The Eftychia Project

"Helping Greek Adoptees Find Their Roots"

Viva Las Vegas! Complete details coming soon!
Fourth Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion
June 19-21, 2025
Las Vegas, Nevada
Save the date!
*
Our 9/14/2024 Event in NYC @ The Hellenic Cultural Center
highlighting the questionable adoptions of thousands
of Greek children to the USA in the 1950s &1960s was an amazing success!
Complete details and photos here on the website

Please note, we are always adding new pages to our website. Please keep checking for updates.
Ever since our President, Eftychia/Linda Carol Trotter, found her Greek family in June 2017, she had it in her heart to "pay it forward", so to speak, by helping other Greek adoptees find theirs, at absolutely no cost to the adoptee. Out of that desire, and with the help of dear friends with like minds, The Eftychia Project was born. We are a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization classified as a public charity with tax-exempt status by the IRS. Donations to our organization are tax-deductible (Pub 78).

We are devoted to providing assistance and support to Greek-born adoptees searching for their roots and Greek families searching for their children lost to adoption. We also seek to advocate on behalf of all Greek-born adoptees with the Greek government concerning the issues of transparency about our adoptions, unfettered access to our adoption and birth records, a DNA database for adoptees and their biological families, and Greek citizenship for all Greek-born adoptees. Our current board of directors consists of 4 Greek-born adoptees and a Greek family member searching for their lost children: President, Linda Carol Trotter; Vice-President, Pangiota "Toula" Vrisiotis; Treasurer, Merrill Jenkins; Secretary, Dimitrios Christo; Parliamentarian, Steven Graeter.

While we aid Greek-born adoptees (those born in and adopted from/in Greece) from any era, we especially want to assist the thousands of Greek children adopted by American parents in the scandal-ridden years between 1948 and 1962, as time is running out if we have any hope of finding our birth parents still living. Your interest and support of our efforts are greatly appreciated.

If you are a Greek adoptee looking for your Greek roots or a Greek family looking for an adoptee and you would like to request assistance, please send your request to the emails listed in the Contact Us section of the website, to our general email at theeftychiaproject@gmail.com or click on the Facebook link on the homepage to send a message to our Facebook account. For media inquiries, please send your requests to info@theeftychiaproject.org

READ THE ARTICLE BY ELENI SAKELLIS IN THE NATIONAL HERALD:
A Moving Event in Astoria Highlights the Plight of Greek Adoptees

The Greek Version of the article also appeared in the Ethnikos Kirikas, making the front page!

Queens, NY – The Greek Elder Care Network, in collaboration with the Hellenic American Project and The Eftychia Project, presented the first Hellenic-American Project Oral History Interview to be taped in front of a live audience on Saturday, September 14, 2024. The event was held at the Hellenic Cultural Center, 25-02 Newtown Ave, Queens, NY 11102.

This fascinating evening was open to the public and done in a talk show-style theater setting. Dr. Nicholas Alexiou, the founder and director of the Hellenic-American Project (HAP) and a sociology professor at Queens College, CUNY, interviewed Eftychia (Linda Carol Trotter), a Greek-born adoptee and the founder/president of the nonprofit organization, The Eftychia Project. The Eftychia Project, celebrating its fifth anniversary in 2024, assists and supports, free of charge, Greek adoptees searching for their roots and Greek families searching for their children lost to adoption.

This event helped to document the profound impact and historical significance of the adoptions abroad of thousands of Greek children, mainly to the USA, in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as raise awareness about this sad page of Greek history among the Greek diaspora and the general public. Dr. Alexiou led the conversation, bringing his extensive expertise and passion for preserving Hellenic-American history to the forefront. Eftychia (Linda Carol Trotter) sharedher own story, her work with The Eftychia Project, and its mission to amplify the voices of over 4,000 Greek-born adoptees, whose stories are often lost in the broader intercountry adoption narrative.

