In just a few weeks, the Order of the Sons of Pericles will mark one hundred years since its founding in Manchester, New Hampshire. On February 3, 2026, the organization will celebrate a century of preserving Hellenic values, developing young leaders, and strengthening Greek-American life.
Founded in 1926 in Manchester under the guidance of AHEPA, the Sons of Pericles grew into a national movement that shaped generations of Greek-Americans. From its earliest days, the Order has centered around three ideals that still define it today: heritage, service, and brotherhood. Through community projects, fundraising, and lasting friendships, those values have remained a constant thread connecting young Greek-Americans across the decades.
SOP 100: A Centennial Year of Celebration
To honor its first century, the organization has launched an international campaign called SOP 100, leading up to its official centennial. The initiative focuses on three goals: preserving the Order’s history, re-energizing membership, and supporting educational and philanthropic programs that reflect its mission.
A key part of the celebration will be a major gathering in Manchester, New Hampshire, from January 30 to February 1, 2026, under the theme “Preserving Our Past.” The Centennial Weekend will bring together members, alumni, and friends from across the Greek diaspora for a weekend of tributes, exhibits, and reunions. Highlights will include a gala dinner, an exhibit honoring the first Supreme Lodge, and the unveiling of a new service project that bridges the organization’s heritage with the needs of today’s community.
Preserving a Century of Greek-American Life
One of the campaign’s most meaningful efforts is to document and digitize the organization’s archives. The Sons of Pericles are collecting photographs, newspaper clippings, and personal stories that capture the lives of young Greek-Americans from the 1920s onward. These materials tell the story of a community that built its identity through shared culture, service, and fellowship.
Members and alumni are invited to share their memories and materials to help create a living digital record of the organization’s history. Submissions can be sent to sopcentennial@gmail.com.
Looking Ahead
Throughout 2026, additional events will take place in cities with deep roots in the organization’s history, including Detroit, Michigan, and Akron, Ohio. These gatherings will celebrate local chapters while welcoming new members and reconnecting with past ones. The Order also plans to collaborate with other Hellenic organizations to strengthen its role within the wider Greek-American community and to inspire the next generation to carry its work forward.
Over the years, the Sons of Pericles have raised more than one million dollars for charitable causes. They have helped thousands of young people develop leadership skills and a sense of civic responsibility. Many of those who began as members went on to become community leaders, educators, business owners, and philanthropists who continued to serve the same ideals that first brought them together.
A Living Legacy
For many families, the name Sons of Pericles still brings back memories of parades, dances, and service projects that helped shape local Greek churches and communities. For a century, the organization has been more than a youth group. It has been a bridge between generations of Greek-Americans, linking their parents’ immigrant stories with their own paths of service and success.
As the centennial year begins, the message remains the same. Heritage, service, and brotherhood are not just traditions to be remembered, but principles to live by.
To learn more about the SOP 100 campaign, sponsorships, or upcoming events, visit the Sons of Pericles website.
Please confirm event details with the organizers before attending, as dates, times, locations, and registration information may change.