Volunteer Reflections
For several Gen G members, the day made the connection between fundraising, service, and human dignity feel immediate.
“Presenting the check was my favorite part because the money we raised for things like underwear was going to the people right in front of us. It made the work feel real. I left feeling connected to my fellow Gen G members in a way that felt like the start of something lifelong.”
Andriana Christolias
“This felt different from any other service day. We were not just going through the motions; we got to talk to the people we were serving and be fully present. Handing over the check for hygiene products made the fundraising real. It felt like Gen G was actually part of something.”
Evangelia Stoupakis
Nearly 20 members of the Greek America Foundation’s Gen G program traveled from across the country to New York City for their quarterly Service Triathlon, spending the day volunteering at Xavier Mission in Manhattan.
Founded more than four decades ago, Xavier Mission serves some of New York City’s most vulnerable residents through food programs, clothing distribution, community outreach, and support services. The organization provides thousands of meals annually and serves individuals and families facing homelessness, poverty, food insecurity, and the challenges of starting over in a new country.
For Gen G members, the experience was more than a day of volunteer service. It was an opportunity to witness firsthand the realities faced by vulnerable populations and to understand the role that charitable organizations play in helping people rebuild their lives.
Throughout the day, the teens worked alongside Xavier Mission staff and volunteers, sorting clothing and shoes for distribution, organizing donations, preparing meals, serving guests, and assisting with shelter operations.
But their service began long before they arrived in New York.
As part of the Gen G philanthropy curriculum, members learned about an urgent need identified by Xavier Mission. While many items can be donated, underwear is one of the shelter’s most needed necessities and must always be purchased new. In response, the teens launched an emergency fundraising campaign through GoFundMe, raising money to help Xavier Mission purchase essential items for those it serves.
The experience also provided an opportunity to place their service within a broader historical context.
Organizations like Xavier Mission are part of a long American tradition of helping vulnerable populations, including newly arrived immigrants seeking opportunity and safety in a new country. For more than a century, settlement houses and social service organizations welcomed newcomers arriving in American cities, helping them find food, clothing, housing, language instruction, employment assistance, and community support.
Among the most famous was Hull House in Chicago, founded by social reformer Jane Addams (below image), which served thousands of immigrant families— including many Greeks— as they established themselves in the United States.
Addressing the teens during the weekend, Greek America Foundation Founder and Chairman Gregory C. Pappas reflected on his own family’s immigrant story.
Pappas shared how his father arrived in Pittsburgh from Crete following World War II and, like countless immigrants before him, benefited from organizations and community networks that helped newcomers navigate life in America.
“Many of our own grandparents and great-grandparents arrived in America with very little,” Pappas told the group. “They were welcomed by churches, community centers, settlement houses, and social service organizations that believed every person deserved dignity and a chance to succeed. Today, you are carrying that tradition forward. The people you served at Xavier Mission may have different stories and come from different parts of the world, but the spirit of helping those who are arriving, struggling, or trying to rebuild their lives remains the same.”
Pappas reminded the students that philanthropy is not simply about writing checks or raising money. It is about recognizing the humanity of others and taking responsibility for the well-being of the broader community.
The Service Triathlon concluded with an evening gathering at Carnegie Diner & Cafe, where members were joined by family and friends for a celebration of gratitude and reflection.
During the evening program, Pappas also recognized two individuals whose dedication has been instrumental in the success of Gen G since its earliest days: Dr. Margarita Lolis and Alkistis Meimaris, both mothers of Gen G members who have embraced the program as advisors, mentors, and champions.
Presenting each with a small token of appreciation on behalf of the Greek America Foundation, Pappas thanked them for helping transform an idea into a living movement.
Referring to the well-known American expression, “Build it and they will come,” Pappas noted that most people wait until something is already built before deciding whether to participate.
“Margarita and Alkistis did something different,” he said. “They didn’t wait for Gen G to be built. They helped build it. Most people wait for something to exist before they show up. These two believed in the vision from the beginning and rolled up their sleeves to help make it a reality.”
Pappas specifically acknowledged Dr. Lolis’ landmark $50,000 commitment that helped launch the program and secure its future, as well as Meimaris’ tireless support, encouragement, and hands-on involvement with members and families throughout the year.
“Every successful movement needs people who are willing to invest their time, energy, resources, and belief before there is any guarantee of success,” Pappas said. “Gen G exists today because people like Margarita and Alkistis chose not to stand on the sidelines. They chose to help build something that will impact generations of young people long into the future.”
During the gathering, Pappas also praised the students for their commitment to service and for helping build something unprecedented in the Greek-American community.
“What you are doing is the first of its kind in our community,” he said. “Gen G is bringing together young people from throughout the country who are dedicated exclusively to philanthropy, service, leadership, and making a difference in the lives of others. You are proving that leadership does not begin someday in the future—it begins now.”
Launched earlier this year, Gen G is the Greek America Foundation’s leadership and philanthropy initiative for teenagers. Through monthly educational sessions, mentorship opportunities, fundraising projects, philanthropy training, and quarterly service experiences, participants learn how to transform the timeless Greek ideals of philanthropia, philotimo, and civic responsibility into meaningful action.
The quarterly Service Triathlons serve as a cornerstone of the program, bringing members together to volunteer, learn, and build friendships while developing the skills and values that will shape them into the next generation of philanthropic leaders.
For the teens who spent the day serving at Xavier Mission, the experience offered an important reminder that the immigrant stories that helped build the Greek-American community are not relics of the past. They are part of a continuing American story—one that calls on each generation to extend a helping hand to those who need it most.
Gen G is the Greek America Foundation’s national leadership and philanthropy initiative for teenagers, bringing together a select group of 25 young people each year from across the United States who are committed to service, leadership, and making a difference. Through mentorship, philanthropy training, fundraising initiatives, and hands-on volunteer experiences, members learn that giving back is not simply an activity—it is a way of life.
Applications for the next Gen G class open each November. Those interested in learning more about the program and the application process can visit the Gen G page on the Greek America Foundation website. As the program continues to grow, so too does its mission: to inspire a new generation of young people to lead with purpose, serve with compassion, and transform ideals into action.