This live interview was a profoundly moving and informative experience, offering the audience a rare glimpse into personal stories of identity, heritage, and reunion. The interview will contribute to HAP’s extensive archives of the Hellenic American experience, which is recognized by the US Library of Congress. Following the interview, 12 Greek adoptees from 7 states joined Eftychia onstage to introduce themselves and share a bit about their own stories, and were able to discuss their stories with audience members in more depth at thereception that followed. While in town for the weekend for the event, adoptees gatherered together for Friday night dinner at Telly's Taverna, attended a Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Rochelle, NY and listened to music and danced at a local bouzoukia on Saturday, and visited the 9/11 Memorial and St, Nicholas National Shrine on Sunday.

Complete Details Coming Soon, So Check Back Frequently

VIVA LAS VEGAS!
FOURTH ANNUAL GREEK ADOPTEE REUNION
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
JUNE 19-21, 2025

DON'T MISS IT! MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! COMPLETE DETAILS COMING SOON!
After hosting three amazing reunions in Nashville, TN, Athens, Greece and Louisville, KY, we head west of the Mississippi to fabulous Las Vegas! We will continue with same format as the previous reunion - no conference, no speakers, just a few organized group actrivities and plenty of time for adoptees to get to know each other, have fun together and make bonds that will last a lifetime.

"Oh, there's black jack, and poker, and the roulette wheel
A fortune won and lost on every deal
All you need is a strong heart and a nerve of steel
Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas" - from the song "Viva Las Vegas" by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman

ΤHE "ORPHANS" FROM GREECE (WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES) - A POWERFUL DOCUMENTARY thumbnail

***WATCH THIS BEAUTIFULLY-DONE, AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY BY ACCLAIMED JOURNALIST ANDREAS BOUSIOS FOR VICE-TV SPECIALS***
In Τα "Ορφανά" από την Ελλάδα (The "Orphans" From Greece), the Greek adoptions of the the dark Cold War decades of the 1950's and 1960's are seen through the eyes of three different people: two Greek-born adoptees, Merrill Jenkins and Linda Carol Trotter, and a Greek family member searching for his lost siblings, Bobby Kalogeropoulos. The film won multiple awards at the recent DIME Digital Media Awards in Greece. Truly one of the best documentaries about this dark page in Greece's history.

Eftychia Project & "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3" image

***”We’re Just Like My Big Fat Greek Wedding” features The Eftychia Project***

It all started when, on a whim, Eftychia answered a casting call on Facebook for superfans of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. She never expected to hear anything back — after all, thousands of people responded to the call. But, suddenly, she was cast in a joint production of Focus Features and Rotten Tomatoes in conjunction with the release of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3”, which was filmed just 4 days before she left for Greece yet again. You can follow the link below to watch the video - watch until the very end to see a special little clip filmed in Nafpaktos. This was an amazing opportunity to bring the mission of The Eftychia Project to the attention of a much larger audience. We can’t wait to watch "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3" - how about you?

https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/were-just-like-my-big-fat-greek-wedding/

A Blog for Greek Adoptees by Greek Adoptees

The Passage of Time and Seeing the Impossible Become Reality - by Teresa Scharf

Explore the extraordinary journey of Greek adoptee Teresa Scharf as she reflects on the passage of time and seeing what many adoptees beleive may be impossible become a reality.

PARTHENON - A POEM

Immerse yourself in the eloquent portrayal of the Parthenon's grandeur and legacy in this captivating poem by Greek adoptee Steven Graeter.

ROOTS AND REUNION: A FACILITATOR'S PERSPECTIVE ON LESSONS LEARNED

Uncover the valuable lessons and perspectives shared by a facilitator in their reflection on 'Roots and Reunion'.

Information

For general information about The Eftychia Project, please contact us by clicking on the email link below.

Greek Adoptee Help

If you are a Greek adoptee looking for family members, please contact us by clicking on the email link below.

