The Hellenic Initiative will bring members of the Greek diaspora and friends of Greece together in New York City on November 21, 2026, for its 14th Annual New York Gala. The event, scheduled to take place at Cipriani Wall Street, will combine fundraising, networking and recognition of individuals connected to the organization’s mission of supporting Greece and its people. This year’s gala will honor entrepreneur and philanthropist John Paul DeJoria with The Hellenic Initiative’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
The annual gathering has become one of the organization’s major events in the United States, providing an opportunity for members of the global Hellenic community to meet while supporting programs focused on community assistance and economic development in Greece. According to The Hellenic Initiative, the 2026 gala will feature cocktails, dinner and an awards program, followed by entertainment and dancing. The event is planned as a black tie evening at Cipriani Wall Street.
The choice of DeJoria as this year’s honoree also has a connection to the Greek-American community. DeJoria is the son of an Italian father and a Greek mother, and his connection to Greece has been part of his public identity for years. The Hellenic Initiative has previously worked with him, including a 2017 event in Athens where he spoke to an audience about entrepreneurship and building a business with limited resources. He has also been associated with THI as an international ambassador.
John Paul DeJoria’s Business Career and Philanthropy
DeJoria is widely known for co founding John Paul Mitchell Systems in 1980, building the company from a relatively modest beginning into a major professional hair care business. The Hellenic Initiative describes his career as one that moved from significant personal hardship to international business success and philanthropy. His career story has frequently been presented alongside his emphasis on giving back and supporting charitable causes.
His philanthropic work extends beyond the Greek community. Organizations that have received support from DeJoria and his philanthropic efforts have included programs focused on homelessness, employment, food security and humanitarian assistance. His connection to charitable work has also been linked to lessons he said he learned from his Greek immigrant mother, who emphasized helping others even when a family had limited means.
For The Hellenic Initiative, the gala is about more than recognizing an individual. The organization was founded in 2012 by members of the global Greek and Philhellene communities during a period when Greece was dealing with a severe economic crisis. Its stated mission has since developed around connecting the diaspora with initiatives in Greece, with a particular focus on humanitarian assistance, community support, entrepreneurship and sustainable economic development.
THI says it has deployed more than $25 million through more than 370 grants since its founding. Its current programs are divided broadly between community support and economic development, with assistance going through nonprofit organizations and initiatives working in Greece. Community support includes areas such as food, shelter and healthcare, while its economic development work includes entrepreneurship, job creation and programs intended to strengthen local businesses and communities.
The organization has also expanded its efforts to involve younger generations and members of the diaspora who want to maintain a connection with Greece while living abroad. Through initiatives such as its 1821 Society, youth programs and volunteer opportunities, THI describes its work as a way to strengthen social and cultural ties between Greece and the global Hellenic community. The organization says its broader goal is to create lasting connections that can continue across generations.
2026 New York Gala Brings the Hellenic Community Together
That community element is particularly relevant to the New York gala, where Greeks and Philhellenes from different backgrounds are expected to come together around a shared interest in Greece. For members of the diaspora, events such as this can serve both a philanthropic purpose and a social one, creating opportunities to meet other members of the community while learning more about projects taking place in Greece.
The organization’s work also extends to emergency response. THI has established its Diaspora Action for Relief & Emergency, or D.A.R.E., fund to help mobilize assistance when Greece is affected by major disasters and extreme weather events. The initiative is designed to provide rapid support through local partners while also contributing to longer term resilience efforts.
The 2026 gala therefore comes at a time when The Hellenic Initiative is continuing to combine fundraising with programs aimed at supporting communities and economic opportunity in Greece. While the evening will feature a formal award for DeJoria, the organization presents the gathering as part of a broader effort to keep members of the global Greek community connected to Greece through philanthropy, volunteerism and long term engagement.
With the event scheduled for November 21 at Cipriani Wall Street, the 14th Annual New York Gala is expected to bring together Greek-Americans, diaspora supporters and Philhellenes for an evening centered on community and support for Greece. The Lifetime Achievement Award for John Paul DeJoria adds a personal element to the celebration, recognizing a Greek-American figure whose business career and philanthropic activities have made him a longstanding part of the wider Hellenic community.
For The Hellenic Initiative, the event represents another opportunity to bring the diaspora together while continuing its work in support of Greece and future generations.
