“I am honored to join the next generation of Hellenic Leaders. The FAITH Endowment is an aggregator for the best young minds within the Greek community and empowers young Greeks to help one another succeed, pushing the development and achievement of its members to reach their absolute potential.” – Joanna Papaioannou, 2020 FAITH Scholar
The unprecedented challenges of 2020 have highlighted the importance of leaders within our community, and we would like to thank the Founders of FAITH for not only their invaluable leadership and professional, philanthropic and innovative contributions to our community, but for also providing a launching pad for the next generation of young Greek Americans through their generous support of the Endowment’s programs.
As we near the close of what has been an immeasurably challenging year, we would also like to express deepest gratitude and appreciation to the first reponders, healthcare leaders, essential workers and every individual who has navigated the unparalleled reality of the pandemic. Our prayers and thoughts remain with those who have been affected and continue to be affected by the events of this year.
We were grateful to begin the New Year on a bright note. In January, we celebrated past and present scholarship recipients at the fourth annual FAITH Scholars luncheon in New York City and launched the inaugural Strategic Leadership and Transformative Action (SLTA) program in partnership with Tufts University—inviting 20 clergy and laity from the Metropolis of Chicago to workshop and collaborate on projects to strengthen their parish and greater community in this unique and customized leadership program. One month later, FAITH granted the largest donation to date to complete the fundraising campaign for the rebuilding of the Saint Nicholas Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero.
As the year’s events accelerated and institutions began to close, we opened our FAITH Scholarship for Academic Excellence application process. Upon review, we were inspired by the caliber of academic success, determined motivation and tenacious spirit exhibited by this year’s applicants.
Despite the interruptions faced during their spring semester, these young leaders adapted to meet the growing needs in their communities: from grocery shopping for elderly neighbors and volunteering in food banks and hospitals to creating a support program for low-income medical students and developing curriculum for a virtual education program for elementary students. Even when it was logically difficult to do so, they remained engaged with their Greek Orthodox community—heading their parish’s COVID response teams, providing tech support for livestreams and hosting weekly Greek Orthodox Youth meetings over Zoom.
We were pleased to award over 130 scholarships this year. We welcomed 57 of the brightest and most accomplished graduating high school seniors within the Greek American community into our FAITH Scholarship for Academic Excellence program and awarded 75 FAITH STEM continuation scholarships. From collaborating with an international team of data scientists in evaluating clinical trial results for COVID treatments to developing prosthetics for those living with neuromuscular conditions, our FAITH STEM Scholars are pushing society forward through data-driven problem solving, transformative technological developments and advancements in scientific and medical fields—all while averaging a 3.8 GPA and remaining committed to their philanthropic endeavors and Greek community.
In closing, we thank our Founders for their generous support of these programs that inspire and guide these young Greek American leaders’ accomplishments and future plans within our community and beyond. As we look ahead to a New Year, we pray for health, happiness and safety for each of you and your loved ones.