Edison, NJ – The Fifth District AHEPA Cancer Research Foundation hosted its 29th Annual Fall Gala on Saturday evening. Ahepans attended this great tradition that continues to be one of most prominent of the year.
AHEPA past president Andrew C. Zachariades was the Master of Ceremonies who kicked off the evening by welcoming the guests. The National Anthems of both Greece and the United States initiated gala, which was followed by the invocation by Father Paul Panos.
Welcoming remarks were made by chairman Antoinette Marousis-Zachariades. She introduced Daughters of Penelope Grand President Demi Thomas, who got cheers as she came to the podium. Her speech addressed the achievements of the Daughters of Penelope for the year and new chapters that had recently been launched.
The foundation chair Antoinette Marousis-Zachariades then handed out approximately $80,000 in grants to cancer researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center, Weill Medical College of Cornell University/Children’s Blood Foundation and the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. This brought the new grand total of $1,125,000 by The Fifth District AHEPA Cancer Research Foundation another step forward in the battle for a cure for cancer.