Despina C. Kartson of Rye, NY was honored at the Greek America Foundation’s 2025 Gabby Awards. She was one of twenty dynamic women from throughout the United States and Canada who received the award, one of the Greek American community’s pinnacle honors.
At the event, which was an immersive story called “Goddesses in our Midst,” each honoree was matched with a goddess from Greek antiquity with whom she shares qualities.
Despina was associated with the goddess Eleos, known for mercy and compassion. Despina mirrors Eleos with her deep compassion for the homeless and her tireless efforts in both service and spiritual leadership.
ABOUT DESPINA C. KARTSON
Despina C. Kartson is the author of Last Night’s Soup Run, a book that shares the poignant stories of the thousands of individuals who are homeless and hungry that members of her church have fed in Manhattan every month during the last 18 years.
Despina is the Founder and President of Philoxenia, Inc., a non-profit whose mission is to provide programming, support and food for the care of persons who are hungry or homeless. Philoxenia is the Greek word for “friend to the stranger”.
She serves on the Board of Lifting Up Westchester, an organization that works to permanently change the lives of those in crisis by helping them find stable, long-term, housing and providing the support they need to rebuild their lives. Despina served on the Parish Council of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Rochelle, NY for nine years, taught Sunday School for 20 years and is also on the Boards of FOCUS North America, the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society at Holy Trinity, the Direct Archdiocesan District Philoptochos (where she serves as the chair of the Social Services Committee) and the National Philoptochos Board.
In her professional career, Ms. Kartson is the Chief Marketing Officer for BakerHostetler, one of the largest firms in the country, and has held CMO positions with other global law firms. She is a recognized leader in the legal marketing profession, serving on New York City and national boards and committees.
Despina is a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management and is the winner of a lifetime achievement award of the New York chapter of the Legal Marketing Association. She is a frequent speaker and moderator at legal marketing conferences. Despina is the author of one book and the co-author of another book on litigation support, and the author of numerous legal marketing and technology-related articles.
2025 GABBY AWARDS EVENT PRESS RELEASE
Greek America Foundation’s 2025 Gabby Awards Make History Honoring 20 Modern-Day Goddesses in All-Women Celebration of Excellence
New York, NY — June 7, 2025 — The Greek America Foundation hosted its landmark 2025 Gabby Awards at The Plaza Hotel in New York City, celebrating 22 extraordinary women whose professional accomplishments and community leadership embody the foundation’s core values of excellence and philanthropy.
This year’s event marked the first-ever all-women celebration of excellence in the history of the Greek American community, as the foundation recognized these remarkable honorees as modern-day goddesses—echoing the timeless legacy of their ancient Greek foremothers while building a new pantheon of role models for future generations.
Almost 400 people came together from all corners of the world to support and participate in an immersive story called “Goddesses in our Midst” that incorporated sound, light, music and theater and transformed the historic ballroom in New York City into a modern-day Mt. Olympus.
2025 Gabby Award Honorees
Maria Avgitidis Pyrgiotakis, Bridgewater, NJ
Fourth-generation matchmaker and founder of Agape Match, she blends tradition with modern relationship science and advocates for love, identity, and inclusion.
Elizabeth Z. Bartz, Akron, OH
Founder of State and Federal Communications, Inc., she is a national leader in political compliance and transparency, serving Fortune 500 clients for over three decades.
Dr. Tammi Dice, Norfolk, VA
Dean and professor at Old Dominion University, she advances inclusive education and social justice through transformative leadership and scholarship.
Angelika Dimoka, Miami, FL
Renowned academic and researcher in neuroscience and business, she bridges science and strategy to drive innovation and decision-making excellence.
Laura Evans Manatos, Washington, DC
Emmy Award-winning journalist and founder of Laura Evans Media, she uses storytelling to amplify voices of impact and drive change through positive media.
Dr. Dena Haritos Tsamitis, Pittsburgh, PA
Cybersecurity and engineering education pioneer at Carnegie Mellon, she champions diversity and excellence while shaping future tech leaders.
Katherine Kallinis Berman & Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne, Washington, DC
Sisters and co-founders of Georgetown Cupcake, they turned a family recipe into a national brand and philanthropic platform.
Despina C. Kartson, Rye, NY
Author of Last Night’s Soup Run and long-time volunteer serving the homeless, she shares stories of dignity and compassion through faith-driven outreach.
