Pancyprian Association of Florida's 2024 Person of the Year

Floor Speech

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the PanCyprian Association of Florida's 2024 Person of the Year, Savas Tsivicos. A native from Cyprus, Mr. Tsivicos currently serves as Supreme President of AHEPA, the largest Hellenic-American organization in the country which has just celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. I'm proud to call myself an AHEPAN, a devoted member of the Tarpon Springs, George Washington Chapter No. 16. As the longest-standing Hellenic-American organization, AHEPA has helped to assimilate and educate Greek immigrants, like my grandparents, as they arrived in America. AHEPA has a lot to be proud of--its good works have elevated the stature of American citizens of Greek ancestry since its first convention in Atlanta in 1923. AHEPA has served as a beacon of all that is true and good about our culture.

As a member of Congress, I have come to rely upon AHEPA's advice and counsel on a variety of issues, especially as it relates to my work as Co-Chair of the Hellenic Caucus and Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance. Together, we have worked to strengthen U.S. relations with Greece and Cyprus, secure religious freedom and protection for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and promote solutions for Cyprus. With Mr. Tsivicos at the helm, AHEPA has continued to lead on the world stage calling out the intransigence of Turkey's President Erdogan. It has joined in the fight to prevent the sale of F-16s and F-16 modernization kits to Turkey. And, I am confident, that he will lead AHEPA to continue its work as an important partner in the charge to ensure the United States stands firm in its commitment to defend Greece against Turkish aggression.

Domestically, AHEPA concluded an eight-year campaign that donated 20,000 gallons of milk to assist victims of the Flint Water Crisis and helped neighbors recover from the East Palestine train derailment through a $7,500 donation; surpassed $1 million to sponsor over 100 service dogs to help veterans who suffer from PTSD, collectively awarded millions of dollars in scholarships annually; and is set to begin work on two new affordable senior housing communities sponsored by chapters in Des Moines and South Bend.

I subscribe to the old Greek proverb that a society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit. The AHEPA pioneers who more than 100 years ago had a vision of eradicating bigotry and discriminination by promoting the ancient Hellenic ideals of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, family and individual excellence to encourage a more perfect society are beaming with pride from above. The fruits of their vision and their labor continue to prosper because of the efforts from those, like Mr. Tsivicos, who carry forth the mission throughout our country. Again, congratulation to the entire organization and to Mr. Tsivicos on leading AHEPA to have another productive year. I wish him continued success and many more years of fruitful educational, philanthropic, and civic endeavors.

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