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The National Herald - October 14-20, 2017

Archbishop Demetrios Returning the $75,000 to Leadership 100

By Theodore Kalmoukos

NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America is giving $75,000 back to Leadership 100 after TNH reported that he intended to use the money given to that organization by the Archdiocese so that the latter could publish a special edition of the Orthodox Observer in which to answer TNH’s numerous revelations regarding the Archdiocese’s crisis.

Leadership 100 received complaints from numerous members, and fears were expressed regarding the endangering of its nonprofit status. One Executive Committee member refused to consent to the disbursement of the $75,000, saying it is improper and instead proposing the funds be given privately from individuals rather than from the organization.

The Archdiocese does not have enough money to publish even one issue of the Observer.

Leadership 100, which has $91.1 million in its coffers, is comprised of 1060 members out of whom 680 have fulfilled their pledges. Since 1984, it has given over $48 million to the programs and ministries of the Archdiocese, the Holy Cross School of Theology, and the Metropolises.

It gave $2.6 million in 2017, $3.67 million in 2016, $1.73 million in 2015 and an additional $700,000. In 2014, Leadership gave $2.4 million, including $100,000 to the Metropolis of Boston for the ministries of emerging leaders.

It is the biggest fundraiser of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

A prestigious and well-organized nonprofit established in 1984 during the tenure of Archbishop Iakovos, Leadership was based on finding 100 Greek-Americans to give $100,000 each – either as a lump sum or in installments.

It can only support existing Archdiocesan programs and cannot pay for the Archdiocese’s operational expenses or its deficits or loans.
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During Archbishop Spyridon’s tenure, it became an independent and separate corporation from the Archdiocese for security purposes.

Specifically, to prevent the Archdiocese of using The Leadership funds for operational expenses and also to defend against possible legal implications of pedophile priests and other clergy sexual misconducts.

Leadership 100 Chair George Tsandikos did not respond to TNH’s request for comment.

[ The National Herald - October 14-20, 2017 - pp. 1 and 8 ]