EFTYCHIA PROJECT CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS AT THIRD ANNUAL GREEK ADOPTEE REUNION
Franklin, TN – 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 US for the fifth anniversary of The Eftychia Project, the only official adoptee-led organization in the US that supports Greek adoptees.
Adoptees pose in the garden at Churchill Downs & Kentucky Derby Museum - photo by Ali Rabino
A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the Eftychia Project assists, free of charge, Greek adoptees searching for their roots and Greek biological families searching for their children lost to adoption. The organization was founded by Linda Carol Trotter, a Greek adoptee who reunited with her biological mother and extended Greek family in 2017. While the first two reunions featured a conference and speakers, the third one was designed to give adoptees the opportunity to get to really know each other and just have fun.
Eftychia(Linda Carol Trotter), President of the Eftychia Project, her husband, Bob, and the official mascot of the Eftychia Project, Petee the Pekingese - photo by Ali Rabino
“We felt the best way to celebrate five years of The Eftychia Project was to have a reunion that celebrated adoptees,” says Linda Carol. “So, no conference, no speakers, just a few organized group activities and plenty of free time for adoptees to get to know each other, hear each other’s stories and develop bonds that will last a lifetime.”
The festivities began with a welcome party at the Cambria hotel on Thursday evening, June 20, with plenty of food, Greek music and Greek dancing. Over the next two days, the adoptees visited Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum, the Louisville Slugger Bat Factory and Museum, and were treated to a ghost tour of Old Louisville. Each afternoon, the hotel boardroom was open for live help from The Eftychia Project Board of Directors with searching for family and interpreting adoption documents, while legal experts were on hand to answer questions concerning adoption documents and restoration of adoptees’ Greek citizenship.
Adoptees visit Louisville Slugger Bat Factory & Museum - photo by Linda Carol Trotter
The Reunion culminated with a fabulous buffet dinner at the Captain’s Quarters on the banks of the Ohio River and a dinner program that included reflections on the fifth anniversary of The Eftychia Project by its president and board of directors. Adoptees were moved to tears by the emotional and stirring keynote address by Rallou Kyriakopoulou, Esq. of Tsoromokos & Papadopoulos, PLLC of Astoria, NY. A drawing for Greek-themed door prizes and closing remarks by Linda Carol rounded out the evening.
Adoptees chat at the Reunion finale dinner - photo by Linda Carol Trotter
“There is one number that is important for the fifth anniversary of the founding of the Eftychia Project, and that number is 31,” relates Dimitrios Christo, the organization’s secretary. “The Eftychia Project has facilitated 31 reconnections since its founding in 2019, something we are immensely proud of.”
President of the Eftychia Project poses with 3 of the 31 connections facilitated by the Eftychia Project, l-r: Despina Kartson, Teresa Scharf, Eftychia(Linda Carol Trotter), and Steven Graeter - photo by Ali Rabino
Toula Vrisiotis, the Vice-President, agrees.
“Of course, we are very proud of the reconnections,” she says with a smile. “But we have also accomplished a lot in our advocacy and activism for the birth and identity rights of Greek adoptees. We have met with the ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Interior and Labor and Social Affairs, and with representatives of most of the political parties in the Greek Parliament. And we were honored that Eftychia (Linda Carol) spoke on behalf of Greek adoptees at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland last September, the first Greek adoptee to ever do so.”
This was the second Reunion for Stacey Pederson, an adoptee from Georgia who attended with her husband, Doug, and feels that it is vitally important for adoptees’ support persons to understand the emotional and psychological complexities of adoption.
“I can’t thank the Eftychia Project enough for putting together the Third Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion. My husband was very impressed with all the adoptees and their stories. I think it gave him insight to better understand my adoption and my feelings. I appreciate all that The Eftychia Project does for Greek adoptees.”
Adoptees ready for finale dinner, l-r: Lisbeth Graeter Humphrey, Stacey Pedersen (front), Despina Kartson (back), Penny Kappas Chandler, Toula Vrisiotis, Valerie Davey, Phyllis Mino - photo by Phyllis Mino
While many of the adoptees had attended the two previous Reunions, there were also first timers who experienced the bonding, love and support of gathering with fellow adoptees. Phyllis Mino of South Carolina and Valerie Davey of New Jersey were two of these.
“The feeling was so heartfelt, just meeting all the other adoptees that shared their stories and felt as I did,” says Phyllis. “We are all looking for answers on finding our biological families. I couldn’t feel more blessed to have the Eftychia Project helping and supporting all of us. Being a part of this group is like winning the lottery for me. For that, I’m thankful and grateful.”
Valerie echoes Phyllis’ sentiments.
“The experience meeting people like me was amazing. Our stories were different, but the same in a way. There was such encouragement by the board members of the Eftychia Project. You can see that their passion drove them to do what they can to help everyone. There might be roadblocks, but we Greeks, that doesn’t stop us!”
Adoptees are fascinated by tour guide's ghost stories on the Old Louisville Ghost Tour - photo by Linda Carol Trotter
Plans for the Fourth Annual Greek Adoptee Reunion are underway, and date and place will be announced soon. If you are a Greek adoptee or a Greek biological family and would like more information about the Reunion or The Eftychia Project, visit the website www.theeftychiaproject.org, Facebook page www.facebook.com/TheEftychiaProject or send an email at theeftychiaproject@gmail.com.
