HELLENIC HERITAGE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D. Scientist & Entrepreneur

For his legendary achievements in the field of pharmaceutical science and his inspirational leadership and service to the Greek American community.

George Damis Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., is one of the world’s premier scientific inventors and medicine-makers. He has built the biotechnology company Regeneron alongside CEO and President Leonard S. Schleifer, M.D., Ph.D., as its Co-founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer for the past 35 years. Under their leadership, Regeneron has become one of the most admired and innovative companies in biotech, with nine FDAor EMA-approved medicines and a pipeline of approximately thirty-five investigational products – almost all of which were homegrown in the company’s own laboratories. In the last twenty years, fewer than 100 biotech companies have invented and successfully obtained FDA approval for even one drug, and only a handful have done this four or more times.

Yancopoulos takes an unusually hands-on approach to drug discovery, serving as lead inventor and developer of Regeneron’s medicines, including Eylea® and Dupixent®, which have collectively helped millions of people around the world. He and his team have delivered additional important medicines such as Praluent®, Libtayo®, and the first antibody cocktail treatments for Ebola and COVID-19 in rapid response to emerging public health threats. George has also worked with his team to develop the underlying technologies that support and expedite Regeneron’s drug discovery, including the VelociGene® “knockout” platform, the VelocImmune® human antibody mouse, and the Veloci-Bi™ bispecific antibody creation platform. During his career, Yancopoulos has been among the most-cited scientists in the world, with landmark publications pertaining to the cloning and biology of numerous growth factors and their receptors (from the Neurotrophins, Angiopoietins, and Ephrins to the CNTF receptor and the Agrin receptor, MUSK), on the elucidation of the mechanism of action of the cytokine class of receptors, and other findings leading to the development of Regeneron’s medicines and technologies. His team continues to pursue cutting-edge research, including through the Regeneron Genetics Center, a world-leading effort that has sequenced the exomes of approximately two million people and paired this information with de-identified medical records in the quest to identify new and improved treatment options.

Yancopoulos is a first-generation Greek-American who grew up in NYC, attending public schools and graduating as valedictorian of both the Bronx High School of Science and Columbia University. Yancopoulos then received his M.D. and Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics from Columbia University. At Columbia, he was one of legendary geneticist Dr. Fred Alt’s first doctoral students.

Yancopoulos was inducted into the National Academy of Sciences in 2004 and into the Biotech Hall of Fame in 2014. He and Dr. Schleifer were named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016. In 2020, Yancopoulos was named by Fortune as one of the “World’s 25 Greatest Leaders: Heroes of The Pandemic.” His leadership of company culture has also been recognized, with Regeneron routinely listed as a top employer by Science, Fortune, Forbes, Fast Company and others. In 2022, Regeneron was awarded the prestigious Prix Galien USA Best Biotechnology Product for Inmazeb®.

Yancopoulos often notes that his interest in science is a direct result of his high school experiences in science projects and science fairs. Thus, Yancopoulos drives Regeneron’s commitment to STEM education, and spearheaded the company’s becoming the primary sponsor for the world’s leading high school science competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS; formerly the Westinghouse and Intel STS) and the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF; formerly the Intel ISEF). Regeneron has committed over $100 million to support these programs.

In recognition of his legendary achievements in the field of pharmaceutical science and his inspirational leadership and service to the Greek American community, we present Dr. George D. Yancopoulos with the Hellenic Heritage Achievement Award this fourth day of March 2023, at our Forty-ninth Anniversary Dinner.

HELLENIC HERITAGE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD John D. Georges Businessman & Philanthropist

For his outstanding business achievements, dedicated philanthropy and promotion of Orthodoxy.

Married to Dathel Coleman Georges, and full of passion, John Dennis Georges has cultivated achievements in both the public and private business sectors. Georges has strived to maintain marked integrity in the local, regional, statewide and national communities. Through successful business developments, faith-based initiatives and philanthropic efforts, Georges remains a driving force.

After graduating from Tulane University where he majored in management with an emphasis on accounting, Georges worked for his family business, Imperial Trading Co., which was started by his immigrant grandfather. He took the family’s company to a billion-dollar corporation. Georges serves as Chief Executive Officer for Georges Enterprises, a Louisiana conglomerate which includes Imperial Trading Co., a national food distribution for convenience stores headquartered in New Orleans and regional offices in twelve states and several other businesses. In 2013 together with his wife, Dathel, he purchased “The Advocate,” which he grew into Louisiana’s largest daily newspaper, including The New Orleans Advocate and The Acadiana Advocate.

In the past 30 years, Georges has served on several state, national and international boards. He served for seven years on the State of Louisiana Board of Regents. He supported the establishment of Baton Rouge Community College, and facilitated collaboration between LSU and Tulane Medical Schools in areas such as gene therapy. He ran for Louisiana Governor in 2007 and Mayor of New Orleans in 2010.

Georges is a Trustee for the National World War II Museum, past Member of the Board of St. Augustine High School, Past President of the Young Presidents Organization of Louisiana, past member of the Tulane University President’s Council, the University of New Orleans Foundation, the LSU Medical Foundation Board, Jefferson and New Orleans Business

Councils, New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, World Trade Center and the Chamber of Commerce.

A firm believer in education and entrepreneurship, Georges founded Lemonade Day in Louisiana. An annual community event that gives children an opportunity to learn the inner workings of running a business, Lemonade Day has helped more than 50,000 children become entrepreneurs. Georges established the Galatoire’s Foundation, named after the restaurant he owns, to expand local cultural programs. Galatoire’s has made over $2 million in contributions to local charities.

Georges’ Greek heritage and Christian religion is a foundation for him in business and everyday life. He is a member of the Order of St. Andrew, Leadership 100 and AHEPA. During Hurricane Katrina, Georges was president of the Greek Orthodox Community in New Orleans, following the tradition of his father and grandfather, and was instrumental in the $10 million rebuild of the Greek Orthodox Church and Hellenic Cultural Center within four months of the storm. He also chaired the Katrina Relief Fund at Metairie Park Country Day School, raising more than $9 million to reopen the school. In October 2009, he hosted a historic visit by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who toured the areas of the worst destruction and prayed for the City’s recovery. John and Dathel live in New Orleans with their children Zana, Liza and John Jr. (Nike).

With gratitude for his outstanding business achievements, dedicated philanthropy, and for his promotion of Orthodoxy, we present John D. Georges with the Hellenic Heritage Achievement Award this fourth day of March 2023, at our Forty-ninth Anniversary Dinner.

Past Honorees

1991

Congressman William Broomfield (R-MI); Ms. Deena Speliakos Clark; The Honorable Edward Derwinski; George T. Economos, M.D.; Senator Howell Heflin (D-AL); Senator Larry Pressler (R-SD); NOT PICTURED: Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE), General James A. Van Fleet, Ms. Deena Speliakos Clark.

John N.

Aliki Gregory Bryant; Lt. General William G. “Gus” Pagonis; Icarus N. (Ike) Pappas; Virginia Lucas Nick; George Spyropoulos Voyantzis; Dr. John Brademas; NOT PICTURED: Congressman Gus Yatron (D-PA); Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD); William P. Tavoulereas.

1994

NOT

Congressman Vic

(D-CA); Nicholas Gage; Vice Admiral Michael P. Kalleres; George R. Stephanopoulos; Eva Catafygiotou Topping; Peter Zourdos; NOT PICTURED: Congressman Michael Bilirakis (R-FL).

1995

Past Honorees

1999

2001