As summer approaches, our team of 27 young adults from the United States and Canada are preparing to embark on the experience of a lifetime — participating in our Greek America Corps volunteer programs in Greece.
These individuals come from throughout North America including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Illinois, California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Ontario (Canada).
The backgrounds of our volunteers are diverse and include undergraduate students, post-graduates, full-time professionals, actors and artists, among others.
Following several successful programs since launching in 2017, Greek America Corps has become an integral part of our programming. The 2021 season consists of three programs – two in Athens and one on the island of Chios — each of which lasts for three weeks. Our programs altogether will run from June 2 to August 12, 2021.
Each program has a specific mission and involves volunteer work with accredited Greek non-profit organizations whose work addresses issues such as homelessness, food insecurity, unaccompanied refugee minors and disenfranchised Greek youth.
Our partners include organizations such as Emfasis Foundation, Boroume, Greek Council for Refugees, we4all, METAdrasi and Kivotos Tou Kosmou (Ark of the World).
The aim of these programs is to instill the Greek values of philanthropy and philotimo in all participants. At the same time, our efforts will provide critical humanitarian aid to non-profit organizations in Greece.
Our Greek America Corps programs consist of numerous volunteer duties but also include cultural immersion experiences such as excursions to historic, religious or otherwise significant sites — as well as local celebrations and festivities.
The summer 2021 volunteer team has been briefed and prepared for the programs during various Zoom calls both with Greek America Foundation staff as well as staff from the organizations they will serve in Greece.
The group has also received presentations from pediatric psychologists Dina Karvounides and Georgette Constantinou. Dina and Georgette are both supporters of our organization who have volunteered to help our team prepare for traumatic situations that they may encounter while helping vulnerable people.

Follow the Greek America Foundation’s social media — Facebook, Twitter (@GreekAmerica) and Instagram (@greekamericafoundation) — and subscribe to our email newsletter to receive updates about the journey of our summer 2021 volunteers.
We would like to thank John Georges of New Orleans, LA, for being our lead sponsor of this year’s program. In addition, we’d like to thank the following generous donors:
- Peter Kalis
- Arthur and Susan Karas
- Spiro Macris
- The Order of AHEPA
- Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos
- Darden R. Livesay Jr.
Watch the video below to see a recap of our most recent program which took place in August 2020 in Athens and Chios.