THE KERO MANTZOURAS FOUNDATION

KERO MANTZOURAS WAS BORN IN KASTORIA ON AUGUST 20, 1906. HE WAS THE FIRST BORN OF FIVE BROTHERS AND ONE SISTER TO DEMETRIOS AND PANAGIOTA MANTZOURAS.

AT THE AGE OF ELEVEN HE IMMIGRATED WITH HIS FATHER TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. CONSEQUENTLY HIS FATHER RETURNED TO GREECE BUT KERO REMAINED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE LAND THAT HE ADOPTED AND GREW TO LOVE AS HIS OWN.

AS IT WAS CUSTOMARY OF THE TIME, KEROS TOOK HIS RESPONSIBILITIES AS THE FIRST BORN (TRANOS) VARY SERIOUSLY AND THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE DID WHATEVER HE COULD TO HELP HIS BROTHERS AND SISTER.

EXCEPT FOR A TWO-YEAR INTERRUPTION DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR WHEN HE SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND THE FREQUENT TRIPS TO HIS HOMETOWN OF KASTORIA, KERO WAS IN THE FUR MARKET FOR SOMETHING CLOSE TO 70 YEARS.

HE HAD A LOT OF STORIES TO TELL ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE FUR MARKET. HE WENT THROUGH SOME OF THE BEST TIMES IN THE FUR BUSINESS AND THROUGH SOME OF THE WORST TIMES, LIKE THE YEARS DURING THE DEPRESSION. HIS ADVISE ALWAYS WAS THAT IF YOU DO GOOD QUALITY WORK, YOU WILL HAVE WORK TO DO ALL THE TIME. A TOP MECHANIC HIMSELF, HE LOVED TO TEACH OTHERS THE TRADE.

HE HAD VERY LIMITED FORMAL EDUCATION. HIS READING AND WRITING ABILITIES WERE MOSTLY SELF-TAUGHT. MAY BE THAT, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, EXPLAINS HIS CONTINUOUS EFFORTS TO ADVISE, ENCOURAGE AND HELP OTHERS TO "GO TO SCHOOL".

KERO MANTZOURAS PASSED AWAY ON MARCH 24,1989. IN HIS LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT HE LEFT A GOOD PORTION OF HIS ASSETS TO ME, HIS NEPHEW, TO HOLD IN TRUST AND TO USE IT FOR ACADEMIC AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES OF MY DISCRETION.

AS PER HIS WISHES I SET UP AND RECEIVED IRS APPROVAL OF "THE KERO MANTZOURAS FOUNDATION".

IT IS A PRIVATE FOUNDATION AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501(c)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

IT IS TAX EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAXES AS PER SECTION 501(a) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

THE FOUNDATION WILL BE OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS AND GIVING SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS DULY AUTHORIZED TO CARRY ON EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES UTILIZING THE REVENUES GENERATED BY THE FOUNDATION.

THE FOUNDATION MAY RECEIVE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OTHERS IN THE FORM OF GIFTS OR BEQUESTS. THOSE GIFTS OR BEQUESTS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS AS PER SECTION 170 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND THE PRINCIPAL AND INCOME OF THESE CONTRIBUTIONS SHALL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES.

See List of Contributions

DEMETRIOS SOPHIDES, TRUSTEE.