Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal mobilizes unprecedented community support as donors answer the call to preserve Greek education for future generations
Inside a large conference room at the Chateau Royal Reception Halls on Saturday, November 29, 2025, the steady hum of activity filled the air as microphones were positioned around a long wooden table, cables snaked across the floor, and volunteers moved between stations with clipboards in hand. A projection screen displayed a live tally of donations, the numbers climbing steadily as the morning progressed. The room had been transformed into a remote broadcast studio, and from this unlikely command centre, the Greek voice of Montreal would reach thousands of homes across the city. Mr. Vassilis Zannis, owner of Chateau Royal Reception Halls, had graciously offered the facilities and service staff at no cost, ensuring that every dollar raised would go directly to the schools. The Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal (HCGM) had gathered its forces for Radiothon 2025, a day-long fundraising marathon broadcast live across three radio stations to support the Greek schools that have educated generations of Hellenic youth in this city. By day’s end, the community would raise over $210,000, the largest amount ever collected from a single radio fundraising effort by the HCGM’s Fundraising Committee.
The broadcast began at ten o’clock in the morning on CFMB 1280 AM, where host Michalis Tellidis opened the airwaves to donors, community leaders, and students. At two o’clock, Radio Centre-Ville CINQ 102.3 FM took over under the direction of Dimitris Papadopoulos, and the day concluded on CJLV 1570 AM with Kostas Daniilidis and Vasiliki Lantzanaki on their program “Radio Akrites.” Throughout the eight hours, George Guzmas served as the overall coordinator and radio host, ensuring seamless transitions between stations and keeping the momentum alive as donations poured in from across the Greater Montreal area.
George Tsitouras, a partner at Ernst and Young and the Honorary President of this year’s Radiothon, addressed listeners with evident pride in the community’s response. “Today we celebrate our schools. Today we celebrate our community. Today we celebrate the strength we have shown these days for our children,” he declared. “Our schools are diamonds, and these diamonds must shine in our community.” Tsitouras, whose family has maintained a connection to the Socrates schools for 32 years and whose eight children all attended the institution, spoke of witnessing firsthand the dedication required to organize such an event. “I want to thank the Fundraising Committee for the many years of work and the millions they have collected for our beloved schools and for our children,” he said.
The Fundraising Committee, led by President Tasso Xipolitakis, works throughout the year to secure financial support for the schools, and this year’s results exceeded all expectations. Among the major donors, Chrysos Karapatsas and Nikos Karapiniaris each contributed $10,000, while the Association of Epidavrou-Limiras-Laconias presented a remarkable donation of $25,000. The Power of 100 group provided $60,000 to create a special “double your impact” matching fund, allowing many donations to be doubled until the pool was exhausted.
Me. Basile Angelopoulos, President of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, spoke of a new era for the organization. “We are at the stage where, when we acquired these buildings, we put our children in and it was something we had bought or built. Now, the same children who graduated from these buildings come and urge us to take care of them and make them even better,” he observed. Angelopoulos noted that his administration had “managed to convince some people to organize a capital of $60,000 to encourage even more people to contribute to today’s effort by doubling each contribution.” He announced that the total had reached $125,000 by midday, with donations continuing to arrive.
Among the most moving moments of the broadcast came when Grade 6 students from Socrates School shared their reflections on what their education had meant to them. Zoe Shelton, a graduating student, addressed parents directly: “For all parents who do not know if it is the right school for their children, I tell you now it is the best decision you can make.” Another student, Fotini Christea, spoke of learning three languages and expressed pride in her heritage: “We are proud that we are Greek. I believe all Greek children would be very fortunate if they graduated from Socrates School.” These testimonials, delivered in fluent Greek, demonstrated the very mission the schools strive to fulfil.
Panagiota Tsitouras, wife of the Honorary President and President of the Philoptochos of St. George Cathedral, shared a personal story that illustrated the schools’ impact on young lives. She recalled how her daughter Konstantina, at just five years old in kindergarten, had taught the family to say grace before meals. “Before eating, she started: ‘Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us’ three times,” she recounted. “And then, ‘Come Christ and Virgin Mary and sit with us. Bless our table with all our food.’ I was so moved that a five-year-old taught us to say the prayer before eating.”
Nikolaos Karalekas, the Consul General of Greece in Montreal, attending his first Radiothon during his tenure, spoke of what he found upon arriving in the city. “Coming here I met a community where our culture is alive, our customs and traditions are honored and known to all Greek-origin residents of the Montreal, Quebec area and beyond,” he said. “This is thanks to the schools.” The General Consul noted that the community would mark 120 years of existence next year, with the schools serving as the primary vehicle for transmitting Greek language and culture across generations.
Former Member of Parliament Eleni Bakopanos, who served the Ahuntsic riding, emphasized the quality of education her own children received. “I am very proud because all three of my children had the opportunity and I sent them to Socrates schools,” she said, challenging other elected officials of Greek descent to contribute. “Education is excellent, and as we know, whatever profession you choose in life, a good education is the beginning of whatever you can achieve in life.”
The needs addressed by the fundraising are substantial and immediate. George Tsitouras revealed that his grandson, also named George and a second-grade student, had asked his mother whether some of the money raised could be used to repair the toilets at Socrates III because “they are not as they should be.” This innocent observation from a child crystallized the practical realities facing the schools. “The schools’ needs are great,” noted Tasso Xipolitakis. “From 2018 to 2023 we have given $1,387,000 to the schools.” The funds will support urgent maintenance and repairs across the five school units, ensuring students learn in safe and modern environments.
Inspired by the Radiothon’s success, George Tsitouras announced a new initiative during a follow-up interview on Mike-FM 105.1 with host Marie Daperis-Griffiths. The “Christmas Challenge” aims to raise the total amount collected for the schools to $500,000 by Christmas, representing $100,000 for each of the five school units. To launch the campaign, Tsitouras and his wife doubled their donation from $10,000 to $20,000, and President Angelopoulos and his wife Katerina committed to doing the same. “I know that if we unite our forces from now until Christmas, we can increase the total amount raised for our schools to $500,000,” Tsitouras declared.
Olga Papadatou, President of the Socrates Educational Foundation, which provides financial assistance to families unable to afford tuition, reminded listeners that the Socrates-Demosthenes School is the largest private elementary school in the entire province of Quebec. “In the last 20 years, we have provided over $600,000 in tuition alone for children to be able to attend and learn in these schools,” she said, noting that $68,000 had already been approved for the current school year.
The Radiothon drew support from churches, which held special collections, and from Philoptochos organizations across the city. Greek newspapers including BHMA, TA NEA, and GREEK TIMES provided media coverage, as did television programs “Edo Montreal,” “Olou tou Kosmou oi Kyriakes,” “O Kanadas Simera,” and “Mazi ston Kanada” on Odyssey TV, along with “Kalimera Patrida” on ICI Television.
George Tsandrizos, Executive Director of the Hellenic Community and a graduate of Socrates School himself, captured the significance of the day. “These schools are a living organ,” he said. “They are a critical piece of the mechanism which gives all meaning to the term community. Without these schools, there is no community.” He recalled that he remains close friends with people he met on his first day of kindergarten at Socrates II, and that tonight he would visit one such friend, a testament to the lifelong bonds formed within these walls.
Those wishing to contribute to the Christmas Challenge and support the schools may donate by telephone at 514-738-2421, extension 114, or online through the Community’s website at hcgm.org. The Radiothon continues to accept donations through the end of December. The broadcast concluded in the early evening on CJLV 1570 AM, with the final tally surpassing $210,000 and donations continuing to arrive throughout the following week.
