Vote Now! Greek America’s Best and Brightest Stars to be honored on June 19^th.

Aiming to become the Greek American community’s premier award brand, the inaugural Gabby Awards were launched in Chicago on February 27^th at a launch party with several hundred guests present, followed by a similar event at the John Varvatos Soho boutique in New York City on March 12^th.

“Our aim is to celebrate Greek America’s Best and Brightest Stars by creating an award that is representative of the excellence that Greek Americans embody in their work,” stated Gregory C. Pappas, publisher of Greek America Magazine and creator of The Gabby Awards.

The Chicago launch party took place downtown at the Bentley-Lamborghini dealership, with wine, champagne and passed appetizers in a festive, celebratory environment. Crowds cheered for local favorites who were announced among the forty nominees.

In New York City, celebrated designer John Varvatos and Bon Appé#@# Chef of the Year Michael Psilakis welcomed guests at the swank Soho boutique, while American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis, celebrated ‘Sex and the City’ costume designer Patricia Field, daytime soap actor Frank Dicopoulos and Gabby nominees John Catsimatidis and Col. Matthew Bogdanos mingled with the crowd of 200+ New Yorkers.

“This is the greatest idea in the Greek American community in our generation,” said Psilakis, whose restaurants Anthos and Kefi provided the food for the New York City kick-off party.

Varvatos added that “Greek Americans who aren’t necessarily involved with the community have a great vehicle in the Gabby Awards to celebrate the hard work and dedication of so many special individuals. This is a project I’m honored to be a part of.”

The eight Gabby Award categories include Business, Education, Performing Arts, Culture, Athletics, Philanthropy, Promotion of Hellenism and Politics—all areas in which Greek Americans have excelled over the years.

Five nominees per category were announced—selected by a secret ballot of an 85-member nationwide committee known as the Gabby Academy, which was asked to select three individuals in each category. The top five candidates in each category were selected as nominees. In the case of a tie, a sixth individual was included as a nominee in that category.

In the Education category, the nominees are: Dr. Linda Katehi (Champaign, IL), Provost of the University of Illinois; Dr. Ioannis Miaoulis (Boston, MA), President of Boston’s Museum of Science; Dr. Max Nikias (Los Angeles, CA), Provost of the University of Southern California; Dr. Constantine Papadakis (Philadelphia, PA), President of Drexel University; Chris Tomaras (Chicago, IL), Founder of the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation; and Fr. Nicholas Triantafillou (Brookline, MA), President of Holy Cross School of Theology.

In the Business category, the nominees are: John Calamos (Naperville, IL); John Catsimatidis (New York, NY); Jim Gianopulos (Los Angeles, CA); Pete Peterson (New York, NY); George Sakellaris (Framingham, MA); and Eleni Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis (Sacramento, CA).

In the Performing Arts Category, the nominees are: actresses Melina Kanakaredes, Jennifer Aniston and Tina Fey; producer and actress Rita Wilson and comedian Demetri Martin.

In the Arts category (non-performing), the nominees are: journalist George Stephanopoulos; author Harry Mark Petrakis; chefs Michael Psilakis and Cat Cora; author Matthew Bogdanos; and curator Christine Kondoleon.

In the Politics category, the nominees are: US Congressmen Zack Space (OH) and John Sarbanes (MD); IL State Treasurer and US Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias; and journalists George Stephanopoulos and Arianna Huffington.

In the Philanthropy category, the nominees are: Peter Diamandis (Los Angeles, CA); Paula Fasseas (Chicago, IL); Michael Jaharis (New York, NY); Ted Leonsis (Washington, DC); John Rangos (Pittsburgh, PA); and Chris Tomaras (Chicago, IL).

In the Athletics category, the nominees are: team owners Ted Leonsis of Washington, DC and Dean Spanos of San Diego, CA; tennis legend Pete Sampras; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis; and ultramarathonman and author Dean Karnazes.

In the final category, for an individual or organization dedicated to the promotion of Hellenism, the nominees are: The Alexander Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (New York, NY); the American Hellenic Institute (Washington DC); the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Greek and Roman Galleries (New York, NY); the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center (Chicago, IL); and The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (New York, NY).

The Gabby Awards will be handed out to winners at a black tie gala awards show in Chicago on June 19^th at the historic Merle Reskin Theater, followed by an unforgettable after party directly next door at the Chicago Hilton and Towers.

Honorary Co-Chairs of the first Gabby Awards are actress Melina Kanakaredes and designer John Varvatos. The show will be emceed by Emmy Award winning television journalist Anna Davlantes, an anchor at NBC5 and a hometown favorite.

In addition to the eight Gabby awards, a special Lifetime Achievement award presented by Fox Films CEO Jim Gianopulos will be given to Academy Award winning actress Olympia Dukakis. The event will include music and many surprises for the guests in attendance, including a special video and musical tribute to Greeks in Hollywood.

The after party will be a special celebration with open bars, unlimited food buffets and musical entertainment by Greece’s biggest-selling female recording artist, Glykeria, who with her complete orchestra, promises to turn the International Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel into the biggest Greek dance party this side of the Atlantic.

Greek Americans are encouraged to vote at www.gabbyawards.com. Detailed biographical information about each nominee is on the website, as well as event and ticket information. Only 1000 tickets, which include entrance to the awards show and after party, will be sold.

Proceeds from the Gabby Awards will benefit the Hellenic Legacy Fund, a new endowment fund of the Greek America Foundation, which will award scholarships to students for study abroad programs in Greece.

For more information, please visit www.gabbyawards.com