A fitting memorial prize is being established by the New York City-based charity, Greek America Foundation, to honor the life and legacy of the late Olympia Dukakis.
The organization, which Olympia served as a trustee for more than a decade, has launched a campaign to endow $125,000, in order for a cash prize of $5,000 to be awarded in perpetuity.
“It’s the least we can do for a woman who not only served this organization with all her heart, but also cared so much about making the world around her a better place,” said Gregory Pappas, founder of the Greek America Foundation who also made the initial $1,000 donation to kick off fundraising.
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The prize, when launched, will reflect Olympia Dukakis’ core values and ideas that she championed in life. The annual “genius grant” will be awarded to a female-led project in film or theater.
The Greek America Foundation, a non-profit with a platinum rating with Guidestar, a non-profit watchdog, is currently fundraising to fulfill the $125,000 needed to fund the project every year.
“Once we raise the $125,000, we lock that money into our existing endowment fund and every year, the interest from the fund will generate the prize money,” Pappas explained. “It’s a great way to ensure that Olympia’s name will live on in perpetuity.”
Within a week of launching the fund, it is approaching 10% fulfilled with $11,000 raised.
Donor names are listed on a special tribute page that the organization has created to honor the prolific life and career of Olympia.
