The National Hellenic Society (NHS) proudly hosted the 2024 Heritage Weekend & Classic from October 10 to 13 at the J.W. Marriott in Nashville, TN. This year’s prestigious Excellence Awards Celebration took place at the iconic Parthenon in Nashville's Centennial Park, a stunning, full-scale replica of the original in Athens, Greece which also boasts a full-scale sculpture of Athena as featured in the original Parthenon in ancient times. Three extraordinary honorees were recognized:
Peter Parthenis Sr., Founder and Chairman of Pure Mediterranean Foods and Grecian Delight Foods, Vice-Chairman of the National Hellenic Museum;
Melina Kanakaredes, acclaimed actress of stage and screen;
Desmond Child, legendary songwriter and producer, who received NHS' first-ever Philhellene Award of Excellence.
The weekend’s theme, "Homeward Bound," celebrated NHS’s Heritage Greece Program, which reconnects Greek American students to their heritage in Greece, while raising awareness for the ongoing campaign to repatriate the Parthenon Marbles to their rightful home. Desmond Child, an ardent advocate for Greek culture, was honored for his efforts to bring international attention to the Parthenon Marbles through his concert, Desmond Child Rocks the Parthenon, performed at the historic Herodion Theater in the Acropolis with a host of celebrity performers including Alice Cooper, Sakis Rouvas, Bonnie Tyler, Rita Wilson and others.
Television host and journalist Debbie Matenopoulos emceed the evening, as NHS underscored its commitment to including and honoring Philhellenes within its mission. In a landmark moment, Desmond Child became the inaugural recipient of the NHS Philhellene Award of Excellence, underscoring his contributions to promoting Greek culture on a global scale.
Each honoree was presented with an original portrait by artist Rip Kastaris, joined by actor Frank Dicopoulos and NHS member George Anderson for the presentations. These portraits, created in collaboration with the National Hellenic Museum, will be featured in the museum's permanent exhibit, The National Hellenic Society: Portraits in Excellence, preserving their legacies for generations to come. Additionally, Desmond Child received a sculpture from renowned sculptor George Petrides—a bust of Thalia, the Muse of music, poetry, and dance—symbolizing Desmond’s contributions to the arts and culture.
The evening concluded with a captivating musical performance by Kanakaredes’ daughter, Karina Eleni, singer-songwriter Tabitha Fair, and NHS Honoree Desmond Child, who performed Lady Liberty, a song he wrote for Barbra Streisand. The atmosphere was nothing short of magical for all in attendance.
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