NEW YORK — The Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit organization that unites and empowers over 150,000 children in 30 countries worldwide to make a difference through projects and causes about which they are passionate, will host its first annual Good Deed Summit in New York April 23-28, 2025, joining together several hundred students from across the globe.

During the summit, awards will be presented to changemakers for making a difference in the world at the 11th annual Loukoumi Make A Difference Awards event. John Feerick, Sidney C. Norris Professor of Public Service at Fordham University School of Law and partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, will receive the Constantine Katsoris Educator of the Year Award, named for the longest-tenured professor in Fordham Law School’s history.

Other events include:

• A meeting at the United Nations
• The Loukoumi Good Deed Bus includes a project feeding New York’s homeless and a visit to the 9/11 Memorial and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, where students will present over 1,000 Never Forget letters to families who lost loved ones on 9/11
• A prayer service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• A global symposium of keynotes and discussions by students from around the world
• A re-recording of the foundation’s theme song, “Make Someone Smile” by students worldwide, originally written and recorded by Grammy Award-winning legend Gloria Gaynor

Confirmed participation includes students representing Canada (Gander, Newfoundland), Germany, Greece, India, Japan, Italy, Northern Ireland, Puerto Rico, Uganda, and the United States, with others to follow.

The Loukoumi Foundation’s mission teaches children that philanthropy should not be forced, but fun, as the foundation works with students and listens to them so they can change the world in their own voices. With them, the foundation visits animal and homeless shelters, cleans parks and beaches for the environment, visits nursing homes and children’s hospitals, makes a difference through the arts and sports, and performs other projects through the foundation’s good deed programming and curriculum.

The Loukoumi Foundation was inspired by the 10-book children’s series by author Nick Katsoris about the fluffy lamb Loukoumi, named after the candy of the same name. The first book “Loukoumi” was released in 2005. A self-published book, written just for Katsoris’ son, Loukoumi, was eventually written up in The New York Times and hit No. 4 on the Barnes & Noble children’s book bestseller list. The third book in the series, “Loukoumi’s Good Deeds,” narrated by Jennifer Aniston and her father John, teaches children about doing good in the world and that message has become the hallmark of the foundation. Other celebrity narrators include Olympia Dukakis, Morgan Freeman, Alexis Christoforous, Nancy O’Dell, Bob Costas, Constantine Maroulis, Frank Dicopoulos, and Nia Vardalos.

The attendees of the Loukoumi Good Deed Summit are largely from the Loukoumi Foundation’s International Good Deed Council of Schools, which meets monthly on Zoom across 18 hours of time zones, to share information about their countries and cultures, the good deeds they are working on in their communities, and together they collaborate on global good deed projects.

This April, these members of the Good Deed Council will convene in New York for a six-day Summit to build on their friendships, do good deeds together, and discuss more ways they can make a difference in the world.

While the impact of doing good surely benefits the recipients of the good deeds, the children themselves also benefit greatly with increased self-esteem, improved mental health, and a sense of purpose in their lives, resulting in happier children and better students. The Loukoumi Foundation is conducting a research study comprised of over 1,000 students worldwide to demonstrate this impact. The research study findings will be published by Fordham University and released at the Loukoumi Good Deed Summit.

A highlight of the Good Deed Summit will also be the release of the Loukoumi Foundation’s new book, “Inspiring Stories That Make A Difference 2 By Over 125 Kids and Young Adults from Around the World.” The book features essays from children in 30 countries across the globe. The essays each tell their story of how these children are making a difference and, indeed, changing the world, one good deed at a time. The book will be released the week of the Loukoumi Good Deed Summit and celebrated at a book launch at the Eastchester High School Auditorium on Friday, April 25, at 5:30 p.m. at which over 70 of the kid authors will be signing copies. Following the book signing will be a celebration event at the Eastchester Middle School hosted by the EMS PTA.

For a full schedule of events please visit their website.