Upper Darby, PA – On Tuesday evening, June 24, the Federation of Hellenic-American Societies of Philadelphia and Greater Delaware Valley gathered at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Upper Darby to elect its new leadership and set the tone for the year ahead.
Harry Karapalides was re-elected as president and thanked the delegates for their continued trust. “It’s an honor to serve again. We have important work ahead,” he said.
One of the evening’s major announcements focused on the Philadelphia Marathon, scheduled for November 23, 2025. In collaboration with the Greek General Consulate in New York, and with the support of General Consul Ifigenia Kanata, the Federation will present four gold-dipped laurel wreaths to the winners of the race. The wreaths, crafted in Marathon, Greece, will be offered as a gesture of friendship from the Greek-American community to the city of Philadelphia.
“This is a proud moment for us,” Karapalides said. “It brings our history into one of the city’s biggest public events.”
Also elected was Mike Economou of St. Demetrios, who will serve as vice president and chairman of the 2026 Greek Independence Day Parade.
“I’m honored to join this dynamic team under Harry Karapalides,” said Economou. “We’re already working on plans for April 26, 2026, and we want this parade to be bigger, more engaging, and full of new energy. Past organizers laid a strong foundation. Now it’s our turn to build on it.”
With new leadership and major community initiatives ahead, the Federation enters the coming year with renewed focus and momentum. More details on both events will follow soon.