Greek Family Help

If you are a Greek family searching for loved ones, please contact us by clicking on the email link below.

Greek Adoptee Finds Sister and New Identity in Search for Roots

Follow the captivating story of Greek adoptee Teresa Scharf's determination to uncover her true origins in a heartwarming journey of self-discovery and the incredible reunion with a sister she never knew.

Greek Adoptee Finds Biological Father and Two Sisters After 63 Years

When Steven Graeter attended the First Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion in Nashville, Tennessee on August 4, 2022, he had no idea that exactly one year later, he’d be held in the arms of his 84 year-old biological father in Greece.

Testimony of Greek Adoptee at United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on First Anniversary of UN Joint Statement on Illegal Intercountry Adoption

One year after the UN Joint Statement on Illegal Intercountry Adoption, a Greek adoptee addressed the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland with a compelling testimony.

Greek-Born Adoptee’s 12-Year Odyssey Ends in Joyful Reunion with Biological Family

In a touching tale of perseverance and hope, Greek-born adoptee Merrill Jenkin's 12-year search for his roots leads to a heartwarming reunion with his long-lost biological family and the identity of his biological father.

Orlando FL Woman Reunited with Greek Family After 60 Years

The remarkable tale of adoptee Denise Madlin from Orlando FL, whose difficult and often disappointing decades-long search for her biological family culminates in a touching reunion with her family in Greece after 60 years apart.

The Eftychia Project is grateful for the outpouring of support we have received worldwide. If you would like to make a donation to The Eftychia Project to help us in continuing our mission of providing assistance and support to Greek adoptees searching for their roots and Greek families searching for their lost children, you may do so through our PayPal account or by mailing a check or money order to our mailing address The Eftychia Project, PO Box 682509, Franklin, TN 37068. Please make checks or money orders payable to "The Eftychia Project". We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kind and generous support!

$25

Fourth Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion to be Held in Las Vegas, Nevada June 19-21, 2025

Don't miss the Fourth Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion June 19-21, 2025, as the Eftychia Project hosts its first Reunion west of the Mississippi...

EFTYCHIA PROJECT CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS AT THIRD ANNUAL GREEK ADOPTEE REUNION

Greek adoptees and their families from across the USA and Greece gatherd in Louisville, Kentucky recently for the Third Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion...

Third Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion Coming Up in Louisville, KY - June 20-22, 2024 - Registration Deadline May 30, 2024

Join us in Louisville, KY this June for the Third Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion, where Greek adoptees and their families will gather for a weekend of connection, support, and shared experiences in a loving and supportive environment.

Virtual Adoptee Organizations Fair Showcasing USA Intercountry Adoptee-led Organizations Coming Up June 1, 2024

Discover the valuable resources and support available for intercountry adoptees in the USA at this virtual fair, hosted by ICAV (Intercountry Adoptee Voices) on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 8 pm CST, 9:00 pm EST, 7 pm MST and 6 pm PST

Second Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion

Participants had the opportunity to share their stories, connect with others who have similar experiences, and explore their Greek heritage through various activities and events in their homeland of Greece.

First Anniversary of UN Joint Statement on Illegal Intercountry Adoption - 09/20/2023

The anniversary highlights the ongoing efforts to protect children and families from the harms of illegal intercountry adoption.

First Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion

The First Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion was truly an historic occasion, the first event of its kind for Greek-born adoptees. Attendees celebrated the bond and resilience of the Greek adoptee community.

The Truth About the Cold War Greek Adoptions

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Greece's Guilty Secret: The Forgotten Children of Greece and Their Search for Roots, Reunion and Identity

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Documentary: Lost Children of Cold War Greece thumbnail

The Eftychia Project is pleased to partner with MyHeritage to provide free DNA kits to Greek-born adoptees searching for their roots and Greek families searching for their children lost or, presumably lost, to adoption. MyHeritage is one of the largest DNA companies in the world and has the largest DNA database in Europe. We are grateful to MyHeritage for their generous donation of DNA kits and for their technical and research support. To visit the MyHeritage website: www.MyHeritage.com.

