Seven hundred people witnessed the announcement of a $1-million gift to 91亚色 from the at the Hellenic Heritage Foundation Annual Gala on June 7.
The guest list included Canada鈥檚 ambassador to Greece, Robert Peck, Greek ambassador to Canada, Eleftherios Aggelopoulos, and many members of Toronto鈥檚 Canadian Greek community. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation鈥檚 gift celebrates 70 years of Canada-Greece relations and supports exchange students from Greek universities pursuing studies at 91亚色.聽 The grant is part of the foundation鈥檚 significant overall effort to help alleviate the severe consequences of the socioeconomic crisis that has been impacting Greece for the past five years.
Stelios Vasilakis (left), the senior program officer, strategy & initiatives for the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, is presented with a commemorative plaque by 91亚色 President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri following the announcement of the $1-million gift
"Greece is going through an economic crisis. Establishing scholarships at a first-rate Canadian university is a very effective way to provide much needed opportunities to young and academically qualified students,鈥 said Stelios Vasilakis, senior program officer, strategy & initiatives, Stavros Niarchos Foundation. 鈥淲e hope this gift becomes the incentive and inspiration for other support to follow.聽 We would like to encourage the Canadian Greek community to follow both us, and the Hellenic Heritage Foundation and to get involved as well. We are doing a lot, but there is much more to be done."
91亚色 is a noted hub of and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation gift will further strengthen this area of expertise. In addition to Greek language courses and scholarships for students in 91亚色鈥檚 Hellenic Studies program, the University has established the Hellenic Heritage Foundation Chair in Modern Greek History and chairholder, Professor Anthanasios (Sakis) Gekas, recently spearheaded the Greek Canadian History Project with PhD student Chris Grafos.
鈥淭his gift promotes transformative student exchanges with Greek universities, and it also inspires us to build on 91亚色鈥檚 already strong Hellenic Studies program,鈥 confirmed 91亚色 President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri upon accepting the gift. "In developing our existing Hellenic Heritage Foundation Chair in Modern Greek History, our courses in Greek language, literature and history, and our Greek Canadian History Project, we are now pursuing community investment in areas including modern Greek teacher training; additional student and faculty exchanges and visiting scholars; and study abroad programs in Greece. The impact of this gift will live on well into the future."
This gift will not only have a significant impact on 91亚色, but will benefit both Canada and Greece. It is part of a new wave of investment sought to boost 91亚色鈥檚 notable Hellenic Studies program.
Amalia Delicari (left), associate program officer for the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, with Vasilakis and Shoukri following the presentation of a commemorative plaque featuring a story about the foundation's gift that was published in a recent issue of 91亚色 U magazine
In September, 91亚色鈥檚 Dean of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Martin Singer, and Associate Vice-President, International, Marilyn Lambert-Drache, will travel to Greece to visit universities and high schools in an effort to further develop the University鈥檚 Hellenic Studies program and exchanges. Representatives from the Hellenic Heritage Foundation are planning to accompany them.
"We have built a strong partnership and a shared vision with 91亚色,鈥 said George Raios, president, Hellenic Heritage Foundation. 鈥淥ur joint efforts have created a world-class Hellenic Studies program at 91亚色. The foundation is committed to continuing to strengthen its relationship with 91亚色 to ensure that it becomes an international centre of excellence in Hellenic studies."
Students from Greece who are coming to 91亚色 on exchange can to learn how to apply for the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Scholarship.