Chris P. Tomaras

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With roots in Messinia, Chris P. Tomaras was born in Piraeus, Greece, where he received his formal schooling. In 1958, after attending the Athens Graduate School of Economics and Business Sciences, he moved to the U.S.

Initially, Mr. Tomaras was involved in a number of entrepreneurial businesses that led to the establishment and a successful 20-year operation of the largest Greek food products manufacturer in the U.S. known as “Kronos Foods.” The company was sold in 1994 to a venture capital firm, which continues its successful operation to date. Since the sale, Mr. Tomaras founded Tomaras Investments, Ltd, a private investment firm with holdings in real estate, the money markets and in several operating companies in the U.S. and abroad.

Mr. Tomaras is a philanthropist with significant contributions to several Greek institutions that support Greek education and offer assistance and services to the various Greek communities. In 1998, he founded what is today the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation, which awarded $100,000 in grants in 2005.

Mr. Tomaras has been named “Distinguished Greek American” and recognized with the “Ellis Island Medal of Honor.” He is an Archon of the Order of St. Andrews of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He is also a member of the Anatolia College Board of Trustees, an Honorary Board Member of the American Foundation of Greek Language and Culture - University of South Florida, and of the American Foundation of Hellenic Studies - Georgia State University. In October 2003, he became honorary citizen of Panama City, Panama, and in October 2004 he was named “Hellene of the Year” by the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois. Recently, he was appointed as member of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO.

Mr. Tomaras has served in leadership positions in a number of civic, community and business organizations. He served for 3 consecutive terms as President of the PanMessenian Federation of USA and Canada. He is currently serving his 5th consecutive term as Vice President of the Council of Hellenes Abroad (ΣAE), and Regional Coordinator for North & South America Region, focusing on the needs of the Region’s Greek education efforts, on a just resolution to the occupation of Cyprus, the “Macedonia” controversy and all Greece’s national concerns.