Gathering of Friends Community Champion Announced

Gathering of Friends Community Champion Announced

Bronxville, NY- Former Chapel School parent, attorney and author, Mr. Nick Katsoris, was chosen as this year’s recipient of the Gathering of Friends “Community Champion” Award. He will be honored on March 20, 2015, at Glen Island Harbour Club. The event, Gathering of Friends, is hosted by the Village Lutheran Church and The Chapel School. This grand evening of a premier auction, dinner and dancing is a wonderful way to celebrate The Chapel School and Village Lutheran Church and its vital role in the life of the community. The academic excellence and spiritual education offered to the children, and the ministry’s commitment to fellowship, stewardship and community service combined make a positive impact on all ages in the community.

Mr. James Dhyne, Principal of the Chapel School, described a Community Champion as someone “connected with our Village Lutheran Church, The Chapel School or Concordia Community that we look up to, has made great strides for our mission and who inspires us to our highest ideals. Mr. Katsoris is just such an individual.”

Mr. Katsoris has authored a series of children’s books about a lamb named Loukoumi that wants to make the world a better place and has donated the proceeds to numerous charities including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The Make A Wish Foundation and Chefs for Humanity. Based on the books’ themes, Nick Katsoris sponsors several national programs including the Growing Up With Loukoumi Dream Day contest, which grants kids the opportunity to spend the day in their dream careers. Nick also sponsors Make a Difference with Loukoumi Day, based on his book Loukoumi’s Good Deeds (narrated by Jennifer Aniston) which rallies 40,000 kids each October to do a good deed on national Make a Difference Day. The project received a USA Weekend National Make A Difference Award in 2014 when Katsoris also founded The Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation to teach children to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. The Foundation’s first project was The Make A Difference with Loukoumi TV Special that aired on FOX television nationwide and featured several Chapel students.

“Our children began their education at Chapel’s Preschool and we can’t think of a more perfect place!”Mr. Katsoris noted. ”The Chapel School enriches children not only educationally, but its nurturing environment also enriches them spiritually with values that will follow them throughout their lives. I am very honored to be receiving this award and I am proud to collaborate with the school on an ongoing basis with their Make A Difference Day Program every year.”

According to Chapel School Teacher and Youth Minsiter, Kate Marino,Katsoris has continued to partner with The Chapel School through his Loukoumi character and a special partnership with the students of the Chapel School and their celebration of Make a Difference Day. “The Katsoris family is a special part of our family and we are pleased to highlight Mr. Katsoris’ achievements as our Community Champion.” said Marino.

A graduate of Fordham College of Business Administration and Fordham Law School, Katsoris is General Counsel of the Red Apple Group and President and co-founder of the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund, which has awarded over 1,000 scholarships totaling over $2 million. Nick currently resides in Eastchester, NY, with his wife, Voula, a real estate agent and attorney, and their children, Constantine and Julia.

Village Lutheran Church and The Chapel School are located at 172 White Plains Road in Bronxville (across the street from Concordia College). For more information about Village Lutheran Church and The Chapel School and its programs, call 914-337-3202 or visit www.thechapelschool.org. Gathering of Friends XV, will be held on March 20, 2015 at Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.gathering-of-friends.org. If you would like to purchase a congratulatory e-journal ad for Nick Katsoris please visit: www.gathering-of-friends.org.

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