Astoria/LIC Kiwanis Honors Three For Service
 

The Kiwanis Club of Astoria/Long Island City held its annual cocktail party and awards event on Thursday, September 20 at Riccardo's By the Bridge. Honored as "Woman of the Year" was Christine Lolas, First Central Savings Bank vice president and branch coordinator/human resources, "Man of the Year" George Fakiris, Apollo Investment Company CEO, and "Community Persons of the Year" Rey Quevedo and George Rivera, owners of Morisco Funeral Home.

Christine Lolas, 2007 Astoria/Long Island City Kiwanis Club Woman of the Year, as vice president and branch coordinator/human resources of First Central Savings Bank coordinates the bank's eight branches and heads human resources. She also works to further the bank's business development and specializes in fostering the bank's relations with the Greek community. She recently rejoined the Astoria/Long Island City Kiwanis Club and serves on the advisory board of SHAREing & CAREing, a support organization for women diagnosed with breast cancer. She is also active in the 30th Avenue Business Association.

George Alexiou and Stacy Cohen congratulate Apollo Investment Company CEO George Fakiris, Astoria/Long Island City Kiwanis Club 2007 "Man of the Year".

George Fakiris came to the United States in March 1969 at age 12 and became a citizen nine years later. He developed a small painting and decorating firm into a full-service restoration company and then began purchasing, refurbishing and selling residential buildings. He also began purchasing parcels of land thought by others to be of no value, turned them into valuable, tax-producing properties and revitalized an unproductive area, with others eventually seeing its potential.

Rey Quevedo came to the United States at age 10 from his birthplace of Havana, Cuba. He graduated from Saunders H.S., Yonkers, and in 1980 the AAMI School of Funeral Service in Manhattan.

Born and raised in New York, George Rivera graduated from St. Francis College and the AAMI School of Funeral Service and joined a family-run business in 1972.

Since they first met in 1980, Quevedo and Rivera worked together at the Morisco Funeral Home in Astoria before purchasing the business in 1993. They have served the Astoria community for the ensuing 14 years.

Outgoing President Jerry Kril saluted his successor, Tony Siano and incoming officers Linda Perno, treasurer, Rose Anne Alafogiannis, secretary and George Perno, sergeant-at-arms. Alafogiannis is also chairman of the board. Eric Pasinkoff and Paul A. Vallone are legal counsels to the organization.

Kiwanis is a worldwide service organization of individuals seeking to improve their communities and recognizing that as a group they can accomplish what they could not alone. "Kiwanis" is derived from a Native American phrase roughly translated as "to express oneself" and Kiwanians express themselves through joining together to perform services beyond the capability of a single individual. Kiwanis chapters throughout the world assist the needy, the aging and youth, improve their communities and encourage international understanding.

As chair of the Souvenir Journal, Linda Perno noted that all funds generated from the annual cocktail party go back into the community. The Kiwanis Club of Astoria/Long Island City supports SHAREing & CAREing and Quality services for the Autistic Community (QSAC), awards scholarships and presents free turkeys to needy families at Thanksgiving. "As our club grows, so does the list of organizations that we contribute to," Perno said.