Apr. 19, 2024 By Athena Dawson
Stacy Bliagos, executive director of HANAC, an Astoria-based Hellenic non-profit organization, spoke exclusively to QNS about the organization’s dedication to helping Queens’ most vulnerable residents.
Originally founded in 1972 by reporter George Douris, the Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee (HANAC) is a social services organization based out of Astoria that primarily supports low-income New Yorkers. Through the 1960’s Greek immigrants settled in the Astoria area resulting in an increased need for social services.
Douris recognized the substantial needs of the growing community and asked Mayor John Lindsay for funding to help local residents. Douris was awarded a planning grant of $75,000 to establish HANAC and distribute funding to the community. HANAC’s first office was established in 1972, and the organization conducted a community study of the Greek community in Astoria. The results revealed that many of the newly immigrated New Yorkers needed help learning English and required other social services, especially older residents. Therefore, HANAC submitted proposals for a senior center and soon after became an ESL language provider.