Chicago, March 10, 2026
The Hellenic Initiative (THI) announced today that more than $1 million was raised in support of the people of Greece during a special fundraising weekend in Chicago that culminated in a sold-out concert by acclaimed Greek artist Konstantinos Argiros, described as the largest gathering in history of the Greek diaspora in support of Greece.
The highlight of the weekend took place on Saturday, March 7, at the United Center. It began with a black-tie dinner hosted by THI Vice Chairman John S. Koudounis in honor of renowned investor and philanthropist John P. Calamos Sr. Calamos was presented with the THI Lifetime Achievement Award, by Koudounis and THI President George P. Stamas, for his extraordinary contributions to business, philanthropy and the Greek diaspora. The evening brought together leaders of the Greek-American community, philanthropists, business executives and supporters of Greece.
Following the awards dinner, guests joined the over 13,000 attending the sold-out concert by Konstantinos Argiros, benefitting THI.
The evening before, Calamos Investments hosted a reception for dinner sponsors and supporters, marking the start of a weekend dedicated to strengthening the Greek diaspora’s commitment to Greece’s future. The highlight of this evening was when Koudounis, who celebrated his 60th birthday the day before, was surprised by his family with a video, cake, gift from THI and Konstantinos Argiros leading everyone in singing “happy birthday” to John.
THI President George Stamas said, “This past weekend in Chicago was a tremendous success for The Hellenic Initiative. I extend my sincere thanks to all who helped make it possible, starting with John Koudounis for his leadership and partnership in helping make this remarkable weekend possible. These events brought together our community in a powerful way and ultimately raised $1 million in support of THI’s mission.”
As THI Board Member Cathy Sakellaris noted, “The emotion in the stadium was palpable. Looking around the arena and seeing thousands of Greeks, of every generation, sharing the same feeling of pride, joy, and connection – celebrating who we are and where we come from. The only moment we can compare it to in terms of pride and collective emotion was the opening ceremony of the Athens Olympics in 2004. That same feeling of unity, identity, and deep pride in being Greek filled the entire arena.”
Funds raised during the weekend will support The Hellenic Initiative’s philanthropic and economic development programs in Greece, which focus on entrepreneurship, job creation and humanitarian aid. Since its founding, The Hellenic Initiative has invested more than $10.5 million through humanitarian aid grants and over $13.5 million through economic development initiatives, helping strengthen communities across Greece and support long-term growth.
