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Published by the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America, August 4,
2004
Alex G. Spanos To Receive 2004 Athenagoras Award
At Annual Archon Grand Banquet in New York
New
York, NY– The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle,
Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America,
will present Alex G. Spanos, a great humanitarian,
philanthropist and leading businessman, with
the19th Annual Athenagoras Human Rights Awards at
the organization’s grand banquet at the New York
Hilton Hotel on October 9, 2004.
Alex G. Spanos, the chairman and owner of the A.
G. Spanos Companies, is recognized for his
devotion to his church and to his fellow human
beings. His support of human rights, educational
opportunity and a wide variety of civic,
educational, athletic, and arts organizations grew
dramatically as he transformed a modest business
venture into a corporate giant, ranked at the top
of the national housing industry.
Always proud of his Greek heritage and devoted to
his faith, Spanos has been an active supporter of
his church and a major philanthropist to a variety
of church, educational, athletic, arts and civic
organizations. In 1972, he was elevated to be
Archon Depoutatos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
for his extraordinary support of the Greek
Orthodox Church. He continues to champion the
concerns of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and avidly
supports His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew.
A long-time member of The Archbishop Iakovos
Leadership 100 Endowment Fund, Spanos was recently
elected Chairman of Faith: An Endowment for
Orthodoxy & Hellenism, a new Foundation, dedicated
to significantly increase support of the critical
ministries of the Archdiocese into the 21st
Century. He is also a recipient of AHEPA’s
Aristotelian Award (1984); and this year, he
received from the President of Cyprus The Grand
Cross of the Order of Makarios III.
In recognition for his commitment to community and
his fellowmen, Spanos has received numerous honors
and awards, among them the Horatio Alger Award,
the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Medal of Honor,
Starbright Foundation’s Heart of Gold, and the
Anti-Defamation League of B’nai Brith’s National
Distinguished Community Service Award for devotion
to community and concern for others.
In announcing the 2004 Award, Dr. Anthony
Limberakis, National Commander of the Order of St.
Andrew, stated, “Alex Spanos has thrilled
audiences throughout the country at book signings
for Sharing the Wealth, a recollection of his
earlier years, but what strikes the reader most is
his unambiguous and core beliefs. As he himself
states, ‘ I believe I have a sacred duty to share
my good fortune with my church, my community, my
fellow Greek Americans and my family…Giving just
does my heart good.’ His actions speak even louder
than his words in his support of human rights,
devotion to our Ecumenical Patriarch and outreach
to people deprived of freedom and justice.”
His personal life has been as rewarding and
fulfilling as his extraordinary career. He and his
wife, Faye, are the parents of four children,
Dean, Dea, Alexis and Michael, and have fifteen
grandchildren.
Archbishop Demetrios of America, Exarch of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate, will host the event which
is expected to attract more than 1,500 Orthodox
Christian laymen and clergy from across the
country.
Established in 1986, The Athenagoras Human Rights
Award, named for Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras,
one of the 20th century’s most notable Orthodox
Christian religious leaders, has been presented
annually by the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle to
a person or organization which has "…consistently
exemplified by action, purpose and dedication,
concern for the basic human rights and religious
freedom of all people regardless of race, color or
creed." Among recent recipients of the prestigious
award have been former President George H. W. Bush
and former First Lady Barbara Bush, Elie Wiesel
and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
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