[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 23 (Monday, February 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E205]]



 IN HONOR OF SAINT DEMETRIOS CATHEDRAL AFTERNOON SCHOOL AND MR. GEORGE 
                   ALMIROUDIS AND MR. NIKOS PAPHITIS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 26, 2001

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I wish today to bring to the 
attention of my colleagues an exemplary after school program being 
offered in my district in Queens, New York, the Saint Demetrios 
Cathedral Afternoon School.
  Saint Demetrios Cathedral, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and 
South America, Hellenic Orthodox Community of Astoria is an institution 
that promotes education, understanding, community service and the 
preservation of the Hellenic culture. In order to help neighborhood 
children learn more about their heritage, Saint Demetrios established 
an extra curricular program that offers afternoon and Saturday classes 
for grades 1-7. The curriculum includes instruction in Greek, spoken 
and written, Hellenic history, Orthodox religion, Hellenic traditions 
and culture, as well as instruction in Hellenic dancing. The Seventh 
grade students receive preparation for the Greek Regents' exam.
  Saint Demetrios is the world's largest Hellenic community outside of 
Athens. Founded in 1927, the church has, over the years, been home to 
tens of thousands of Hellenic immigrants, more recently, second-, 
third-, and fourth-generation Hellenic-Americans. In addition to Greek 
afternoon school, the parish includes a parochial school for pre-K to 
high school and Sunday School for religious instruction.
  The program is administered by Anastasios Koularmanis, Supervising 
Principal and Timoleon Kokkinos, Director of Afternoon School. No 
school will succeed without the support of the parents. Fortunately, 
Saint Demetrios's school has an active and involved parent body.
  This Sunday, February 11, the Saint Demetrios Afternoon School will 
have its annual luncheon that will honor, two true philanthropists of 
the community, Mr. George Almiroudis and Mr. Nikos Paphitis.
  George Almiroudis was born in Greece in 1951, on the island of Chios 
in the medieval village of Mesta. He completed his high school 
education and three-year military obligation and in 1974 emigrated to 
the United States.
  Upon his arrival in the United States, he worked hard and followed 
the ``American Dream.'' Today he is a very successful general 
contractor. His company MESTA construction is named after his hometown. 
The company employs more than 100 people in my district.
  In addition to his successful business ventures, George has focused 
his energies on many charitable organizations and events. He served as 
President of the MESTA Fraternal Organization, and the Chian 
Federation, Secretary of the International Coordinating Committee 
Justice for Cyprus and member of the Children's Hospital in Boston and 
of the New York Hospital. In addition, he is a member of the Hellenic 
Issues Committee of the Council of Hellenes Abroad.
  George's humanitarianism is exemplified by his creation of the George 
K. Almiroudis Chian Geriatric Foundation, Ltd. The mission of the 
foundation is to provide emotional, physical, financial and 
psychological support to Hellenic American senior citizens residing in 
senior residencies and nursing homes in the United States and Greece.
  To date his work has been recognized by the Borough Presidents of 
Queens and the Bronx and the Council of Hellenes Abroad who identified 
him as one of the most active Hellenes in the United States.
  George Almiroudis could not do all of this without the support of his 
wife Triantafillia Mathioudis-Almiroudis and their three sons, 
Constantinos, Adamatios and George Jr.
  Mr. Nikos Paphitis, the second honoree was born in Pentayia, Morphou 
in Cyprus, an area that has been under Turkish occupation since the 
1974 invasion. He completed his high school education and military 
service in Cyprus.
  Nikos Paphitis came to the United States to pursue higher education. 
He received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from York College.
  In 1991 he joined Cyprus Popular Bank serving as Customer Legal 
Relations and Affairs in the Finance Department. He is currently 
serving as Chief Representative of LAIKI Group in New York. An 
industrious and resourceful individual, Nikos is active with the Cyprus 
Federation of America. He is currently serving as Chairman of the 
Philanthropic Committee of the Cyprus Federation along with several 
other causes.
  He is married to Evie Georgiou and they have two children Andreas 
(10) and Marilena (7) who are attending St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox 
School in Astoria.
  Mr. Speaker, I salute the wonderful work of the Saint Demetrios After 
School Program and the two great individuals they have honored, George 
Almiroudis and Nikos Paphitis. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing their contributions to the Astoria community.

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