This post was originally published on this site
The Alpha Omega Council hosted its sold-out Annual Honors Gala on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at the InterContinental Hotel in Boston with a record-breaking attendance of 400 guests and over $150K in sponsorship and donations.
The evening celebrated the enduring legacy of legendary athlete Harry Agganis“The Golden Greek” whose story continues to inspire generations, honored four exceptional award recipients in the world of sports who have made significant contributions to the community and the advancement of athletic excellence, and featured a distinguished guest list of New England’s most cherished athletes, as well the Harry Agganis Statue and the 2013 and 2018 Red Sox World Series Trophies, which were also present at the event.
2025 Peter Agris Memorial Scholarship Awards Ceremony
Prior to the official start of the Honors Gala, the evening began with the 33rd Annual Peter Agris Memorial Scholarship and VIP Reception. Established and conducted in cooperation with the Agris family, the Alpha Omega Council honors its late founder Peter Agris by presenting the Peter Agris Memorial Scholarships annually at the Honors Gala to several young Greek Americans pursuing studies in the fields of journalism or communications.
Peter Agris was the founder and publisher of The Hellenic Chronicle, for fifty years the premier Greek American national English-language weekly newspaper in the United States. Mr. Agris was an Archon of the Greek Orthodox Church and a Trustee of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, as well as of Anatolia College, and of The American College of Greece. Mr. Agris was also an AHEPAN, and he worked tirelessly throughout his life to improve relations between the United States and Greece.
The 2025 Peter Agris Memorial Scholarship Recipients included: Zachary Balcoff, Kaelyn Benoit, John Konstantine Chronopoulos, Anastasios Joseph Marcopulos, Mary Carolyn Markis, and Ava Tsapatsaris. More about each of the recipients can be found here: https://alphaomegacouncil.org/scholarships.
2025 Honors Gala Overview
Following a lavish cocktail reception with the Harry Agganis Exhibit on display (featuring a magnificent life-size wooden statue sculpted by the acclaimed Armand LaMontagne), the ballroom doors to the official Honors Gala opened and guests were serenaded with “Place Where Dreams Come True” from “Field of Dreams” followed by warm welcome remarks from co-chairs Nick Ypsilantis and Bill Galatis and a welcome video.
Nick introduced the Gala’s official emcee and Master of Ceremonies, Maria Stephanos, co-anchor of WCVB Channel 5. Stephanos has covered significant news events, as well as countless iconic sports moments including Red Sox World Series wins, Patriots’ Super Bowl wins, and the Boston Marathon. Stephanos is also a former Alpha Omega Council Lifetime Achievement recipient and Greek Heritage Night at Fenway Park honoree.
The Greek and American National Anthems were sung by Zoe Behrakis, God Bless America was presented by Todd Angilly, and an invocation was offered by His Eminence Methodios, Metropolitan of Boston.
Introduced by Stephanos, the Honorable Symeon Tegos, Consul General of Greece in Boston and Harry Vlachos, President of the Alpha Omega Council, both offered additional remarks. Vlachos recognized the Peter Agris Memorial Scholarship recipients and presented the Trustees’ Award to the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A), which was represented by Peter Brown who serves on the Boston Athletic Association’s Board of Governors.
Stephanos brought Nancy Agris Savage to stage, who presented the Emerging Leader Award to Erica Kontos, Senior Director at the NBA, who also offered remarks.
Following dinner, event co-chair Bill Galatis acknowledged major event sponsors and re-introduced event emcee Maria Stephanos who offered remarks about the Boston Red Sox and presented the Philhellene Award to Rich Gedman on behalf of the Boston Red Sox.
A tribute video to Harry Agganis was presented followed by Stephanos introducing Drew Marrochello, Athletic Director of Boston University to the stage, who presented theLifetime Achievement Award to Michael Agganis.
The evening concluded with closing remarks provided by co-chair Bill Galatis and a benediction from His Eminence Methodios, Metropolitan of Boston.
2025 Honors Gala Recipients
More about each award and recipient in the order of which they appear above can be found below:
Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) – Trustees’ Award:
The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.), established in 1887, is the proud organizer of the iconic Boston Marathon and a leader in promoting healthy lifestyles and charitable initiatives. Inspired by the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens, the Boston Marathon has long honored its Greek roots through a special tradition—since 1984, the Consul General of Greece, with support from the Alpha OmegaCouncil and the 26.2 Foundation, has presented olive wreaths from Greece to crown the race winners. These hand-crafted, gold-dipped wreaths symbolize freedom, dignity, and peace, and their presentation has become the official kickoff to Marathon weekend. For its enduring commitment to community, charity, and the celebration of Hellenic ideals, the B.A.A. is the distinguished recipient of the 2025 Trustees’ Award.
