Overseers Announce Recipient of the 2018 Gennadius Prize

November 3, 2017
Mary Jane Gavenda

The Overseers of the Gennadius Library of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens have announced the Stavros Niarchos Foundation as the winner of the Gennadius Prize awarded for outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge of post-antique Greece.

The global impact of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) on the advancement of knowledge of Greece is without equal. More than 60% of the foundation grants are for education, the arts, and culture, with many in support of Hellenic studies. Just a few of the many notable contributions of the SNF include:

Relocation and total modernization of the National Library of Greece, digitizing its collections and making them available to scholars throughout the world
Support of Hellenic Studies programs throughout North America, from elementary schools to research universities, e.g., the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for Hellenic Studies at Yale University
Renovation and expansion of the National Gallery of Greece.

“It is an honor to recognize the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and to celebrate, not only their excellence in civic engagement and responsible citizenship, but their commitment in supporting and driving the study and understanding of post-antique Hellenism,” declares Andreas Zombanakis, Chairman of the Library’s Overseers. “We hope that by showcasing their exceptional leadership and vision, we can help inspire the next generation of post-antique Greek scholars and Philhellenes.”

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation will be honored at the American School’s Annual Gala on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, 6:00 p.m., at Capitale in New York City. The Gala will include a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, and awards ceremony. To inquire about purchasing a table, please contact Karen Volpi at 609-454-6810.

A national landmark, the historic Gennadius Library houses rare books, archives and artworks from post-antique Greece to the present day. The Library also offers exhibitions, lectures, concerts, and various other cultural activities to the general public. The Library is a distinctive part of the campus of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. Founded in 1881, the American School is the leading American teaching and research institution in Greece dedicated to the advanced study of the archaeology, art, history, philosophy, language, and literature of Greece and the Greek world.