By Aphrodite Kotrotsios
For nearly a century, the Manatos family has stood at the intersection of public service, Hellenism, and American civic life. From the coal mines of Wyoming to the halls of the White House, four generations of the Manatos family have dedicated themselves to strengthening the bonds between Greece and America, advancing the interests of the Greek-American community, and preserving the values that define Hellenism.
The Manatos story begins in 1910 when Nikos Manataikis left Crete and journeyed to America in search of opportunity, carrying with him little more than determination, faith, and the Hellenic values that would shape generations to come.
Today, that legacy continues through Mike Manatos, Executive Director of The Hellenic Initiative (THI), who believes the future of Hellenism will depend not on looking backward, but on inspiring future generations to embrace their heritage in meaningful and relevant ways.
In an exclusive interview with the Hellenic News of America, Manatos shared reflections on family, faith, philanthropy, leadership, and what he believes may be the defining challenge facing the global Greek diaspora in the twenty-first century: ensuring that the next generation remains connected to the values and traditions that have sustained Greek communities around the world.
“Everyone who is born with Greek DNA is blessed to have a pilot light of Hellenism within them,” Manatos said. “It is up to us as a community to ignite that pilot light into a flame.”
A Journey That Began in Crete
Like countless Greek immigrants of his generation, Nikos Manataikis arrived in America with little money, limited education, and no knowledge of the English language. He eventually settled in Wyoming, where many Cretan immigrants worked in the dangerous coal mines that helped fuel America’s growth.
The family’s trajectory changed dramatically in 1936 when Mike Manatos’ grandfather, Mike Manatos, was invited by a United States Senator from Wyoming to work in Washington, D.C.
That opportunity would launch a remarkable chapter in Greek-American history.
“From that point on,” Manatos explained, “a Manatos has worked in or with the federal government for now over 90 years.”
His grandfather would later become the first Greek American to serve in the White House, acting as Senate liaison for President John F. Kennedy and then President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Yet despite the family’s success, Manatos is keenly aware of the challenges Greek immigrants faced during that era.
He recalled a story about his grandmother, who was once told by a Washington socialite, “You’re in the United States. You speak English now.” The encounter left such an impression that she stopped speaking Greek to her children.
“It was a very intimidating time,” Manatos reflected. “It’s unfortunate, but it’s part of the story of our community in this country.”
The Power of Hellenic Values
Although language and ancestry remain important parts of Greek identity, Manatos believes Hellenism ultimately transcends both.
Quoting the ancient philosopher Isocrates, he noted that being a Hellene is defined more by shared culture and values than by bloodline alone.
His own family reflects that philosophy. Both his mother and wife are not ethnically Greek, yet fully embraced Greek Orthodoxy and Greek culture.
“What truly matters are the values,” he said. “Faith, family, philotimo, philanthropy, hard work, education. These are the building blocks of a meaningful life.”
Those same principles, he believes, explain why Greek immigrants who arrived with virtually nothing were able to flourish in America.
“What they brought with them was more valuable than money or education,” he said. “They brought Hellenic principles and values.”
Following a Legacy of Service
Growing up in a family deeply committed to public service, Manatos never viewed promoting Hellenism as an obligation. It was simply part of life as a Manatos.
His grandfather helped open doors for Greek Americans in Washington. His father, Andy Manatos, became one of the most influential Greek Americans in public policy and advocacy, dedicating decades to advancing issues important to Greece, Cyprus, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the broader Greek-American community.
“My father is a legend,” Manatos said. “Not just in the Greek-American community, but in Washington. His commitment to helping our country, helping Greece and Cyprus, helping the Church: it has defined who I am.”
After graduating from Princeton University, where he majored in political science and minored in Hellenic studies, Manatos joined the family business and spent 35 years working alongside his father.
“It was truly a blessing,” he said. “I got to work side by side with him every day.”
Why The Hellenic Initiative?
After decades in public affairs and government relations, many assumed Manatos would remain on that path indefinitely.
Instead, he made the decision to become Executive Director of The Hellenic Initiative.
“It was a leap of faith,” he admitted.
What ultimately convinced him was the realization that THI represented a unique opportunity to address what he sees as the defining challenge facing Greek communities around the world. For him, that challenge begins with his children.
“My kids are fourth-generation and one-fourth Greek,” he explained. “What does Hellenism mean to them? What does Orthodoxy mean to them? That’s the challenge facing every Greek-American family today.”
For Manatos, preserving Hellenism is no longer simply about maintaining institutions. It is about creating authentic connections that resonate with younger generations.
