Longtime supporter gives $250K to scholarship fund

Director of Athletic Development Emeritus George P. Makris ’48 and his wife, Helen, have made a $250,000 contribution to the university’s athletics department. The generous contribution has been earmarked to support the endowed George P. & Helen C. Makris Family Scholarship fund, which annually supports an outstanding student-athlete on the varsity football or baseball team.

Makris has been involved with Northeastern for 68 years, including his 32 years as an employee and his attendance at virtually every home game.

“George and Helen Makris are institutional icons and their gift illustrates the passion our alumni and employees have for the university,” said Joseph E. Aoun, president of Northeastern. “We are enormously grateful not only for this gift but for their many decades of service and commitment to Northeastern.”

Makris was inspired by the recent gift of $1 million made by Jack Grinold, the university’s longtime associate athletic director and director of sports information.

“I hope that my act will inspire other alumni to follow Jack’s lead so that the next generation can benefit as I did from a world-class education combined with athletics excellence,” Makris said.

"We are grateful to George and Helen for this generous gift and for their lifelong support of Northeastern,” said Peter Roby, director of athletics and recreation. “George and Helen have recognized that now is the time for alumni and friends of Northeastern to take action to support the future of athletics by making a major gift. We cannot thank them enough for the faith they have shown in the future of our program."

Makris earned three varsity letters for the Huskies in a career that was split by World War II. He lettered as an offensive guard and defensive tackle in 1941, then returned after his tour of duty to letter in 1946 and 1947. Elected captain by his teammates in 1947, Makris won several all-star accolades for his bruising play that season. He also earned one letter with the baseball team and volunteered as the hockey team's manager in 1947. After several injuries to varsity goaltenders however, Makris was thrown between the pipes and earned another varsity letter. He graduated in 1948 and was elected to the Northeastern University Hall of Fame in 1983.

After a 25-year career working with the Electrolux Company, Makris returned to Northeastern. At first, he devoted his time to the Varsity Club as president in 1975 and then as treasurer. In 1977 he became the first Director of Athletic Development. He led campaigns to raise funds for Matthews Arena, Parsons Field and Solomon Court. The George Makris Varsity Club Room at Matthews was named in his honor. He also organized campaigns for athletic scholarships and started the "Fight to Educate" program, a black-tie evening with amateur boxers that, after 18 years, has raised nearly $1 million.

Makris is a 20-year member of the Marlboro, Mass., Chapter of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), for which he has also raised funds. He is a longtime director and former president of the Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation. In 1997, he was the recipient of their Distinguished American Award.