Leadership
Nick Katsoris, founder/President/executive director
In 2003, New York attorney Nick Katsoris was inspired to write a book about a fluffy little lamb named Loukoumi that just wants to make the world a better place. There are now 9 books in the series and Katsoris has donated over 100,000 books and donated proceeds from the books to numerous charities including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The Make A Wish Foundation and Chefs for Humanity. In 2014, after receiving the National Make A Difference Award from USA Weekend Magazine, Gannett and Newman’s Own, Katsoris was inspired to start The Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation, a non-profit that now unites over 150,000 children in 30 countries worldwide to make a difference for causes they are passionate about. Nick serves as President and in March 2023, after 28 years as General Counsel at the Red Apple Group, Nick became the Executive Director of the Loukoumi Foundation (Read: “I Chose Happiness”) and was appointed as an Arbitrator at the American Arbitration Association. Katsoris now works with students across the globe teaching them to make a difference through their voices including at over 300 schools and in after school programming at IS 10 with the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens, IS 77 with the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council and the Anne Hutchinson School in Eastchester, NY. Nick has also formed the Loukoumi International Good Deed Council uniting students in India, Tanzania, Uganda, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Puerto Rico, San Diego, Spain, Switzerland, Gander Newfoundland Canada and New York to work on global good deed projects together.
Katsoris has received Tegna’s National Make A Difference All-Star Award, The Chapel Community Champion Award, The Points of Light Award, the Visionary Humanitarian Award from the High Flyers Organization in Mumbai, India, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Educator of Distinction Award and the Empire BlueCross BlueShield/Crain’s New York Business Whole Health Hero Award.
Nick also speaks at conferences including the World Happiness Summit in Lake Como, Italy in March 2023 and London in March 2024.
A graduate of Fordham College of Business Administration and Fordham Law School, Katsoris began his legal career as Law Clerk to The Hon. Nicholas Tsoucalas at the United States Court of International Trade. He then served as a litigation associate at the law firm of Cahill Gordon and Reindel. In 2005 he was appointed as General Counsel of The Red Apple Group in New York, a position he held until March 10, 2023, when he was appointed by the Loukoumi Foundation Board as Executive Director of the Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation.
Nick is also President and co-founder of the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund, which has awarded almost 1,000 scholarships totaling over $2.5 million, and has served as Entertainment Producer for the FOX telecast of the NY Greek Independence Day Parade. Nick currently resides in Eastchester, New York, with his wife, Voula, a real estate attorney, and their children, Dean and Julia.
Voula Katsoris, Vice President
Voula Katsoris is of counsel in the real estate department of Katsky Korins. Ms. Katsoris is an experienced real estate attorney having extensively advised a wide range of clients on numerous aspects of commercial real estate, with a special emphasis on representing office and retail landlords and tenants in the review, negotiation and drafting of leases, licenses, subleases, brokerage agreements and other related documents. Ms. Katsoris has also handled the review and negotiation of numerous offering plans for mixed-use condominium projects located throughout the United States and abroad on behalf of a major luxury hospitality company.
Prior to joining Katsky Korins, Ms. Katsoris practiced real estate at the law firms of Stroock Stroock & Lavan and Davis & Gilbert where she represented clients in a wide range of real estate matters, including commercial leasing, the acquisition and sale of commercial properties and the handling of all real estate aspects of corporation acquisition and disposition transactions. Ms. Katsoris received her JD from Boston University School of Law where she was an editor on the Boston University Law Review and her BA cum laude in International Relations and French from the University of Pennsylvania.
Effie Samios, Treasurer
Ms. Samios is the founder and CEO/CCO of Istros Media, a multi award winning digital creation company that specializes in delivering creative content seamlessly across multiple channels, using the best practices, ideas, people and technology to provide innovative solutions for design, broadcast graphics, content creation, viral marketing, database development, print and video production. Under her leadership, the New York based firm has developed relationships with a wide range of industry leaders, including AMC, DREAMWORKS, GE, Paramount, Sony, and many more. Prior to forming Istros Media, Effie served as both Executive Producer and Line Producer for Johns + Gorman Films, producing more than 300 commercials and multiple award winning Super Bowl commercials.
