Deptford, NJ – AHEPA’s local chapters united in supporting a common cause this past Wednesday evening at Adelphia Restaurant. The Cherry Hill chapter of AHEPA was joined by members of the community and Vineland, Center City, Wilmington, Upper Darby, and Trenton chapters as a true Spring Fever (pardon the pun) came upon the area. The event was a cigar smoker, and scotch tasting was initially named The 2-2-22. The event had to be rescheduled to yesterday because of the coronavirus variant outbreak in the winter.
A great cause was the beneficiary. AHEPA chapters and communities have long selected their projects to support in addition to supporting National projects. This fundraiser was to benefit Greece’s firefighting capabilities. The fires of 2021 in Greece were unprecedented in scope. Over thirty individual fires occurred, causing devastation throughout the country. In many instances, it was discovered that the maintenance vehicles were towed to the Canadair aircraft to assist in servicing them, losing precious time. So this fundraiser and donations to the cause are for the purchase of new maintenance vehicles that are desperately needed.
“Aerial firefighting is a very demanding task. It is especially true during the filling up of the water tanks from the sea and during airdrops, taking into account that an airdrop takes place from an altitude of approx. 100 feet. Crews are in a continuous 15-minute alert in the high alert season,” stated PDG Dimitri Rozanitis. “These aerial firefighters need our help to equip them better to protect us more efficiently. Tonight is a testament to the determination to make the event and the benefit to the cause a success. I can’t thank the participants and the sponsors enough.”
“The buy-in from these communities is impressive. AHEPA has been promoting and reminding the public this year of its Century of Service as we celebrate our Centennial, culminating at our Supreme Convention in Disney World in July,” stated District Governor Bob Fourniades, himself a cigar-smoking aficionado. “Its events like this remind us of the significant role AHEPA chapters play in doing great works. It happens everywhere, with different projects throughout 500 chapters worldwide for 100 years; it is unbelievable.”
And they had fun doing it. Together, effortless and, as Bob said, unbelievable. And for a century leading the world in doing so, AHEPA.