The Elios Charitable Foundation hosted a star-studded 10th Anniversary Hellenic Charity Ball in San Francisco on November 14, 2015. Some 560 supporters and guests gathered at the St. Francis Hotel and raised $520,000 for Greek educational and cultural programs.
The biennial gala paid tribute to distinguished arts and entertainment luminaries in the Greek-American community including cinematographer and director Constantine Makris (“Law & Order,” “Orange is the New Black”); actor and dancer Gilles Marini (“Sex and the City: The Movie,” “Brothers & Sisters”) and comedian Demetri Martin (“The Daily Show,” “Important Things with Demetri Martin”). Singer-songwriter Ariana Savalas received the Elios Spotlight Award. Marilu Henner, the 2009 Hellenic Charity Ball honoree, served as the evening’s emcee. Miss America Betty Cantrell and George Stephanopoulos of Good Morning America sent special video greetings to the guests.
Scenes from the 10th Anniversary Hellenic Charity Ball:
Photos by Drew Altizer Photography
Committed to preserving Hellenism culture and ideals, Elios has granted $1 million to like-minded organizations and projects since the first Hellenic Charity Ball in 1997. Beneficiaries include Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Modern Greek Studies Program at San Francisco State University, the Center for Tebtunis Papyri at UC—Berkeley, Hellenic Heritage Institute, Hellenic Research Fellowship Program at Sacramento State University, Metropolis of San Francisco Folk Dance Cultural Programs, Modern Greek Studies Foundation for the San Francisco Greek Film Festival, Nemea Center at UC-Berkeley, PBS for the documentary The Greek Americans II: Passing the Torch, and United Hellenic American Society.