Evangeline Douris, an Astoria native, is the chairperson of the Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee, a Citywide social services organization founded in 1972 by her late husband, George.
HANAC’s mission is to develop, implement and administer community service and betterment programs. HANAC sponsors 40 programs and serves more than 30,000 clients annually.
Douris continues her late husband’s mission with an emphasis on services for youth and seniors, especially affordable housing for seniors. Through HANAC’s efforts under the leadership of both George and Evangeline Douris, new senior centers, ESL programs and other efforts for seniors in Astoria were initiated.
Among those are the George Douris Tower, which opened in 2009 and offers 184 units of affordable senior housing and the HANAC PCA residence, constructed in partnership with the Presbyterian Church of Astoria (PCA).
–Jackie Strawbridge
