At this year’s Gabby Awards, the Greek America Foundation will pay homage not only to contemporary women shaping the world today—but also to those whose stories continue to echo across generations. A powerful segment of the evening’s program will feature posthumous tributes to iconic women whose lives, artistry, and resistance left an indelible mark on history and culture.
These women—defiant, brilliant, complex—challenged the status quo in their own times and blazed trails for those who followed. Though no longer physically present, their legacies remain alive, inspiring artists, activists, and everyday people who find strength in their stories.
In a deeply moving artistic presentation that blends music, theater, and storytelling, contemporary performers will channel the spirit of each woman—bringing her voice, courage, and essence to life for a new generation.
Among those being honored is Olympia Dukakis, the fiercely Greek and fearlessly outspoken actress and activist, who used her stage and screen roles to uplift marginalized voices and challenge injustice. From Hollywood to Capitol Hill, her voice remained unwavering.
Lela Karagianni, Greece’s “mother of the resistance,” will also be remembered for her extraordinary courage during the Nazi occupation, organizing underground networks from her family home and ultimately giving her life for her country. Her name has become synonymous with defiance and sacrifice.
Maria Callas, the soprano whose voice transcended opera and became legend, left behind more than a musical legacy. She redefined artistic excellence and lived unapologetically, forever changing the way the world hears—and feels—music.
Melina Mercouri, whose charisma lit up every stage and whose passion shaped modern Greek cultural policy, will be celebrated not only for her unforgettable performances, but for her unrelenting fight to return the Parthenon Marbles and her resistance to dictatorship.
The rebel soul of rebetiko will be present, too. Sotiria Bellou, whose songs gave voice to the voiceless and whose life was marked by both brilliance and brutal hardship, will be honored alongside Roza Eskenazi, another rebetissa who defied social boundaries, mesmerized audiences with her music, and risked her life to resist fascism during World War II.
These women will not be remembered through static tributes or formal speeches. Instead, their legacies will be reimagined through live performance—songs, monologues, and theatrical vignettes designed to summon their spirit and channel their essence. Each moment will be both remembrance and revival—a celebration not of loss, but of continued presence.
“These women may no longer walk among us, but their spirits are anything but gone,” said Gregory Pappas, Founder and President of the Greek America Foundation. “They lived boldly, sacrificed deeply, and created fearlessly. Through this tribute, we honor not just who they were—but what they continue to be.”
By weaving these stories into the fabric of the 2025 Gabby Awards, the Greek America Foundation reaffirms its commitment to storytelling as cultural preservation—and to honoring the past not as nostalgia, but as a call to action and bold lessons for the future.
Because to remember these women is to carry their light forward.
For more information, visit https://greekamerica.org/gabbyawards2025.