History

The Federation of Hellenic American Organizations of New Jersey, Inc. was established on February 13th, 2009. The purpose was to unite the diverse and vibrant network of Hellenic American organizations across the State of New Jersey. For decades, New Jersey had been home to dozens of Greek American fraternal, cultural, educational, charitable, professional, and religious institutions—each contributing to the preservation of Hellenic culture and identity in its own way. Recognizing the need for a unified voice capable of supporting these efforts collectively, a group of visionary community leaders came together to form a statewide federation.
The founders of the Federation--Stavros Antonakakis, Giorgos Antoniou, John Blazakis, Andreas D. Comodromos, Anastasios Efstratiades, Demetrios Kontolios, Nikos Panagiotou, Nicholaos Poulis, John Sakelaris, Stacey Sava, George Siamboulis, Panos Stavrianides, and Savas Tsivikos—shared a common belief: that New Jersey’s Hellenic American community would be stronger, more visible, and more effective if its organizations worked collaboratively. Drawing on decades of service within Greek American institutions, they joined their experience and leadership to establish a formal structure that would elevate Hellenic heritage and support the next generation.
The Federation was organized with the goal of fostering cooperation among all Hellenic American organizations in New Jersey, including the Greek Orthodox parishes of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey. Its mission, as stated in the founding bylaws, was ambitious and comprehensive: to promote, preserve, and protect Hellenic culture and heritage; to support educational and cultural programming; to strengthen Hellenic-American relations; and to uphold the democratic ideals shared by Greece and the United States.
From its earliest days, the HFNJ sought to serve as an umbrella organization—coordinating activities, supporting member organizations, sponsoring educational initiatives, and presenting a unified public presence. The Federation’s structure allowed for communication and collaboration among fraternal societies, cultural clubs, youth and student groups, philanthropic organizations, professional associations, and Greek Orthodox parishes.
Over time, the Federation expanded its mission to include:

the creation and support of charitable and nonprofit foundations,
the pursuit of grants and public funding for cultural and educational initiatives,
initiatives to preserve the Greek language,
and outreach to the broader New Jersey public to share Hellenic history, ideals, and cultural traditions.

Through its Council of Presidents—representatives of all member organizations—the Federation became the central forum for dialogue, planning, and community-wide decision-making. By establishing processes for membership, representation, and governance, the HFNJ created a sustainable and transparent foundation for long-term growth.
Since its founding, the Hellenic Federation of New Jersey has played a significant role in unifying the Greek American community across the state. It has supported major cultural events, educational programs, youth initiatives, and charitable efforts, while helping preserve the Hellenic identity for future generations. Today, the Federation continues to honor the vision of its founders by promoting Hellenism, supporting its member organizations, and enriching the civic and cultural life of New Jersey.