Approximately 1,400 members and guests from around the world, including over 600 students, came to the Waldorf-Astoria hotel for the Centennial celebrations and 100th anniversary convention of Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi).
The historic series of events opened on Thursday, August 8, at New York University, the site of the Fraternity’s founding in 1913. Dr. John Sexton, president of NYU, and Ambassador Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel in New York and honorary AEPi brother, addressed a capacity audience at the campus’ Skirball Auditorium. The evening ended with a dinner cruise around lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
On Friday, August 9, nearly $200,000 of money raised by AEPi students throughout the world was given away to the seven official charities adopted by the Fraternity. Representatives of Save a Child’s Heart, Friends of the IDF, the Jewish National Fund, Sharsheret, Elem, Keshet, and Leket Israel attended a luncheon at the Waldorf, sponsored by AEPi partner B’nai B’rith International (BBI), and received checks from those student chapters which raised the most money. David Suissa, President of Tribe Media Group, Editor of the LA Jewish Journal and AEPi brother gave the opening speech, focusing on the meaning and importance of brotherhood. BBI Executive Vice President and AEPi alumnus Daniel S. Mariaschin addressed the audience and praised AEPi’s peerless record of philanthropy. “When one speaks of Jewish continuity, you think of AEPi. In training the leaders of tomorrow, promoting pro-Israel advocacy, and civic responsibility, AEPi has a proven formula for the present – and for the future. B’nai B’rith is proud to partner with it, and in our 170th year, wishes AEPi on its 100th, many more years of success –and of making a difference…more.