EFTYCHIA PROJECT CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS AT THIRD ANNUAL GREEK ADOPTEE REUNION

7/26/2024

Dozens of Greek adoptees and their families from across the USA and Greece gathered in Louisville, Kentucky, June 20-22 for the Third Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion, hosted by The Eftychia Project. After the first two Reunions in Nashville, Tennessee, and Athens, Greece, the event rotated back to the U.S. for the fifth anniversary of The Eftychia Project, the only official adoptee-led organization in the U.S. that supports Greek adoptees.

Linda-Carol from Texas found her mother in mountainous Nafpaktia - A story of adoption and reunification

5/10/2021

She was adopted in America and spent six decades of her life believing her mother died in childbirth, one of the thousands of children born in Greece in the 1950s who, through murky – and often illegal – circumstances, were given up for adoption in America.

I Was 59. She Was 80. What Happened When I Met My Mom for the 1st Time

9/25/2023

Growing up in Texas, I always knew I was adopted from Greece. I didn't know I'd find a home there. From today.com

SECOND ANNUAL GREEK ADOPTEE/GREEK FAMILY REUNION 2023 A HUGE SUCCESS!

10/20/2023

Builing upon the amazing success of The First Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion, held in August 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee, the Second Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion 2023, held in our homeland of Greece, not only gave Greek adoptees from America the chance to visit their home country, but also gave those Greek adoptees and families in Greece, all of Europe and elsewhere the opportunity to attend and connect with each other. The Reunion, held October 14-19, 2023 was the first time this many Greek adoptees gathered together in Greece since they were babies and young children in their orphanages in Greece. It was truly a magical time of bonding, sharing and support, with several adoptees visiting Greece for the first time since being adopted some six decades ago and others meeting Greek biological family for the very first time.

Greek Adoptees Have Voice At United Nations For First Time Ever

9/20/2023

Thanks to the invitation of Lynelle Long, President of Intercountry Adoptee Voices (ICAV), an organization that brings together intercountry adoptees from across the globe, Greek adoptees were given a voice for the first time at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on September 20. Linda Carol Trotter, a Greek adoptee and President of The Eftychia Project, a nonprofit that assists Greek adoptees searching for their roots and Greek families searching for their children lost to adoption, was invited by Ms. Long to give her testimony before the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances on the first anniversary of the Joint Statement on Illegal Intercountry Adoption.

"We're Just Like My Big Fat Greek Wedding!" features Eftychia Project

9/6/2023

It all started when, on a whim, Eftychia answered a casting call on Facebook for superfans of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. She never expected to hear anything back — after all, thousands of people responded to the call. But, suddenly, she was cast in a joint production of Focus Features and Rotten Tomatoes in conjunction with the release of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3”, which was filmed just 4 days before she left for Greece yet again. Click on READ MORE to watch the video - watch until the very end to see a special little clip filmed in Nafpaktos, Greece. This was an amazing opportunity to bring the mission of The Eftychia Project to the attention of a much larger audience and we cannot thank the producers of this video enough. Thank you, Focus Fea!tures and Rotten Tomatoes!

Sisters Reunited After 60 Years Apart

5/7/2024

Greek adoptee Teresa Scharf never dreamed that she'd find a sister and a new identity when she embarked on her journey to discover her roots in Greece. From today.com

***IN 2021, THE EFTYCHIA PROJECT LAUNCHED A GREEK-BORN ADOPTEE-LED INITIATIVE FOR A DIALOGUE WITH THE GREEK GOVERNMENT CONCERNING TRANSPARENCY, ACCESS TO RECORDS, A DNA DATABASE AND GREEK CITIZENSHIP FOR ALL GREEK-BORN ADOPTEES***

