SEPTEMBER PREVIEW: Spiritual Leader, Scholar & Philanthropist
August 21, 2013-The September installment of Greeks in the Diaspora will spotlight a brilliant, selfless man who holds a position of Spiritual Authority; however, more importantly, his spirit, his kindness, his humor, and his character make him a role model to millions. Can you guess who it is?
Every once and a while, when we come across businesses, organizations, or websites that are of value to Greeks in the Diaspora we will inform you about them, Greek Biz USA is one such site. It is a listing site of Greek owned businesses in a variety of categories. It is FREE!
If you have a lead on a good business, organization, or website that may be useful to Greeks in the Diaspora let us know.
August Feature: John Catsimatidis-NYC Mayoral Candidate
He was born on the island of Nisyros, a Turkish invaded, Italian occupied and, subsequently, Greek owned Island where his family lived until he was six months of age. His father was a lighthouse operator in Greece. The family relocated to West 135th Street, NYC, where he grew up and learned the value of hard work watching his father bus tables in Manhattan.
He waited tables in NYC, and worked at Sloan's Supermarkets, where he became a master student of the supermarket business, Eventually he attended New York University to study engineering but he never graduated. In 1971 he opened his first NYC Supermarket at Broadway and 99th called Red Apple. This was the start of the opening of almost 50 Gristedesand Big Apple Food Stores, making John Catsimatidis the largest supermarket owner in NYC.
He has since diversified into oil refining, real estate holdings, and publishing, bringing his personal net worth to over $3 billion dollars and making him one of Forbes Magazines' 500 most billionaires in the world.
Catsimatidis has played a major role in local and national politics on both sides of the aisle. He stands up for what he believes is right, regardless of partisan affiliations. He has befriended the Clintons on the left and been a major supporter of Mayor Bloomberg on the right, among other political powerhouses he is associated with. He is currently seen as the front runner of the RepublicanNYC Mayoral Candidates for the 2013 NYC mayor's race, having announced his official candidacy in January 2013. His ascension to billionaire status from poverty is truly the story of a "self made man".
John Catsimatidis is a quintessential Greek in the Diaspora. His family emigrated to the United States with nothing in hopes of making more of their lives. He has climbed his way up the economic and political ladder through hard work and by "feeling the pulse of the people". He is a businessman, philanthropist, political force and Hellenic Icon. John Catsimatidis is known for his generosity, his values, and his support of the issues he believes in. For many Greek-Americans, John Catsimatidisis synonymous with the fulfillment of the American Dream. His life's accomplishments are held out, like one of those lighthouses his father worked in, as a beacon of hope for Greeks everywhere in the world. Win or lose the 2013 NYC Mayoral Race, John Catsimatidis has left an indelible mark on NYC and National affairs.
The August installment of Greeks in The Diaspora will introduce us to a man on the verge of becoming one of the most powerful political figures in the United States. Can you guess who it is?
July Feature: Elaine Sarantakos, Fabulous Living Coach
She was born in Toronto, Canada. Her father was born in Stefania, Lakonia, a small village between Gytheio and Skala. He relocated to Canada as a young, teenager. Her maternal grandparents left the region of Greece sometimes called West Macedonia for Australia, and emigrated to Canada, where her mother was born. Like so many Greeks of their generation, her family left Greece to find a better opportunity abroad.
She is widely regarded as one of the leading experts in the world on the issue of travel. She has demonstrated that with the right research and ingenuity that one can travel the world on, virtually, any budget. In 2011 she visited twelve countries in as many months, broadening her credibility as a travel blogger, vlogger, and Travel Coach.
Elaine studied in Canada and Greece, where she explored her passion for travel and for people. She is a graduate of Coach U, a "a leading global provider of coach training programs". It was through Coach U that she honed her skills as a life coach. Elaine's approach of having individuals identify for themselves what Fabulous Living is for them and helping to guide them towards achieving that lifestyle has garnered her praise and established her as a respected Life Coach.
Her extremely popular videos and Blogs documenting her travels are both entertaining and educational. Elaine actually takes you by the hand and guides you through her various journeys, providing helpful tips and very personal interaction with inhabitants of the local region, as well as fellow travelers. Food, music, hot spots, night spots, educational sightseeing, and local culture are all integrated into her personal video and written travel diaries; and they are infectious. You can't watch just one!!!!!!
Elaine is a Greek living in the Diaspora as a beacon of the Greek persona. She exudes the Hellenic warmth, passion for living, and sense of adventure that have sustained the Greek people throughout time and have connected Greeks all over the world, regardless of current place of residence. Elaine says it best. "I love Canada and feel it's my home...but when I land in Greece it's my soul." This is the motto of all of us Greeks living in the Diaspora. Bravo, Eleni!!
Welcome to the Official Blog-site of Greeks living outside of Greece. There are currently almost 9 million Greeks living in the Diaspora, almost as many as there are living in Greece. Regardless of where these Greeks ended up, or how they got there, they all share a love and connection to MANA MOU ELLAS. This Blog will be devoted to sharing the stories of Greeks living all over the World. It will share the stories of how they, or their ancestors, came to leave Greece and what is like for Greeks in their part of the world. Please feel free to share your stories, or suggest a person to be featured at mmasuperstore@gmail.com
He was born on the island of Nisyros, a Turkish invaded, Italian occupied and, subsequently, Greek owned Island where his family lived until he was six months of age. His father was a lighthouse operator in Greece. The family relocated to West 135th Street, NYC, where he grew up and learned the value of hard work watching his father bus tables in Manhattan.
Catsimatidis has played a major role in local and national politics on both sides of the aisle. He stands up for what he believes is right, regardless of partisan affiliations. He has befriended the Clintons on the left and been a major supporter of Mayor Bloomberg on the right, among other political powerhouses he is associated with. He is currently seen as the front runner of the Republican NYC Mayoral Candidates for the 2013 NYC mayor's race, having announced his official candidacy in January 2013. His ascension to billionaire status from poverty is truly the story of a "self made man".
She was born in Toronto, Canada. Her father was born in Stefania, Lakonia, a small village between Gytheio and Skala. He relocated to Canada as a young, teenager. Her maternal grandparents left the region of Greece sometimes called West Macedonia for Australia, and emigrated to Canada, where her mother was born. Like so many Greeks of their generation, her family left Greece to find a better opportunity abroad. 
Her extremely popular videos and Blogs documenting her travels are both entertaining and educational. Elaine actually takes you by the hand and guides you through her various journeys, providing helpful tips and very personal interaction with inhabitants of the local region, as well as fellow travelers. Food, music, hot spots, night spots, educational sightseeing, and local culture are all integrated into her personal video and written travel diaries; and they are infectious. You can't watch just one!!!!!!
