[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 50 (Tuesday, April 13, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN HONOR OF THE PAN GREGORIAN FUND OF METROPOLITAN NEW YORK AND LONG 
      ISLAND, INC. ON THE OCCASION OF THE ACADEMIC AWARDS BANQUET

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 13, 1999

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a special 
tribute to the Pan Gregorian Fund of Metropolitan New York and Long 
Island on the occasion of their Academic Awards Banquet on Sunday, 
March 7, 1999.
  The Pan Gregorian Fund, spearheaded by Tassos Manesis, is a non-for-
profit corporation established in 1995 by the Food Industry Cooperative 
of New York, Inc. The Fund's main purpose is to advance, support, and 
promote the Hellenic-American education system, the Greek language, and 
academic excellence. Its activities are directed and carried out 
primarily by Greek-American restaurants and others involved in the food 
industry.
  Since its creation in 1995, the Fund has awarded over $100,000 in 
grants and scholarships to the top graduates of the Hellenic-American 
day schools, as well as teachers and principals in the New York City 
metropolitan area in recognition of their dedication to the education 
of youth.
  In addition to the grant recipients, the Pan Gregorian will be 
honoring Dennis Mehiel, Stanley Matthews and Thomas Calamaras at the 
awards banquet.
  Mr. Mehiel, a New York City native of Hellenic heritage, is the 
chairman, CEO and principal shareholder of the Four M Corporation, 
Sweetheart Cup Company, and The Fonda Group, Inc. Since 1978, he has 
been a leader in the field of education as a board member of the New 
Jersey independent high school for girls, a New York school for 
learning disabled children, Yeshiva University's Wuzweiler School of 
Social Work and the American Board of Overseers of Bar-ilan University.
  In 1966, he returned to his birthplace, Washington Heights, and 
founded the ``All The Way'' program, a kindergarten through college 
education support program. ``All The Way'' provides educational 
enrichment and supplemental health and social services for children and 
their families, culminating in a four-year, pre-paid college education.
  Mr. Matthews, born in Varvitsa, Lakonia, Greece, grew up during the 
German Occupation and the Civil War. He emigrated to the United States 
in 1951. He founded the Greek Children's Fund at Memorial-Sloan 
Kettering Cancer Center. As a result of a personal experience, he 
became acquainted with the financial and emotional stress cancer 
imposes on its victims and their families. His fund has raised 
approximately $2 million to help Greek-American families who have to 
deal with a life-threatening illness in addition to the added burden of 
adapting to a new culture.
  Mr. Thomas Calamaras came to the United States as an immigrant and 
proceeded to establish a family food service business. Today, he and 
his family are an example of successful businesspeople and community-
minded individuals.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise with me in this tribute to 
the Pan Gregorian Fund and its honorees, a group dedicated to extending 
a helping hand to others.

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