Effie is also a Real Estate Agent at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. Effie approaches real estate as she approaches commercial film production, she is an agent of her clients, who range from buying, selling and renting, in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Westchester County. She is experienced in handling all kinds of real estate transactions (renovations, new construction, single family homes, condos, townhouses, multi-unit investment properties, and estates).
MARIS ANGOLIA, BOARD MEMBER
Maris Angolia is President of Karin’s Florist. She directs and She has been active in the community and has served in many leadership roles. Currently, she serves on the Northern Virginia Board of Directors. She served on the Wolf Trap Associates Board from 2011 until 2017 and was the Chairman of the Board in 2015. She also served on the 2015 World Police and Fire Games Board of Directors and the Society of American Florists Board of Directors from 2000-2013. She has been with Karin’s full time for over 24 years and is proud to carry on her father’s legacy. She was inducted into the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) in 2008 in recognition of professional excellence in the floral industry. She has won numerous awards, including the prestigious 2018 Washington Business Journal, Women Who Mean Business Award, and the 2018 Profiles in Success Award for demonstrating business leadership guided by character, chemistry and caring. Maris has a BSBA degree from The American University, and double majored in Marketing & Computer Systems.
Cynthia Herzegovitch, Board Member
Cynthia Herzégovitch received her BA in Art History from the NY State University College at Buffalo. Cynthia currently is the Payroll Manager/401(k) Administrator for The Doe Fund, a social services organization the provides residential work and life skills training to primarily homeless and formally incarcerated men with the goal of permanent jobs and housing. Prior to this, she was with City Center of Music and Drama (NYC Opera & Ballet) at Lincoln Center for 18 years as a Benefits/Payroll Manager.
Cynthia has served on the Parish Council for 19 years. Was a GOYA Advisor 25+ yrs and Volleyball Coach 6 yrs. , teaches (for 26+ yrs) and is now Co-Director of Sunday School (last 3 yrs). Beyond Holy Trinity, Cynthia sat on the Hellenic Times Scholarship Committee, sits on the Axion Estin Foundation Board, the Loukoumi Foundation Board, Dawning Village Day Care Pre-school Board and is on the NY Archdiocesan Direct District Junior Olympics Committee.
CONSTANCE MAVROVITIS, BOARD MEMBER
Constance Mavrovitis received her B.S. from Fordham University with a Major in Finance and a minor in Marketing. She then went on to obtain an M.A. in Education from Teachers College at Columbia University and an M.S. Ed.
Constance is an active member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. She has taught first grade Sunday school for more than thirty years and co-director of the program for the past three years. She was a youth advisor/coach for many years. Each Memorial Day weekend, Constance volunteers her time to assist the NY Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Junior Olympics committee. Constance was a member of the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund committee. She is currently on the board of the Loukoumi Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that teaches and unites over 100,000 children annually to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others.
sophia benitez, coordinator
Loukoumi ADVISORY BOARD:
JUdy abrams, producer judith ann abrams productions
deanne aussem, thrivewell partners, llc
tom dejulio, kiwanis international past president
EILEEN GILL FRANKLIN (George’s Angels), dupont
ELENA KAMPOURIS, actress
paul lountzis, lountzis asset management
DEBBIE matenopoulos, emmy award winning TV personality
michael moskowitz, merrill lynch
michael & kim naclerio, ford lincoln of queens
laura o’connor, point 72 & patrick o’connor
nina mcadoo, kpmg
andrew savitt
PAMELA SPYRS, Inspyrs PR
kristen mathews versaci, member morrison & foerster
tony versaci
Photographer: Jillian Nelson
Loukoumi KIDS CLUB BOARD
Ruby Kate Chitsey, Arkansas
Adrianna Hansen, FL
Maggie Hynes, NY
Constantine Katsoris, NY
Julia Katsoris, NY
Grace LaFountain, MY
Matteo Lambert, VA
Lionel Li, Long Island, NY
Jacob Naclerio, NY
Anthony Napier, NY
Arsh Pal, Illinois
Justin Sather, CA
Ava Tsapatsaris, NY
Athina Vyrgioti, Greece
Arietta Xylas, NY