Outstanding Citizen Achievement Citation
USAID Recognizes Lakeland, Florida Doctor for
International Volunteer Efforts
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| Dr. Gregory J. Spirakis |
LAKELAND, FL – Dr. Gregory J. Spirakis received
the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Outstanding
Citizenship Achievement Award in a ceremony this evening,
June 17, 2003, in Lakeland, Florida. The award was presented
to Dr. Spirakis by Dr. Kent R. Hill, USAID Assistant Administrator
for Europe
and Eurasia.
Dr. Spirakis is President of the Moldovan Children’s
Audiology Foundation, Inc. and Audiology Program Director
at the Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center. He is being
recognized for his efforts to spearhead a community-based
humanitarian campaign to provide medical services for the
hearing-impaired in the Republic of Moldova, a former part
of the Soviet Union located between Romania and Ukraine
in Eastern Europe.
In 1997 Dr. Spirakis began traveling to Moldova to treat
hearing-impaired children after meeting Dr. Iurii Lobeev,
his Moldovan counterpart, in a medical exchange program in
the United States. With financial support from the First
Aviation Sertoma Club of Lakeland, Dr. Spirakis and his wife,
both audiologists, have now made several visits to Moldova,
consulting and treating more than 170 children. In 2001 Dr.
Spirakis founded the Moldovan Children’s Audiology
Foundation (MCAF) and provided financial and technical support
for the establishment of the Hearing Protection Center. The
Center provides hearing and medical services for children
with disabilities and operates a medical care unit fully
equipped to solve children’s hearing problems. Dr.
Spirakis was also instrumental in establishing a sister-cities
relationship between Lakeland, Florida and Balti (pronounced “belts”),
Moldova, in cooperation with Counterpart International and
Sister Cities International.
“When President Bush talks about the spirit of volunteerism
in America, he’s talking about people like Greg Spirakis,” said
Dr. Hill at the ceremony at the Lakeland Town Hall. “Greg
exemplifies the core beliefs Americans have in working tirelessly
to help those less fortunate. I have seen first hand the
results of Dr. Spirakis’s dedication when I look into
the eyes of Moldova’s youth and see a hopeful future.”
USAID’s Outstanding Citizen Achievement Award recognizes
volunteerism in international development. USAID’s
goal with this award is to increase the public’s awareness
of individuals and organizations that are working to further
the mission of USAID in the United States and abroad. Recipients
of this award are recognized for achievements that have contributed
to the realization of USAID’s mission to provide economic,
development and humanitarian assistance around the world.
Related Articles:
 Statement
by Dr. Kent R. Hill, USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe
and Eurasia at the USAID Outstanding Citizen Achievement
Awards Ceremony for Dr. Gregory J. Spirakis
Mayor Fletcher, Counselor Chirinciuk of the Moldovan Embassy,
honored guests, ladies and gentleman. I am honored to be
here with you today – not just because we are going
to honor one of Florida’s finest citizens, and one
of Lakeland’s most respected medical and public servants,
but because we also have the opportunity here today to pay
tribute to Lakeland public officials, a multitude of private
citizens of Lakeland, as well as the First Aviation Sertoma
Club, Rotary, Sister Cities International, and Counterpart
International, all of whom have been touched and inspired
to act by the compassion of Dr. Gregory Spirakis. Read
More...
 Statement
by Counselor Chirinciuk of the Moldovan Embassy at the
USAID Outstanding Citizen Achievement Awards Ceremony for
Dr. Gregory J. Spirakis
I have the privilege to represent the Government of the
Republic of Moldova at today’s ceremony honoring Dr.
Gregory Spirakis with USAID’s Outstanding Citizen Achievement
Award. First of all, I would like to thank the Mayor of Lakeland
for hosting this event and for an excellent organization.
In a warm and solemn atmosphere, I have the pleasure to congratulate
Dr. Spirakis on behalf of the Moldovan Government, for receiving
this prestigious award. Read
More...
 Statement
by Brock Bierman, Chief of Staff, Bureau for Europe and Eurasia
at the USAID Outstanding Citizen Achievement Awards Ceremony
for Dr. Gregory J. Spirakis.
Thank you for joining us today as we recognize Dr. Gregory
Spirakis as one of USAID’s outstanding citizens.
This is truly an extraordinary day honoring an extraordinary
man.
But before we get started I would like to give you a little
background on USAID’s Outstanding Citizen Achievement
Award.
This award was created last year to recognize the significant
service by Americans to the international community. It helps
to shed light on the heart and sole of American Volunteerism
by recognizing those who have truly given of themselves.
Read More...
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