***GREEK-BORN ADOPTEES, WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!***

TEP is passionate about furthering the quest of a growing chorus of Greek-born adoptees for the Greek Citizenship they so rightfully deserve and the other pressing issues of supreme importance to all Greek-born adoptees/Greek biological families that need to be addressed by the Greek state which, at the very least, owes us the opportunity to present our concerns and the courtesy of hearing us out:

(1) We believe that the knowledge of their roots and their biological family origins are basic human rights of all adoptees

(2) We believe that Greek-born adoptees and Greek biological families are entitled to transparency from the Greek government and all Greek adoption-related institutions and organizations reagrding these adoptions

(3) We believe that Greek-born adoptees are entitled to unfettered access to Greek court, orphanage, institutional and organizational records related to their adoptions, as well as copies of ALL of their adoption-related documents

(4) We believe that Greek-born adoptees and Greek families are entitled to the establishment of an adoptee/biological family DNA database by the Greek state for the purpose of reuniting adoptees and their biological families, at no cost to either the adoptee or the biological family

(5) We believe that all Greek-born adoptees are entitled to Greek citizenship, and that the pathway to Greek citizenship should be streamlined, with minimal bureaucratic processes and at minimal or no cost to the adoptee

If you are a Greek-born adoptee, your input is vital for formulating this citizenship plan and presenting these issues to the Greek government. Your lived experiences are crucial to this initiative. If you would like to participate, please email us as soon as possible at theeftychiaproject@gmail.com and let us know of your interest and your contact information. We will then email you information regarding partcipation. It is our hope that by Greek-born adoptees working together, we will be able to convince the Greek government to right the wrongs of the past, to open the door to those documents and records to which we are entitled and to which access for many of us has been denied, to establish a DNA database through which we might be reunited with our biological families, and to reclaim the Greek citizenship that is our birthright. There is strength in numbers - let's work together and make what has long been a dream into a reality!

The Eftychia Project Website Privacy Policy

The Eftychia Project is a US-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization classified as a tax-exempt public charity. Our website is for informational purposes only and does not collect, process, manage or store data. We do not use cookies on our website that collect standard internet log information and visitor behavior information. Donations made on our website are made through a Donations button that links to PayPal and only your name, email address and donation amount are shared with us by PayPal. By choosing to donate through our website, you consent to the sharing of your information. You can access PayPal’s privacy policy here: https://www.paypal.com/us/legalhub/privacy-full

You can read our organization’s complete privacy policy below. For any questions regarding this policy, pleaser email us at theeftychiaproject@gmail.com.

The Eftychia Project, Inc. Privacy Policy

Last updated: 12/1/2023

Our contact details

Name: The Eftychia Project, Inc.

Address: PO Box 682509, Franklin, TN 37064 USA

Phone Number: +1 615 305 1835 or +30 697 452 5522

E-mail: theeftychiaproject@gmail.com

The type of personal information we collect We currently collect and process the following information:

Name and contact details, birthdate where appropriate, and other personal information that will help us to provide search and reunion or other related services for adopted persons and biological families.

How we get the personal information and why we have it

Most of the personal information we process is provided to us directly by you for one of the following reasons:

To deliver and facilitate delivery of services to the users. We may process your information to provide adoptees and biological families with search and reunion or other related services.
To respond to user inquiries/offer support to users. We may process your information to respond to your inquiries and solve any issues you may have with the requested services.
To send administrative information to you. We may process your information to send you details about our services, events, changes to our policies, and other similar information.
To conduct reserach or generate statistics of legitimate interest on Greek adoptions and other adoption-related topics. All personal information used for this purpose will be anonymized to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.

