AHI Brings Community Together as Phillies Host 9th Annual Greek Heritage Night
The Phillie Phanatic dressed in the Greek evzone during the annual Greek Heritage Night.
No. 59
PHILADELPHIA, PA — The American Hellenic Institute held its annual Greek Heritage Night, in cooperation with Major League Baseball’s Philadelphia Phillies, at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa., May 21, 2024. Approximately 600 tickets were sold for the 9th annual event which featured the Philadelphia Phillies versus the defending World Series Champions Texas Rangers.
Greek Heritage Night Highlights
Highlights from Greek Heritage Night included the popular Phillies mascot, The Phillie Phanatic, sporting an Evzone costume and leading the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Upper Darby, Pa., dance troupe prior to the start of the 6th inning along the third base line.
The Zephyros Dance Group of St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Media, PA, also performed pre-game Greek folk dances at the main concourse as fans were coming into the stadium.
AHI Vice Chairman of the Board Nicholas E. Chimicles, Esq., threw out the ceremonial First Pitch.
AHI Vice Chairman of the Board Nicholas E. Chimicles, Esq. throwing out the first ball.
Chimicles and his wife Kathleen.
Mezzo-soprano Sophia Pelekasis singing the U.S. anthem.
Mezzo-soprano Sophia Pelekasis, who attends The Juilliard School, performed the National Anthem.
A promotional video about Greece, made possible by the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), was played on the ballpark’s Jumbotron.
“On behalf of AHI, I sincerely thank the Philadelphia Phillies, especially the unbelievable unwavering efforts of the Phillies’ Director of Publicity, John Brazer, and Director of Group Sales, Vanessea Mapson, without whose support the event could not have been a success,” President Nick Larigakis said. “I am also deeply grateful to the Greek American communities of the Tri-State Philadelphia area who came out in droves to support Greek Heritage Night and proudly displayed their Hellenic pride. Finally, the event could not have been a success without the incredible backing of certain individuals and entities that helped to promote it and to sell tickets, including AHI Board Members Nicholas Chimicles, Demitrios Halakos, George Tsetsekos and John Vasiliou, and AHI supporter, Constantine Larigakis. We continue to receive positive feedback about the event, and we will continue to work to see it grow every year.”
The Zephyros Dance Group of St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Media, PA.
The Zephyros Dance Group with the Phillie Phanatic.
In Appreciation: AHI Presents Commemorative Plaque to Phillies’ GM
AHI is grateful to the many individuals and entities that helped to make the Philadelphia Phillies Greek Heritage Night a success. This year, in appreciation, AHI President Nick Larigakis made a special presentation to Phillies General Manager Sam Fuld. Together with AHI Vice Chairman Chimicles, and AHI Board Members Tsetsekos and Vasiliou, they presented Fuld with an AHI 50th anniversary plaque to celebrate the strong relationship between the Phillies and AHI the annual Greek Heritage Night for nearly a decade.
AHI also thanks the following for their assistance and from the media: AHEPA Chester-Delco Chapter 79 and Daughters of Penelope Laodice Chapter 246, Media, Pa.
Additional gratitude is extended to CosmosPhilly for their media coverage of Greek Heritage Night.
From The Philadelphia Phillies: John Brazer, director of Publicity; Vanessa Mapson, director, Group Sales; The Phillie Phanatic; and of course, The Philadelphia Phillies organization.
Phillies General Manager Sam Fold receiving AHI 50th anniversary commemorative plaque. (L-R) John Brazer, Phillies Director of Relationship Marketing, AHI President Nick Larigakis, AHI Vice Chairman of the Board Nicholas E. Chimicles, Esq., George Tsetsekos, and John Vasiliou.
On the field prior to ceremonies (L-R) George Tsetsekos, Nick Larigakis, Constantine Larigakis, Kathleen Chimicles, Nick Chimicles, John Vasiliou, and Demo Vasiliou.
AHI Vice Chairman of the Board Nicholas E. Chimicles, Esq. on the jumbotron prior to throwing the first ball.
(L-R) Nick Larigakis’ high school baseball coach Byron Crammer and Nick Larigakis.
The American Hellenic Institute is an independent non-profit Greek American public policy center and think tank that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.
For additional information, please contact us at (202) 785-8430 or pr@ahiworld.org. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our website at http://www.ahiworld.org.