Erica Kontos – Emerging Leader Award:
Erica Kontos, Senior Director at the NBA, is a trailblazing leader and a powerful advocate for women in sports. Recently named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Sports 2025 list, Erica is recognized among top rising stars shaping the future of athletics and business. She plays a pivotal role in expanding the NBA’s and WNBA’s global presence, negotiating multi-year media rights deals and forging partnerships with major companies such as Disney, Amazon, and NBCU—bringing basketball to fans in over 200 countries and 50 languages. A proud Cornell University graduate with a 3.97 GPA and a 2024 Boston Marathon finisher, Erica’s leadership, dedication, and achievements make her a deserving recipient of the 2025 Emerging Leader Award.
The Boston Red Sox – Philhellene Award:
Founded in 1901, the Boston Red Sox are one of Major League Baseball’s most iconic franchises, celebrated not only for their on-field success but also for their deep commitment to community and philanthropy through the Red Sox Foundation. The team shares a historic connection to Harry Agganis, the beloved “Golden Greek,” who chose baseball over a professional football career and became a Red Sox star before his untimely passing in 1955. That same year, the Agganis Foundation was established with the financial support of Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey to provide scholarships for outstanding students, a tradition that continues nearly 70 years later. Since 2018, the team has co-hosted Greek Heritage Night at Fenway Park with the Alpha Omega Council, celebrating Hellenic culture and honoring Agganis’ legacy. For their enduring partnership and contributions to the community, the Boston Red Sox are proudly recognized as the 2025 Philhellene Honoree.
Michael J. Agganis – Lifetime Achievement Award:
Michael J. Agganis has built a distinguished and successful career in education, construction, and professional sports, never standing in the shadow of his legendary uncle, Harry Agganis. A self-made entrepreneur, Mike founded his own successful construction company, worked with the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and owned and operated the Akron Aeros, the AA affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. Under his leadership, the franchise became one of the most successful teams in MLB’s minor league system. Through his philanthropy, Mike has created countless opportunities for student-athletes and local communities alike. A respected civic leader, Mike has served on several prestigious boards, including Boston University, the University of Massachusetts, and the University of Akron Foundation Board. He has donated millions of dollars to charitable initiatives and established numerous scholarships in memory of Harry Agganis. Mike and his son Greg co-founded the Harry Agganis Charitable Foundation and were instrumental in placing the Harry Agganis bronze statue at Boston University’s Agganis Arena. He also spearheaded efforts to have Harry posthumously inducted into the United States Marine Corps Sports Museum in Quantico, Virginia, and was a key figure in convincing the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) to name the High School Football Championship trophy in all eight divisions the Agganis Trophy. For his exceptional leadership, generosity, and enduring impact, Michael J. Agganis is a deserving recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Star-Studded Guest List
Also present at the 2025 Honors Gala were some of New England’s most cherished athletes who celebrated the evening of Greek pride, sports legends, and community heroes. The distinguished guest list featured stars including: NHL legend Ray Bourque, NFL great Fred Smerlas, world marathoners Becca Pizzi and Dave McGillivray, former Patriot Niko Koutouvides, former Celtic and two-time NBA champion Justice Mal Graham, former MLB GM J.P. Ricciardi, Former Red Sox Catcher Rich Gedman, former Lynn Classical teammate of Agganis Fred Santangelo, retired three Star Lt. General Mark Brilakis, entrepreneur and world-renowned scientist Stuart Schreiber, and more.
The 50th Anniversary of the Alpha Omega Council Annual Honors Gala will be scheduled in Fall 2026. For more information on the Annual Honors Gala or Alpha Omega Council, please visit: https://alphaomegacouncil.org/.
About the Alpha Omega Council:
The Alpha Omega Council is a non-profit philanthropic organization based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its mission is to promote patriotism to the United States and to cultivate the ideals of Hellenism by supporting various scholarly, athletic, medical, charitable, scientific, literary, religious, and educational activities throughout New England and across the country. The Council is comprised of Americans of Hellenic ancestry who are leaders in business, education, academia, medicine, law, politics, science, and other fields. Since its inception, the Alpha Omega Council has contributed millions of dollars to a wide range of philanthropic causes, in addition to presenting the annual Peter Agris Memorial Journalism Scholarship Awards. For more information, please visit https://alphaomegacouncil.org/.
The post Alpha Omega Council hosts record-breaking Honors Gala appeared first on Orthodox Observer.
