HELLENIC CHARITY BALL 2024 MOVES
TO THE RITZ-CARLTON, SAN FRANCISCO

HELLENIC CHARITY BALL 2024

Marilu Henner

PHOTOS BY DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY

A GALA EVENING HONORING GREEK AMERICANS INCLUDING THE INAUGURAL GEORGE & JUDY MARCUS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TO BE PRESENTED TO GRAMMY-NOMINATED ICONIC SINGER/SONGWRITER, TONY ORLANDO; ACCLAIMED TV & BROADWAY STAR MARILU HENNER TO HOST BIENNIAL BLACK-TIE DINNER AND NATIONAL AWARDS SHOW PRESENTED BY ELIOS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9 – PALACE HOTEL, SAN FRANCISCO

SAN FRANCISCO (2024) — The esteemed Elios Charitable Foundation today announced it will honor the careers and achievements of award winning Greek American luminaries from the national entertainment industry at this year’s black-tie Hellenic Charity Ball (HCB), scheduled for Saturday, November 9 at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco. The evening will be distinguished by the inaugural George and Judy Marcus Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented to GRAMMY-nominated iconic pop/rock singer, songwriter and music executive, Tony Orlando. The complete list of this year’s notable honorees will be announced later this month.

Under the direction of Gala Chair, Janice Gumas, the very festive evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a lavish cocktail reception followed by a multi-course dinner, awards show, auction and dancing. The 2024 Hellenic Charity Ball, the 14th since its inception in 1997, will be hosted by New York Times best-selling prolific author, celebrated television (“Taxi”) and film actress, Golden Globe-nominee, and Broadway star, Marilu Henner. Special to the evening, animated auctioneer Liam Mayclem will take to the stage to tempt guests to express their financial support for the Elios Charitable Foundation’s notable grant recipients, especially for the Heritage Greece Program for students.

Elios Charitable Foundation President and Chair John Gumas commented, “On behalf of the Elios Charitable Foundation, it is my honor to announce the return of this year’s Hellenic Charity Ball, an evening that rallies and unifies Greek Americans while reaffirming the essence of our being Greek, our philotimo. I am very proud we can celebrate our distinguished honorees and welcome our very special guests from across the country. At this year’s Ball, we will have a signature event with the presentation of the inaugural George and Judy Marcus Lifetime Achievement Award to renowned entertainer, Tony Orlando. But of course, the evening is ultimately about raising financial support and awareness of our Hellenic beneficiaries, with a special emphasis on youth. It is the support of these programs that truly informs our path forward as proud Greek Americans and Philhellenes.”

TONY ORLANDO, born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis to a Greek father and a Puerto Rican mother, is one of America’s most endearing and enduring iconic stars. Few entertainers have excelled in so many realms as Tony over the years: a top selling recording artist, songwriter, concert headliner, network television star, Motion Picture actor, Broadway performer and author. Tony was also GM and Vice President of CBS-Music Division April-Blackwood Music from 1966-1970. He represented such songwriters as James Taylor, Laura Nyro, Blood Sweat and Tears and signed and produced Barry Manilow’s first recording while working for the legendary Clive Davis.

GRAMMY-nominee Tony Orlando has sold millions of records, including five number one hits: “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree,” “Knock Three Times,” “Candida,” “My Sweet Gypsy Rose,” and “He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You).” “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” was the number one Billboard Song of 1973 and became Orlando’s theme song, and grew into an American anthem of hope and homecoming, reunion and renewal. He has 2 Platinum albums, 3 Gold albums and 15 Top 40 Hits. Tony Orlando and Dawn rank among the Top 100 Billboard magazine artists of all-time.

