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Alexi GiannouliasAmerican Democratic politician
Date of Birth: 16.03.1967
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Family
- Education and Basketball Career
- Political Career
- U.S. Senate Campaign
- Political Mentorship
- Philanthropy and Other Endeavors
Early Life and Family
Alexandros Giannoulias was born in Chicago on March 16, 1976, to Greek immigrants. He has two older brothers, Dimitris and Yorgo. His father, Alexis (Alecos) Giannoulias, hails from Klidi, Kalavrita, Achaia, Greece. He immigrated to the United States in the 1970s, settling in Chicago and establishing a real estate firm, which is now managed by one of his older sons. He has amassed a substantial real estate portfolio in Chicago, including Broadway Bank, one of Illinois' largest banks, with seven locations in the Edgewater neighborhood, where the former Illinois Treasurer served as a vice president.
His mother, Anna Xirouchaki (born 1947), is from Chania, Crete, specifically the historic region of Sfakia. She is a cousin of the wife of former PASOK MP and Mayor of Chania (2010-2014) Manolis Skoulakis. She immigrated to Chicago in 1962 after the murder of her father, Manousos Xirouchakis. there she studied, worked, and met Alecos Giannoulias.
Education and Basketball Career
Giannoulias attended Latin School of Chicago. He enrolled at the University of Chicago before transferring to Boston University, where he graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. After graduating, he moved to Greece, where he played for the Panionios basketball club for a year (1998-1999). He also played basketball at Latin School of Chicago, the University of Chicago (Division III), and Boston University (Division I).
Upon his return from Greece, he attended Tulane University School of Law. After earning his J.D. degree, Alex returned to Chicago to assist in the management of Broadway Bank.
Political Career
State SenatorIn November 2006, Giannoulias was elected to the Illinois Senate as a Democrat, defeating Republican Christine Radogno with 54% of the vote. He became the youngest (aged 30) state treasurer in U.S. political history.
U.S. Senate Campaign
On July 26, 2009, Giannoulias announced his candidacy for the 2010 U.S. Senate election in Illinois, a seat that was up for grabs after Roland Burris, who was appointed to the post by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich after Barack Obama was elected president, opted not to seek election. After winning the Democratic primary on February 2, 2010, Giannoulias faced Republican Mark Kirk, Green Party candidate LeAlan Jones, and Libertarian Michael Labno in the November 2010 general election, which Kirk won.
Political Mentorship
Giannoulias' political mentor was Barack Obama. He worked on Obama's 2004 Senate campaign, the 2008 Democratic National Convention when Obama was officially nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate, and Obama's National Finance Committee during his successful 2012 presidential re-election campaign.
Philanthropy and Other Endeavors
Giannoulias served on the board of directors of the Community Association of Banking Industries of Illinois Legislative Committee, the South Side/Wabash YMCA, and the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce.
He also founded and served as president of the AG Fund, a non-profit charitable organization that donated to causes related to sick children, poverty, and disaster relief organizations.
He takes annual vacations to the village of Nikoleika in Egialia (Achaia, Greece).
