Today, Sunday, March 3, 2024 marks the conclusion of the 33rd Annual Leadership 100 (L100) Conference, celebrating the endowment’s 40th year of advancing Orthodoxy and Hellenism in America.
The Conference began with the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees Meetings on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. In his paternal exhortation, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America remarked, “I am, of course, delighted to be with you again here at the annual Leadership 100 Conference – the thirty-third in the forty year history of this incredible organization. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America – as it stands today – would be unthinkable without Leadership 100.”
On Thursday, February 29, 2024, the birthday of His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew was celebrated. A number of Forums were held and speakers included, Executive Director of Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Deacon Marek Simon, OCF representatives Maria Tsarnas and Chris Kontomaris, General Andrew Poppas, and Drs. Theodoros Teknos and Leonidas Platanias.
On Friday, March 1, 2024, Archbishop Elpidophoros offered his Address where he praised the important work of Leadership 100. “Leadership 100 is a potent endowment, because to ‘endow’ really is to empower, and that is what the Fund has been doing for these past four decades,” he stated.
Following the Archbishop’s remarks the General Assembly was held where reports were given to the members about the work of L100 over the past year. Presentations were also given on Friday by His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane on St. Michael’s Home, Dr. George Koulianos on the Clergy Initiative, Fr. and Andreas Vithoulkas and Andrew Veniopoulos on St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, Dr. Stratos Safioleas on the Department of Communications and Eugenia Manolidou.
Later that day, His Eminence met with the Young Professionals for a private dialogue. Archbishop Elpidophoros emphasized the importance of youth and young adult participation in our Church telling the attendees, “You are the future of this organization, and this organization is very much linked to the future of our Archdiocese.”
On Saturday, March 2, 2024, Archbishop Elpidophoros enjoyed the message from Forum Speaker Matina Kolokotronis, Chief Operating Officer (COO), of the Sacramento Kings, who spoke about the profound impact that her Greek Orthodox faith has had on her personal life and her career. In the afternoon, His Eminence presented awards to a number of tennis players and golfers who attended this year’s Leadership 100 Conference. Later in the evening the Grand Banquet was held with a record of more than 720 in attendance.
The Leadership 100 Conference concluded with the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, March 3 at St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Naples. Archbishop Elpidophoros, Metropolitan Savvas of Pittsburgh, His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela, Chancellor of the Archdiocese Fr. Nektarios Papazafiropoulos and parish priest Fr. Demetre J. Mott celebrated with the St. Katherine community as they held a groundbreaking for a new Youth and Community Education Building, Bell Tower, and Pavilion.
Photos: GOARCH/Dimitrios Panagos
