AHEPA

AHEPA is the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. It is the largest association of U.S. and Canadian citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes. It is comprised of some 500 local chapters across the U.S. and Canada with headquarters in Washington, D.C. There are also chapters in Greece and Cyprus for U.S. citizens living there. The goals of the AHEPA are to promote Hellenism, education, philanthropy, and civic responsibility.

The AHEPA was founded as a fraternity in Atlanta, Georgia in July of 1922 for the purpose of assisting immigrants of Greek descent to achieve American citizenship and become assimilated into the community. With full assimilation of Greek Americans, its mission evolved toward philanthropy, education, and promoting and preserving the Hellenic identity of the Greek Americans. Philanthropic efforts include $600 million in senior housing projects, extensive local and national scholarship programs, fighting Thalassemia through the AHEPA Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, and a Greek descent bone marrow registry.

The organization also works on education and advocacy in Washington on issues relating to Greece and Cyprus and U.S. policy. The AHEPA Family consists of four organizations, namely: AHEPA (men), Daughters of Penelope (women), Sons of Pericles (young men), and Maids of Athena (young women).

The Pensacola Chapter, formally recognized as Order of AHEPA Daphne Chapter No. 296, was chartered on April 23, 1934. The charter members were C.P. Tampary, C.G. Costoplos, James Pedakis, John K. Tringas, Charles Liberis, Peter Chackney, Tom Manos, Peter Booras, Constantine N. Prassas, George Moss, Victor Bokas, Charles Booras, Charles Morres, Morris Daudelakis, and Thames Liberis. The early AHEPANs donated the land on which the Hellenic Center stands today. The Pensacola Chapter of AHEPA holds regular meetings at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.

An important project of the Pensacola Chapter over the last few years is construction of a $6 million AHEPA housing development that will provide affordable housing for low-income elderly and disabled persons. Groundbreaking of this project was held in January of 2007. These housing projects are funded by HUD dollars and managed by AHEPA. The Mobile Chapter of AHEPA has built 10 apartments in the Mobile, AL area and AHEPA has built 86 nationwide. Other local projects include activities to support the Annunciation Church and local scholarship programs.

The current officers of the Order of AHEPA Daphne Chapter No 296 are:
President - Dr. Charles Stamitoles
Vice President - Stelios Vatsolakis
Secretary - Louis Pehakis
Treasurer - Joe O’Neil

To join Daphne Chapter No. 296, submit an AHEPA Membership Application to:
AHEPA, 1720 West Garden Street, Pensacola, Florida 32501-4498

Additional information is available on the following web sites:
www.ahepa.org
www.ahepahousing.org

AHEPA 296 Holds Ground Breaking Ceremony for Community Housing

The Daughters of Penelope is a women's organization affiliated with AHEPA. It was the first Greek-American women's organization in the United States. One of its crowning achievements is Penelope House, a shelter for battered women in Mobile, Alabama. It is the first shelter for battered women and their children in that state. Learn more about the Pensacola Chapter of the Daughters of Penelope.