{"id":23298,"date":"2026-10-10T13:20:29","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T13:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/10\/alpha-omega-anniversary-weekend-celebrates-50-years-greek-city-times\/"},"modified":"2026-10-10T13:20:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T13:20:29","slug":"alpha-omega-anniversary-weekend-celebrates-50-years-greek-city-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/10\/alpha-omega-anniversary-weekend-celebrates-50-years-greek-city-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Alpha Omega Anniversary Weekend Celebrates 50 Years \u2013 Greek City Times"},"content":{"rendered":"


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BOSTON, October 2026 \u2014 The Alpha Omega anniversary weekend marked 50 years of the Alpha Omega Council with three events in Boston and Watertown from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Boston-based Greek American philanthropic organisation<\/a> held its Honors Gala, a concert at Agganis Arena and a Leadership Luncheon. Greek City Times previewed the three-day programme in June.<\/p>\n

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Alpha Omega anniversary weekend Honors Gala at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston, on Friday 2 October 2026. Photo: Areti Bratsis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Alpha Omega anniversary weekend begins in Boston<\/em><\/h3>\n

Before Friday\u2019s Alpha Omega anniversary weekend gala, Nancy Agris Savage hosted the Peter Agris Memorial Awards in the Saint James Room. The awards honour Council founder Peter Agris, her father.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s six recipients were Fotini Anastopoulos, Christian Andriolas, Tyler Davis, Maria Manousakis, Calista Sybrant and Theodora Tsevas. All are pursuing or have recently completed studies in journalism, communications, media or public relations.<\/p>\n

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2026 Peter Agris Memorial Awards recipients at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston, on Friday 2 October 2026. Photo: Areti Bratsis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a cocktail hour, the Honors Gala\u2019s black-tie programme<\/a> began in The Grand Ballroom. Co-Chairman Bill Galatis welcomed guests, while veteran journalist John Metaxas served as Master of Ceremonies. Dr Vivian Paraskevi Douglas and Peter Costarakis then performed the national anthems of the Hellenic Republic and the United States.<\/p>\n

Later, Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America offered an invocation and remarks. Metropolitan Methodios of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston also addressed the Honors Gala.<\/p>\n

Speliakos looks to the next 50 years<\/em><\/h3>\n

Following a 50th Anniversary video, Council President Costa Speliakos spoke at the opening event of the Alpha Omega anniversary weekend. He told guests that \u201cVisibility creates awareness, awareness creates participation, and participation strengthens our ability to serve.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Costa Speliakos at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston, on Friday 2 October 2026. Photo: Areti Bratsis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looking further ahead, Speliakos shared his hope for the Council\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMy hope is that future generations will gather to celebrate Alpha Omega\u2019s 75th anniversary and, ultimately, its 100th anniversary, and look back on this moment not simply as the occasion when we celebrated our first 50 years, but as the moment when we began strengthening the next 50.\u201d<\/p>\n

Costa Speliakos, Council President<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Founders\u2019 Award and Emerging Leader Award at the Honors Gala<\/em><\/h3>\n

Harry Vlachos then introduced the first major award of the Alpha Omega anniversary weekend. Nancy Agris Savage, whose selection Greek City Times reported in August, received the 2026 Founders\u2019 Award during the Honors Gala. The award specifically recognised her lifelong commitment to education, Hellenic heritage and the Greek American community.<\/p>\n

For more than three decades, Agris Savage has overseen the Peter Agris Memorial Awards. They have provided nearly US$1 million in grants to communications and journalism students. She also succeeded her father at the helm of The Hellenic Chronicle.<\/p>\n

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Costa Speliakos, Nancy Agris Savage and Harry Vlachos at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston, on Friday 2 October 2026. Photo: Areti Bratsis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After dinner, Boston University received the Honors Gala\u2019s 2026 Philhellene Award, which recognises work that promotes the ideals of Hellenism. Kelly Polychroniou, Head of Modern Greek Language Program at Boston University, accepted it.<\/p>\n

Telemachus \u201cT.A.\u201d Demoulas then received the 2026 Emerging Leader Award. A fourth-generation member of the Demoulas family, he most recently led Market Basket\u2019s grocery buying team. His great-grandparents, Athanasios and Efrosini Demoulas, who emigrated from Kalambaka, Greece, founded the company in Lowell in 1917.<\/p>\n

Argiros plays Boston for the first time<\/em><\/h3>\n

On Saturday 3 October, the Alpha Omega anniversary weekend moved to Boston University\u2019s Agganis Arena<\/a>. The Council was local host for a Konstantinos Argiros concert<\/a> in partnership with Dream Hospitality Group. According to organisers, it was Argiros\u2019 first performance in Boston and the first time an international Greek artist had headlined there.<\/p>\n

The venue honours Harry Agganis, the Boston University athlete and Boston Red Sox first baseman known as \u201cThe Golden Greek\u201d. Organisers said more than 7,000 people from 46 US states, as well as Canada and Greece, attended the Alpha Omega anniversary weekend concert. They also described it as the second biggest concert in the arena\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

Fans heard Argiros\u2019 first performance of \u2018Revma\u2019. He had previously appeared at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Chicago\u2019s United Center and OAKA Stadium in Athens.<\/p>\n

Leadership Luncheon honours 38 past presidents<\/em><\/h3>\n

The Alpha Omega anniversary weekend ended on Sunday 4 October at Taxiarchae\/Archangels Greek Orthodox Church in Watertown. Before the luncheon, Metropolitan Methodios of Boston offered Orthros, Divine Liturgy and a Memorial Service for the Council\u2019s deceased past presidents.<\/p>\n

Nearly 200 people then attended the Leadership Luncheon at the Taxiarchae Parish Cultural Center, which Greek City Times previewed in September. It recognised the founders and all 38 past presidents<\/a>, beginning with founding president Judge Monte G. Basbas (1976\u20131978).<\/p>\n

Co-chairs Manny Frangiadakis and George Karalis spoke, as did Speliakos. Finally, family members and representatives of each past president accepted a custom crystal award from the co-chairs and Speliakos.<\/p>\n

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Past presidents and families at the Alpha Omega anniversary weekend luncheon, Taxiarchae Parish Cultural Center, Watertown, on Sunday 4 October 2026. Photo: Areti Bratsis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since its founding in 1976, the Council has contributed millions of dollars to charitable causes and educational initiatives throughout New England. Organisers said the Alpha Omega anniversary weekend honoured those who built the organisation as well as those carrying its values forward.<\/p>\n

Photo gallery of the event<\/em><\/h3>\n

All photos copyright Areti Bratsis<\/em><\/p>\n

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