It was all Greek to the 1,500 guests who gathered at the Marriott Marquis for the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund (HTSF)’s annual “Evening of Stars Gala,” chaired by John and Margo Catsimatidis. The gala paid tribute to Ernie Anastos, the first Greek-American television anchor in the country. Special guest host Joan Lunden and Gala Chair and HTSF President Nick Katsoris presented Anastos with the Hellenic Times Humanitarian Award in recognition of his 25-plus years on the air in NYC. The former CBS-2 news anchor and recipient of 28 Emmy Awards and nominations was recently lured away by FOX-5 with a multi-million dollar, five-year contract.

Anastos was also honored with a 10-minute video homage featuring a series of accolades from pals including: Walter Cronkite, Mary Tyler Moore, Regis Philbin, Kevin Kline, Mary Hart, Paul Shaffer, Brian Williams, Rudy Giuliani, Matt Lauer, Kathie Lee Gifford, Greg Gumbel, and Maria Bartiromo.

The HTSF also awarded 34 scholarships to Greek-American students from 19 states. The recipients were announced by Margo Catsimatidis and presented with their honors by CSI: Miami star and last-year honoree Sofia Milos, MarketWatch anchor Alexis Christoforous, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas, and — via video — sportscaster Bob Costas, the newly named regular substitute for the host on CNN’s Larry King Live.

Also via video, American Idol judge Paula Abdul introduced three performers: Jay Black of Jay and the Americans, who began with the 1969 hit “This Magic Moment”; Greece’s top recording artist, Anna Vissi, who crooned her #1 single, “Call Me,” then “Treno” and “Dodeka”; and disco diva Gloria Gaynor, who belted out her timeless hits “I Will Survive” and “Never Can Say Goodbye.”