III 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 14 

Commemorating the 85th anniversary of the founding of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, a leading association for the 

1,300,000 United States citizens of Greek ancestry and Philhellenes 

in the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 28, 2007 

Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Mr. MENENDEZ) submitted the following 

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 85th anniversary of the founding of 

the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, a leading association for the 1,300,000 United 

States citizens of Greek ancestry and Philhellenes in 

the United States. 

Whereas the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) was founded on July 26, 1922, in 

Atlanta, Georgia, by 8 visionary Greek immigrants to 

help unify, organize, and protect against the bigotry, discrimination, and defamation faced by people of all ethnic, 

racial, and religious backgrounds perpetrated predominantly by the Ku Klux Klan; 

Whereas the mission of AHEPA is to promote the ideals of 

ancient Greece, which include philanthropy, education, 


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•SCON 14 IS 

civic responsibility, and family and individual excellence 

through community service and volunteerism; 

Whereas, since its inception, AHEPA has instilled in its 

members an understanding of their Hellenic heritage and 

an awareness of the contributions made by Greece to the 

development of democratic principles and governance in 

the United States and throughout the world; 

Whereas AHEPA has done much throughout its history to 

foster patriotism in the United States; 

Whereas members of AHEPA have served in the Armed 

Forces to protect the freedom of the United States and 

to preserve the democratic ideals that are part of the 

Hellenic legacy; 

Whereas, in World War II, members of AHEPA were 

parachuted behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied Greece 

to help liberate the country; 

Whereas AHEPA raised more than $253,000,000 for United 

States war bonds during World War II, for which 

AHEPA was named an official Issuing Agent for United 

States War Bonds by the Department of Treasury, an 

honor that no other civic organization was able to achieve 

at the time; 

Whereas the members of AHEPA donated $612,000 for the 

restoration of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, New 

York, for which AHEPA received special recognition by 

the Department of the Interior; 

Whereas the AHEPA National Housing Program was awarded $500,000,000 by the Department of Housing and 

Urban Development for its Section 202 Program, which 

has yielded 4,370 units in 80 properties across 21 States 


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•SCON 14 IS 

and 49 cities and has provided dignified, affordable housing to senior citizens; 

Whereas AHEPA was recognized by the Department of State 

as an organization that has engaged in ‘‘Track Two Diplomacy’’ to foster reconciliation and rapprochement in 

the Eastern Mediterranean, which is in the best interest 

of the United States; 

Whereas members of AHEPA raised $110,000 for the George 

C. Marshall Statue to be erected on the grounds of the 

United States Embassy in Athens, Greece, in celebration 

of the historic relationship between the United States and 

Greece, and in tribute to an outstanding statesman and 

Philhellene, General Marshall; 

Whereas AHEPA financially supports scholarships, educational chairs, medical research, and countless other 

charitable and philanthropic causes by contributing more 

than $2,000,000 annually from its national, district, and 

local levels collectively; 

Whereas, in the spirit of their Hellenic heritage and in commemoration of the Centennial Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia, members of AHEPA raised $775,000 for 

the Tribute to Olympism Sculpture, the fan-like structure 

of which helped to save lives during the bombing at Centennial Olympic Park; 

Whereas members of AHEPA have been Presidents and Vice 

Presidents of the United States, United States Senators 

and Representatives, and United States Ambassadors, 

and have served honorably as elected officials at the local 

and State levels throughout the United States; and 

Whereas President George H.W. Bush cited AHEPA as one 

of the ‘‘thousand points of light’’: Now, therefore, be it 


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1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That the Congress— 

3 (1) recognizes the significant contributions of 

4 United States citizens of Hellenic heritage to the 

5 United States; 

6 (2) commemorates the 85th anniversary of the 

7 founding of the American Hellenic Educational Pro8 gressive Association (AHEPA), applauds its mission, 

9 and commends the many charitable contributions of 

10 its members to communities around the world; and 

11 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

12 to observe the 85th anniversary of the founding of 

13 AHEPA and celebrate its many accomplishments. 

Æ 


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