History of The Hellenic Center
The HC was established in 1974 as a non-profit organization under Section 501 (C) (3) of the IRS code. The HC was founded by American citizens of Hellenic descent. The primary purpose of the organization is to satisfy and promote the educational, cultural and social needs and interests of its members.
The HC is made up of eight member Hellenic organizations operating in the Washington Metropolitan area (AHEPA Chapter 383, Cretan Association, Epirotic Society, The Hellenic Society PROMETHEAS, Laconian Society, The Pancretan Association of America, Roumeliotes of Metro Wash., and The Vourvoura Society). The HC is managed by its Board of Trustees.
Each member organization is represented with two Trustees. There are four officers of the organization: the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary, each of whom is elected for two years by the fourteen-member Board of Trustees.To accomplish its goals effectively, in 2010 the Hellenic Center purchased in Bethesda, Maryland a three-story building which houses the offices of the seven member organizations. This building has on the third floor a Board room used by the HC and its member organizations, a sizable library and seven offices for each member organization. The second and main floor houses the office of the HC, a kitchen and a large multipurpose room with a seating capacity of about 90 people where various dignified cultural, social, and educational activities are organized. The first floor is rented out for income producing purposes.
The activities which were organized in the HC since 2010 by by the HC and by its member organizations are numerous and various. Indicatively, the following activities are mentioned: (open house events of the Greek National celebrations, lectures, seminars, dinners, training sessions for Greek educators, instructional classes of Greek dances, meetings of the Kyklos group during which only Greek is spoken, picnics, monthly coffee hours, and others.). The facility of the HC is also used by other non-member Hellenic organizations for special events rented at a nominal fee to cover administrative expenses.