The enormously popular Tony Orlando and Dawn television variety show ran for four seasons, from 1973 to 1977, on CBS. The show catapulted Tony Orlando and Dawn from popular recording artists into major stars. Tony Orlando and Dawn was the first multi-racial singing group to star in a network TV series. Tony is still one of the most celebrated live concert artists, and has headlined around the world and entertained for five US Presidents. Tony is a recipient of three American Music Awards and two People’s Choice Awards for best male entertainer. For outstanding achievements to the entertainment industry Tony was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Tony Orlando was recognized and honored for his Greek heritage at the 2007 Hellenic Charity Ball.

MARILU HENNER along with starring in over 50 films, seven Broadway shows (including Chicago and Gettin’ the Band Back Together!), two National Tours (Annie Get Your Gun and Grease), and two hit classic sitcoms, (Taxi and Evening Shade), Marilu Henner is a five-time Golden Globe Nominee and is also a New York Times Best Selling author of ten books on health, parenting, memory, and lifestyle improvement. As one of only 12 people documented with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory, Marilu was the subject of a three-part special on 60 Minutes and on 60 Minutes Australia, as well as news programs and newspaper articles around the globe. Henner can be seen nationwide in her one-woman show, A Memorable Evening with Marilu Henner!, and recently co-starring in the hilarious new play, Madwomen of the West, initially in LA and then in a refreshed version in New York. Marilu Henner was recognized and honored for her Greek heritage at the 2009 Hellenic Charity Ball.

ABOUT ELIOS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

At the heart of the not-for-profit Elios Charitable Foundation, the group’s mission is to preserve and foster the values of Hellenic culture. Through its grants and sponsored projects and programs, the Foundation strives to position Elios as a leader in the community and to make a positive impact in the lives of Greek Americans and Philhellenes.

Since first coming together as a ”company of friends” in 1997, the Elios Society through its Elios Charitable Foundation has proudly extended grant awards totaling more than $1,500,000 to deserving recipients who embody, sustain, and advance the Foundation’s aspirational mission: “To preserve and promote the spirit, values and ideals of our Hellenic culture and heritage for the benefit of our youth, our membership, and the Greek American community through a process of mutual enlightenment and fellowship …” In addition, the Foundation has raised more than $2,000,000 during that time in pursuit of its mission, and, in recent years, has also funded the acceptance of 50 Elios Scholars in the highly respected Heritage Greece Program – with the goal of supporting the travels to Greece of more than 100 Elios Scholars to participate in this culturally enriching program by 2030.

New Elios Charitable Foundation beneficiaries include: Belmont Holy Cross Greek School, Hellenic American Women’s Council (HAWC), and the Kombos Collective. Past recipients and partnerships include: the Center for Tebtunis Papyri (CTB) at the University of California, Berkeley; Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Ancient Art Council and Get Smart with Art program; the Hellenic Heritage Institute; the Hellenic Journal; Hellenic Research Fellowship Program at California State University, Sacramento; partnership with The Heritage Greece/National Hellenic Society; Cappella Romana San Francisco Concert Series; Berkeley/Oakland’s Kairos Music Academy; Los Angeles Greek Film Festival; Loyola Marymount University’s Basil P. Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies; the Metropolis of San Francisco Folk Dance Programs; San Francisco Greek Film Festival sponsored by the Modern Greek Studies Foundation; and Nemea Center at the University of California, Berkeley.

Leadership for the Elios Charitable Foundation includes: John Gumas, President/Chair; Patrick Mockler, Vice President; John G. Costouros, Secretary; Michael Kasolas, Treasurer; and Caterina Vasil Peterson, Executive Director.

Tickets for this year’s Hellenic Charity Ball on Saturday, November 9, begin at $750 pp and are available online at www.elios.org/hellenic-charity-ball/sponsorships-tickets/.

The Hellenic Charity Ball 2024 will be held Saturday, November 9 at the historic Palace Hotel – a Luxury Collection Hotel – San Francisco, located in the heart of the Financial District at 2 New Montgomery St.

Press Contact: Jon Finck jonfincksf@gmail.com / +1 415 577 1323

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