As Manatos says, “The mission of THI is to unite Greeks around the globe into a collective force for the people and future of Greece.” Since its founding, THI has evolved into one of the most influential organizations supporting economic opportunity, entrepreneurship, social services, and nonprofit innovation throughout Greece.
“It is led by our 42 world-class Board Members who are not only some of the most successful and philanthropic Hellenes but humans around the world, beginning with our Co-Founders and Board Chairman and President Andrew Liveris and George Stamas.”
Yet Manatos is quick to point out that THI’s impact extends far beyond financial support.
When organizations approach THI seeking funding, the conversation often begins not with how much money is needed, but with how the organization can become sustainable for the future.
Rather than simply funding programs indefinitely, THI works alongside nonprofit leaders to help develop long-term strategies, strengthen operations, and create models that allow organizations to continue making an impact long after initial funding has ended.
“We don’t just give them fish,” Manatos explained. “We help teach them how to fish.”
Equally important is THI’s role as a connector and resource.
Even when funding is not available, the organization frequently helps nonprofit leaders identify new opportunities, build relationships, and access expertise through its extensive network in Greece and abroad.
For Manatos, the goal is simple: create lasting impact.
Whether through direct funding, mentorship, strategic guidance, or introductions to key partners, THI seeks to empower organizations to become stronger, more resilient, and ultimately more successful in serving their communities.
That philosophy, he believes, represents the future of philanthropy, one rooted not only in generosity, but in partnership, mentorship, and long-term transformation.
Reaching the Greeks We Don’t See
One of the most compelling themes throughout the interview was Manatos’ conviction that thousands of proud Greek Americans remain disconnected from traditional Greek organizations.
“They may not be in church every Sunday. They may not speak Greek. They may not attend every conference,” he said. “But they’re proud Greeks and want to meet other proud Greeks.”
Through THI’s New Leaders network, he has met countless young professionals who are thriving in their industries yet have never been meaningfully connected to organized Greek-American life.
“Eighty percent of the people in those rooms I’ve never seen before,” he said. “They’re successful. They’re passionate. They’re proud of being Greek. They’ve simply been waiting for a way to connect.”
Rather than questioning whether someone is “Greek enough,” Manatos believes the community should focus on inclusion.
“We should be looking for opportunities to bring more people into our faith and our community, not push them away.”
The Future of the Greek-American Diaspora
While optimistic, Manatos does not shy away from the realities facing the Greek-American community.
He worries that each generation has fewer people actively engaged in advancing Greek causes, supporting the Church, and advocating for Greece and Cyprus.
Yet he sees this not as a reason for pessimism, but as a call to action.
“We need to stop telling the next generation what they need to do and start asking them what matters to them.”
He believes organizations such as The Hellenic Initiative, Leadership 100, the National Hellenic Society, AHEPA, the Archons, and countless local communities all have an important role to play in that effort.
The goal, he says, is not simply preservation. It is engagement. It is helping young people discover how Hellenic values can enrich their lives, strengthen their families, and inspire them to give back.
A Message for the Fourth Generation
As our conversation drew to a close, I asked Manatos one final question.
If his grandfather, the young immigrant who helped open doors for Greek Americans in Washington and became the first Greek American to serve in the White House, were sitting at the family dinner table today with his great-grandchildren, what would he tell the fourth generation about what it means to be Greek, American, and Orthodox?
The question visibly moved him.
“First of all,” Manatos said, “it brings tears to my eyes to picture that. That is a beautiful dream.”
After a brief pause, he reflected on the values that have guided his family for more than a century.
“I think he would remind them of how incredibly blessed they are to be born into a faith and a community that surrounds them with the key elements to a successful and fulfilling life.”
For Manatos, the answer is not found in titles, accomplishments, or professional success.
It is found in the enduring values that generations of Greek immigrants carried with them to America: faith, family, hard work, education, service, and philotimo.
“Not only the valuable principles,” he continued, “but also the tremendous support mechanism of the Church and the Greek-American community, who will always be there for them in profound ways. I think that would be his primary message.”
In many ways, that message captures the very heart of the Manatos family story.
From a young immigrant who left Crete in search of opportunity to four generations dedicated to public service, Hellenism, and Orthodoxy, the family’s legacy has never been measured solely by achievement. It has been measured by the values passed from one generation to the next.
As Mike Manatos helps steer The Hellenic Initiative into its next chapter, he is not simply continuing a family tradition.
He is helping ensure that future generations understand the extraordinary gift they have inherited and the responsibility that comes with it.
More than a century after a young Greek immigrant arrived in America with a dream, the flame of Hellenism continues to burn brightly, illuminating the path for generations to come.
