[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 27]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 36462]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE PANPAPHIAN ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA ON THE OCCASION 
                       OF ITS ANNUAL DINNER-DANCE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute 
to the PanPaphian Association of America for its tremendous 
contributions to our cultural and civic life. Founded two decades ago 
by Hellenic Cypriot Americans of Paphian ancestry, the Association has 
carried out its vital educational and humanitarian mission while 
helping promote peace and understanding on the occupied island of 
Cyprus.
  The PanPaphian Association of American is holding its annual dinner-
dance this month, at which its members will honor Mr. Nikos Tziazas 
with the Evagoras Pallikarides Award. Born in Paphos, Mr. Tziazas 
immigrated to the United States in 1979 after graduating from high 
school and serving more than two years in the Cypriot National Guard as 
an artillery officer. While in college, he became an active member of 
the Zenon Association; general secretary and a member of the soccer 
team at the Eleftheria Football Club; and an active member of the 
Cypriot Students Association. After graduating from St. Francis College 
with a degree in management and finance in 1986, Nikos Tziazas started 
his first company, National Mortgage Finders, and simultaneously began 
coaching soccer at the Eleftheria Pancyprian Youth association. In 
2006, he became president of its soccer club. Under his leadership, the 
club became one of the largest and most successful in the Cosmopolitan 
Junior Soccer League and in the community of persons of Hellenic 
descent. In 2005 he served as president of the Panpaphian Association. 
Currently Nicos Tziazas is president of Lyons General Insurance Agency, 
and remains active in youth activities as president of the Eleftheria 
Pancyprian Youth Soccer Club. He is a devoted to his wife, Kalina, and 
his children, Kristothea and Nicholas.
  The PanPaphian Association is bestowing its Distinguished Fellow 
Cyprian Award on Despina Axiotakis. She was born in Asgata, Limassol on 
Cyprus, where her father, Kyriacos Ioannou, was well known as the 
``Palikari'' for exhibiting tremendous feats of strength. With her 
family, she immigrated here in 1956. After her education at the 
Traphagen School of Fashion, she entered the business world and today 
serves as president of Axiocom Productions, a firm specializing in 
public relations.
  Despina Axiotakis became active in the political arena, serving the 
presidential campaigns of Governors Michael Dukakis and Bill Clinton. 
She has served on the Board of Directors of the Greek Children's Fund 
and the Church of the Assumption in Windham, New York. While serving as 
president of the Asgata Association Cyprus Woman's Division, she 
founded the Asgata Youth and Dance Division that included teaching the 
group Hellenic and Cypriot dances. In addition, she was the editor of 
the ``Asgata Newsletter'' for more than eight years. She serves as 
general secretary of the Cyprus Federation of America, a position she 
has held for more than 15 years. At the same time she has served as 
executive director of the Cyprus United States Chamber of Commerce. 
Despina is devoted to her husband, John, their 2 children, Lucas and 
Irene, and their 5 grandchildren.
  The PanPaphian Association is honoring as its ``Member of the Year'' 
Mr. Michael Ioannou Michaels. Born in Kalavasos, Cyprus, he immigrated 
to the United States at the age of 21 and began working on ships as a 
welder. Mr. Michaels eventually started his own construction company. 
Although he adopted the United States as his new home, he never lost 
the connection with his native country, and became involved in several 
organizations such as the Cyprus Federation of America, the PanPaphian 
Association, and Kalavasos Fraternity, which he serves as acting 
president, and also participates in the Pancyprian soccer team and the 
Cyprian dance group. One of his most noteworthy contributions to civic 
life is his generous and selfless devotion to the Rachel Cooper 
Foundation, which enables children with congenital heart disease from 
Cyprus and other countries to be flown to the U.S. for urgent medical 
care. Although he recently lost his beloved wife Olympia, Mr. Michaels 
remains devoted to her memory and to his daughter, Martha, and her 
husband, Andy.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my distinguished colleagues rise to join me 
in paying tribute to the PanPaphian Association of America and all its 
good works.

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