Anthoula Katsimatides, New York, NY
Actor, activist, and 9/11 family advocate, she channels personal loss into national advocacy, supporting mental health and community resilience.
Dora Konomi, Toronto, ON
Lawyer, journalist, and public speaker, she uses her voice to advocate for justice, civic engagement, and the Greek diaspora through her media and legal work.
Dr. Lori Kotsonis Chiampas, Chicago, IL
With nearly 30 years in pediatric pharmacy, she leads in clinical and operational excellence, improving medication safety and mentoring healthcare professionals nationwide.
Diane Kounalakis, San Francisco, CA
Community leader and philanthropist from a proud Cretan immigrant family, she channels her heritage into community empowerment and cultural preservation.
Evellyn Leontarakis Tsiadis, South Plainfield, NJ
Dedicated to philanthropy and service, she embodies the belief that doing good can transform lives and communities, guided by values rooted in her heritage.
Sofia Lingos Papaliodis, Boston, MA
Founder of Trident Legal and professor at Northeastern University, she empowers purpose-driven entrepreneurs and leads with equity, law, and mentorship.
Lena Philippou Korres, New York, NY
Co-founder of KORRES skincare, she leads innovation and sustainability in beauty, blending Greek botanicals with scientific research and global reach.
Marianthi Sofiakis Koritsaris, Chicago, IL
Educator and cultural advocate, she has devoted her career to preserving Greek language and values in the classroom and beyond.
Stefanie Roumeliotes, San Francisco, CA
Political strategist and founder of SGR Consulting, she advises national campaigns and champions representation, equity, and civic empowerment.
Aliki Theofilopoulos, Los Angeles, CA
Acclaimed animator and producer who began at Disney on films like Hercules and Tarzan, now a creative force behind hit children’s television series worldwide.
Christina Hioureas, New York, NY
Partner and Global Co-Chair of Foley Hoag LLP’s International Litigation & Arbitration Department, and Chair of the firm’s United Nations Practice Group. She is also a Visiting Faculty member at the UCLA School of law and teaches “Critical Issues in Human Rights Law.”
Lifetime Achievement Awards to Longtime Foundation Supporters
In addition to the 20 honorees, the evening featured the presentation of the foundation’s highest honor—Lifetime Achievement Awards—to Danialle Karmanos and Cat Cora. Karmanos, a philanthropist, author, and founder of multiple charitable organizations, was recognized for her lifelong commitment to empowering underserved communities and advancing children’s health and well-being. Cora, world-renowned chef, restaurateur, and television personality, was honored for breaking barriers as the first female Iron Chef and for her tireless advocacy on behalf of women in the culinary world and numerous philanthropic causes. Both women have been long-time supporters of the Greek America Foundation’s mission, embodying the values of leadership, service, and impact.
A Night of Immersive Storytelling and Celebration for a Good Cause
The evening featured custom immersive event design and extraordinary installations, told in a complete five act play that was created, written and produced by Marina Vitebsky and Daniella Zelin and their company A Forest Dark, bringing ancient mythology and modern excellence together in dramatic fashion.
In addition to honoring the living recipients, the foundation paid tribute to five iconic women whose legacies continue to inspire: Maria Callas, Melina Mercouri, Roza Eskenazi, Sotiria Bellou, and Olympia Dukakis — each memorialized for their enduring contributions to arts, culture, and society. These tributes were brought to life through special performances by soprano Alexandra Loutsion, pop singer Evangelia, vocalists Erini and Margarita Cox and DJ and producer Lokman. Powerful theatrical monologues by Anthoula Katsimatides and Christina Mavronas also helped create a moving and immersive celebration of the timeless impact of these historic women.
Highlighting Our Charitable Programs
The Gabby Awards are the main fundraiser of the Greek America Foundation and strengthen our mission to promote Greek culture and heritage, offer fulfilling academic programs and support vulnerable populations in Greece.Throughout the night, special guests also shared details about some of the foundation’s projects including a prize named after the late Olympia Dukakis; a youth volunteer program called Greek America Corps; an initiative called Project Hope for Greece that supports children’s charities in Greece and the Futures Campaign, a $10 million endowment fund drive to sustain the foundation’s work for future generations.
Silent and live auctions with dozens of unique items donated from generous companies, as well as generous donations from guests at the event, helped the Foundation raise in excess of $175,000 for these projects.
Event photographs by George Kokkinos here
For more information and honoree bios, see here.
For honoree acceptance videos, see here.