship foundation, please contact Foundation President Athena Economy, athenae@zomma.com.
The Daughters of Penelope is one of four organizations to comprise the
AHEPA family. It was founded in 1929 in San Francisco. For more information, please visit www.ahepa.org/dop.
