WASHINGTON, DC, October 16, 2015 — “In two weeks, former astronaut and US Senator John Glenn, renowned musician and humanitarian Bono, and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden will join other distinguished honorees and participants in the Washington Oxi Day Foundation celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Oxi Day,” said Foundation Advisory Board Member Jim Chanos.

John Glenn

“Senator Glenn will be awarded the Foundation’s Greatest Generation Award presented each year to an American World War II veteran in a moving ceremony at the National World War II Memorial. Charles Bolden, the head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), will accept this award on behalf of Glenn, the 94-year-old American hero, who is unable to travel to Washington,” said Andy Manatos, Founder and President of the Foundation.

Bono

“World-renowned entertainer and humanitarian Bono will introduce by video this year’s inspiring Battle of Crete Award winner, Leyla Yunus, the human rights activist and director of Azerbaijan’s Institute for Peace and Democracy, currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Her daughter, Dinara, will accept this award in Washington on her behalf. In 2013, Bono praised the Greek people’s enduring legacy of courage in his introduction of another modern day hero for freedom and democracy, that year’s Oxi Day Award winner John Githongo,” said Foundation supporter George Logothetis. Logothetis will be delivering the keynote address at the October 28 gala.

George Logothetis

“Last month, the Foundation announced that H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh would accept the 2015 Metropolitan Chrysostomos Award on behalf of his mother, Princess Alice. She courageously hid a Jewish family in Nazi-occupied Athens during the Holocaust. I am honored to have presented this award to His Royal Highness at Buckingham Palace,” said Chanos.

Jim Chanos

“The portion of the celebration taking place in Washington on October 28 will occur on the exact date that 75 years ago the Prime Minister of Greece famously defied the Axis Forces’ demand for surrender with one word, “Oxi” (“No”). The battle that followed resulted in the first defeat of an Axis invasion that had swept through 15 other nations in the year-old war,” said Foundation Advisory Board Member George Marcus, who will be delivering opening remarks at the October 28 gala.

George Marcus

“Last year, in a very emotional program, the Oxi Day Award was presented (posthumously) to American journalist James Foley, the first American publicly executed by ISIS. President Bill Clinton, who nominated Foley for the Award, introduced him via video, and his parents, Diane and John Foley, received the Award for their courageous son. We anticipate this year’s presentation will be similarly moving. The 2015 Oxi Day Award recipient is Iraqi lawyer-turned-activist Khalil al-Dakhi who has devoted his life to saving women and children captured by ISIS as sex slaves. Mr. al-Dakhi was featured in a recent PBS documentary ‘Escaping ISIS,'” said Foundation Executive Director Mike Manatos. Foundation supporter Dean Metropoulos will be introducing al-Dakhi on October 28.

Dean Metropoulos

“Along with Senator Glenn, the other distinguished World War II veterans being honored with the Greatest Generation Award that day will be Greek General George Douratsos and Greek-American James Moshovitis,” continued Manatos. “We are also looking forward to the keynote address at this special ceremony that will be delivered by Michael Psaros.”

James Moshovitis

Michael Psaros (right) with Harry Dematatis

In addition, the Second Annual Stavros Niarchos Foundation Philotimo Award will be presented to Mr. Tzanetos Antypas and PRAKSIS. “This Award is presented each year to an organization or an individual in Greece, whose actions, work, and contact, despite Greece’s current socio-economic crisis, are true manifestations of philotimo, and have contributed towards helping Greek society maintain its cohesion,” said Stelios Vasilakis, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Director of Programs & Strategic Initiatives, who will be presenting the Award at the October 28 gala. Last year, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Director and Co-President Andreas Dracopoulos presented the First Annual Stavros Niarchos Foundation Philotimo Award to the Mobile Medical Units, which continue to exemplify philotimo in Greece.

Andreas Dracopoulos

As well, the winner of the national high school student Philotimo Scholarship competition will be recognized and presented with their scholarship by Nicholas J. and Anna K. Bouras Foundation Trustee, Judge Theodore Bozonelis.

Andy Manatos with Judge Theodore Bozonelis

For the latest schedule of events, please click here.