History of HAWC
The Hellenic American Women’s Council (HAWC) was born from a transformative moment in 1993. Three women from disparate backgrounds, Stella Kokolis, an educator, Theodora Hancock, a U.S. Air Force Officer, and Christine Warnke, a lobbyist came together to share a vision for a new organization that served professional, Hellenic American women across the U.S. and provide an opportunity to lead and participate in the public debate.
Following a landmark conference in Washington, D.C., women recognized the need for a non-partisan, nationwide organization dedicated specifically to the professional and personal advancement of Hellenic American women. During this conference, the late Senator Paul Sarbanes (MD) prophetically said “what you are attempting to do has never been accomplished before. You may never have thousands of members but you will attract the strongest, most influential and most successful women in our community. I celebrate and support your efforts.”
The HAWC network stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, uniting women across a vast spectrum of influence—from business, technology, medicine, the arts, education and public policy.
Over the past three decades, HAWC has been a national and international powerhouse. We have successfully established six regional chapters across the United States and cultivated vital transatlantic bonds.
Our mission is to encourage women to pursue leadership positions and to build bridges beyond our borders. Through our signature events in Greece and our active cooperation with like-minded organizations we have created a global ecosystem for Hellenic women to share expertise, celebrate our shared heritage and advocate for common goals on a world stage.
The modern Hellenic American woman lives at the intersection of tradition and innovation. To meet her there, we are dedicated to evolving our digital engagement and enhancing our mentorship initiatives, creating meaningful opportunities for women to lead and succeed at every stage of their journey. By bridging the gap between our seasoned professionals and the rising generation of trailblazers, we ensure that the concepts of Philotimo, paideia and professionalism remain dynamic forces in an ever-changing world.
- The Vision
The Hellenic American Women’s Council (HAWC) was born from a transformative moment in 1993. Three women from disparate backgrounds, Stella Kokolis, an educator, Theodora Hancock, a U.S. Air Force Officer, and Christine Warnke, a lobbyist came together to share a vision for a new organization that served professional, Hellenic American women across the U.S. and provide an opportunity to lead and participate in the public debate.
Following a landmark conference in Washington, D.C., women recognized the need for a non-partisan, nationwide organization dedicated specifically to the professional and personal advancement of Hellenic American women. During this conference, the late Senator Paul Sarbanes (MD) prophetically said “what you are attempting to do has never been accomplished before. You may never have thousands of members but you will attract the strongest, most influential and most successful women in our community. I celebrate and support your efforts.”
The HAWC network stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, uniting women across a vast spectrum of influence—from business, technology, medicine, the arts, education and public policy.
- A Global Voice for the Diaspora
Over the past three decades, HAWC has been a national and international powerhouse. We have successfully established six regional chapters across the United States and cultivated vital transatlantic bonds.
Our mission is to encourage women to pursue leadership positions and to build bridges beyond our borders. Through our signature events in Greece and our active cooperation with like-minded organizations we have created a global ecosystem for Hellenic women to share expertise, celebrate our shared heritage and advocate for common goals on a world stage.
- Notable Achievements
- The Aristeon Award: This unique award honors & celebrates women of Hellenic heritage, who have made an extraordinary contribution to Hellenism. The honorees have reached the pinnacle of their professions and the Aristeon shines a light on their achievements that often go unrecognized.
- International Fora: HAWC has hosted significant conferences in the U.S. and Greece, focussing on leaders in various professions and facilitating dialogue with members of the U.S. Congress, the White House, the Hellenic Parliament, NGOs and industry, to address public policy issues and the challenges facing the modern woman.
- Global Partnerships: By collaborating with Hellenic organizations in Europe and Australia, we have expanded our reach, ensuring that the professional and cultural interests of our members are represented globally.
- Cultural Advocacy: Beyond professional networking, HAWC serves as a guardian of Hellenic values, and our rich heritage, promoting the concept of Philotimo – honor and social responsibility – in every initiative we undertake.
The modern Hellenic American woman lives at the intersection of tradition and innovation. To meet her there, we are dedicated to evolving our digital engagement and enhancing our mentorship initiatives, creating meaningful opportunities for women to lead and succeed at every stage of their journey. By bridging the gap between our seasoned professionals and the rising generation of trailblazers, we ensure that the concepts of Philotimo, paideia and professionalism remain dynamic forces in an ever-changing world.
