The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) is a fraternal organization founded on July 26, 1922, in Atlanta, Georgia. AHEPA was founded in response to the evils of bigotry spearheaded by the Ku Klux Klan and to assist Greek immigrants’ assimilation into American society. AHEPA joined with B’nai B’rith and the NAACP to combat discrimination. The mission of the AHEPA family is to promote Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, family, and individual excellence.

Founding Members

  • George A. Polos
  • John Angelopoulos
  • George Campbell
  • James Vlass
  • Nicholas D. Chotas
  • James Campbell
  • Spiros J. Stamos
  • Harry Angelopoulos

The AHEPA was founded as a fraternity in Atlanta, Georgia in July 1922. Its initial mission was to promote the image of Greeks in America, assist them with citizenship and assimilation into American culture, and combat prejudice. With the full assimilation of Greek Americans, its mission evolved toward philanthropy, education, and promoting and preserving the Hellenic identity of the Greek Americans and the ethnic Greeks of other countries where AHEPA is present, such as Australia, Canada, the Bahamas as well as Europe, with Greece and Cyprus).