AHEPA pledges aid to victims of Gustav

Greek American Community Expresses Concern, Pledges Assistance in Wake of Gustav

Community's Presence in Gulf Coast is Extensive

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ike Gulas, the national president of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), the nation's leading association for American citizens of Greek heritage, issued the following statement on the approach of Hurricane Gustav to the Gulf Coast:

"As our nation braces for Hurricane Gustav, we wish to express our concern for those who will be affected by this dangerous storm.

"In the Hellenic spirit of philanthropy and good citizenry, we are activating the AHEPA Emergency Response Team, and placing our chapters on alert, in anticipation of the great need for assistance that will result from the storm's landfall. However, we hope and pray for the best."

The Greek American community has a significant presence in the Gulf Coast. AHEPA operates 14 HUD Section 202 Senior Citizen Housing apartment complexes in Alabama, ten of which are in Mobile, Ala., and five senior housing complexes in Houston. The Daughters of Penelope, an affiliate organization of AHEPA, sponsors Penelope House. Located in Mobile, Ala., Penelope House is the first shelter for victims of domestic abuse and their children established in Alabama. Moreover, the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the first Greek Orthodox Church established in North and South America, is located in New Orleans. Finally, Daughters of Penelope Grand President Barbara Stavis Wolf, of Covington, La., which is a suburb of New Orleans, is one of the evacuees.

AHEPA and its affiliated organizations contributed $50,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and Gulf Coast-area chapters donated countless volunteer hours assembling goods and materials to hurricane victims while helping communities rebuild.

According to Gulas, a native of Birmingham, Ala., the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita still resonate today with AHEPA's senior citizen apartments in Houston. "There is a long waiting list for folks to become tenants at our Houston apartments and many of them are Katrina and Rita evacuees," he said.

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RELATED: AHEPA Emergency Relief Fund

AHEPA is the largest Greek-American association in the world with chapters in the United States, Canada, Greece, Cyprus, and sister chapters in Australia and New Zealand. It was established in 1922 by visionary Greek Americans to protect Hellenes from prejudice originating from the KKK, and in its history, AHEPA joined with the NAACP and B'nai B'rith International to fight discrimination.

The mission of the AHEPA family is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and family and individual excellence through community service and volunteerism.