AHEPA Announces Philadelphia Convention Banquet Honorees

American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association

For Immediate Release | July 7, 2026

Contact: AHEPA Headquarters Phone: 202.232.6300 E-mail: ahepa@ahepa.org AHEPA Announces Philadelphia Convention Banquet Honorees

AHEPA is proud to announce its 2026 Supreme Convention Banquet honorees. The following individuals will be honored on the penultimate day of the Supreme Convention, Friday, July 31 in Philadelphia. In recognition of their years of commitment and dedication to Hellenism, humanitarianism, community and philanthropy, the honorees all encompass the spirit of their respective awards; high honors within AHEPA and the broader Hellenic American community. This year's convention celebrates a special occasion - 250 years of American Independence. Not only has this occasion brought AHEPA to the historic city of Philadelphia for a once in a lifetime celebration, but as a tribute to the spirit of American freedom and excellence. In these regards, the honorees are exceptional representatives of this spirit, and as such, their honors could not have been more deserved.

Pantelis Boumpouras AHEPA Defender of Hellenism Award Pantelis is being honored for his extraordinary efforts on defending Hellenism in the Ukraine. Born on the island of Limnos, he became a well-known highly successful developer in Ukraine. His love of Hellenism knows no bounds. He redeveloped the famed Greek Square in Odessa and the famed home of the “Filiki Eteria”, forever cementing the historic relationship between Greece and Ukraine. His “Gefest” development company is one of the largest in Ukraine, with projects in Greece, Odessa, Kiev and Mariupol. He is also chairman of the charitable organization "Boumbouras Foundation" supporting projects which aids in matters of improvement, education, sports, cultural development and large-scale humanitarian assistance. Pantelis is a brother Ahepan and sponsor of the AHEPA Ukraine Chapter. He also is Honorary Consul of the Hellenic Republic in Kherson, Ukraine. He has witnessed firsthand the destruction caused by the current war to his country and advocates to maintain Ukraine, with its rich Hellenic legacy, within the sphere of Western influence. He wishes to call international attention to these issues, defending, protecting and preserving Ukraine’s rich Greek cultural and historical heritage.

Pete Pahides and the late Gus P. Pahides of blessed memory Academy of Achievement in Business Award AHEPA salutes and awards Pete Pahides with the AHEPA Academy of Achievement Award in Business. Simultaneously we honor his father in a posthumous and overdue recognition also with the AHEPA Academy of Achievement in Business Award. Both Pete and his father of blessed memory are synonymously known as the driving force behind Cedar Farms. Gus was born in Chios and upon coming to Philadelphia started his own wholesale butter, egg and cheese business. With the start of a beautiful family, he also became involved in St George Greek Orthodox Cathedral and other Hellenic groups, including AHEPA. Shortly thereafter he was called to serve in the Korean War, where he received an honorary discharge in 1952. Upon his return, he started over and built his business again, leading to the purchase of Cedar Farms in 1970. In 1977, Gus’ son Pete took over the reins of Cedar Farms after Gus became ill. He continued the philanthropic and business traditions his father set forth. He also became a family man with a deep sense of pride for his roots. Under his hard work and dedication, Cedar Farms continued to expand, relocating on a few occasions to today’s 90,000 square foot facility in Northeast Philadelphia. Today, Greek American Cedar Farms is far from a local name but rather a household name, especially to the many that are in, or have been around, the food business. A compassionate person with a great business acumen, Pete, over the past 50 years, took his father’s vision to the next level. All the while Pete continues to maintain healthy relationships with customers and vendors as well as with many philanthropic endeavors.

Dr. Anthony Limberakis National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate  AHEPA Archbishop Iakovos Humanitarian Award Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriachate, has been named the 2026 recipient of the AHEPA Archbishop Iakovos Humanitarian Award, which honors those who dedicate themselves to the betterment of human and civil rights and religious freedoms for people suffering under tyranny and oppression. Anthony J. Limberakis, MD, an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate since 1987 and a member of the Archon National Council, the governing board of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate since 1988, has served as National Commander of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate since 1998. A 1975 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (BA, MA) and 1978 graduate of Duke University School of Medicine, he is a practicing radiologist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a member of the radiology faculty of the Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College. Dr. Limberakis has led the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in a major domestic and international religious freedom initiative for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which is under heavy religious oppression by the Turkish Government. Dr. Limberakis serves as chair of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, which is dedicated to providing financial independence for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, so that it can fulfill its global mission in perpetuity. As of this writing, the EPBF has amassed $37.601 million in Foundation assets. In November 2009, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and then-Archbishop Demetrios presented the Athenagoras Human Rights Award, the highest distinction of the Orthodox Church in America, to Dr. Limberakis in New York City for his leadership in fighting for religious freedom for the Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. In June 2009, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem named him the Commander Cross-bearer (Stavrophoros) of the Order of the All-Holy Sepulcher Cross-bearers.

Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, on the principles that undergirded its fight for civil rights and against discrimination, bigotry, and hatred felt at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe.  AHEPA's mission is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence through community service and volunteerism.  For more information, please visit www.ahepa.org.

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