We use the information that you have given us in order to facilitate adopted persons’ searches for their roots and biological families’ searches for their children lost to adoption. As adoption is a sensitive subject, we may share this information only internally within our organization and only with those in our organization involved in the search/reunion process in order to facilitate search/reunion services for adoptees and biological families. We will obtain your consent before sharing with anyone outside our organization, and then only when absolutely necessary (for example, with a genealogist) to facilitate said search/reunion.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), for citizens of the European Union, the lawful bases we rely on for processing this information are:

(a) Your consent. You are able to remove your consent at any time. You can do this by contacting Linda Carol Trotter at theeftychiaproject@gmail.com

(b) We have a legitimate interest.

(c) We have a legal obligation.

How we store your personal information

We take the protection of your privacy and personal data seriously. We have implemented appropriate and reasonable security measures designed to protect the security of personal information we process. Although we do our best to safeguard your personal information, transmission of personal information to/from us by text, email or other electronic means is at your own risk. You should only transmit personal information from a secure environment. We do not maintain any online databases or collect personal information from our website, either directly or through the use of cookies. Donations made on our website are made through a Donations button that links to PayPal and only your name, email address and donation amount are shared with us by PayPal. You can access PayPal’s privacy policy here: https://www.paypal.com/us/legalhub/privacy-full

We keep the personal information we collect until the purpose for which it was collected is fulfilled, including but not limited to, search and reunion, post-reunion support services, research, events, etc., or until you withdraw your consent for our services. Once the purpose for which it was collected is fulfilled or you withdraw your consent, we will either anonymize your information or dispose of your information by either deleting the data securely from any personal computer files or by shredding any physical documents containing your personal information.

Your data protection rights

Under GDPR data protection law, you have rights including:

Your right of access - You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information.

Your right to rectification - You have the right to ask us to rectify personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete information you think is incomplete.

Your right to erasure - You have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.

Your right to restriction of processing - You have the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

Your right to object to processing - You have the the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

Your right to data portability - You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organization, or to you, in certain circumstances.

Your right to object - You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information, in certain circumstances.

You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. Please contact us at theeftychiaproject@gmail.com or PO Box 682509, Franklin, TN 37064 if you wish to make a request.

How to complain If you have any concerns about our use of your personal information, you can make a complaint to us at theeftychiaproject@gmail.com.

The Eftychia Project

"Helping Greek Adoptees Find Their Roots"

About Us

MOVING EVENT IN ASTORIA HIGHLIGHTS QUESTIONABLE GREEK ADOPTIONS OF THE 1950s & 1960s

FOURTH ANNUAL GREEK ADOPTEE REUNION - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA- JUNE 19-21, 2025 - DETAILS COMING SOON!

Complete Details Coming Soon, So Check Back Frequently

ΤHE "ORPHANS" FROM GREECE (WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES) - A POWERFUL DOCUMENTARY

Eftychia Project & "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3"

***New!*** Eftychia's Corner - A Blog by Greek Adoptees for Greek Adoptees

A Blog for Greek Adoptees by Greek Adoptees

Contact Us for free help

Information

Greek Adoptee Help

Greek Family Help

***NEW*** Articles - Stories - Press Releases

Donations

Donation Amount

EVENTS

Documentary: Lost Children of Cold War Greece

PARTNERSHIPS

Page under construction - Press Page - under construction

EFTYCHIA PROJECT CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS AT THIRD ANNUAL GREEK ADOPTEE REUNION

Linda-Carol from Texas found her mother in mountainous Nafpaktia - A story of adoption and reunification

I Was 59. She Was 80. What Happened When I Met My Mom for the 1st Time

SECOND ANNUAL GREEK ADOPTEE/GREEK FAMILY REUNION 2023 A HUGE SUCCESS!

Greek Adoptees Have Voice At United Nations For First Time Ever

"We're Just Like My Big Fat Greek Wedding!" features Eftychia Project

Sisters Reunited After 60 Years Apart

2022 Reunion photos

ADVOCACY

Photos

PRIVACY POLICY

New! Eftychia's Corner - A Blog by Greek Adoptees for Greek Adoptees

NEW Articles - Stories - Press Releases