On April 11, 2007 Dr. Florakis was awarded a proclamation from New York City, in recognition of service to his community and the City. 

The Proclamation reads:

The Council
City of New York
Proclamation

Whereas: The Council of the City of New York is proud and pleased to celebrate the 186th Anniversary of Greek Independence day and to honor George Florakis for his outstanding contributions to the City and the Greek community; and

Whereas: As we celebrate the cultural history of people of Hellenic descent, we remember with special gratitude the gifts that Greek Americans bring to every aspect of our national life; and

Whereas: George Florakis is a proud and devoted father of three, a loving husband, a member of the American Hellenic Education Progressive Association, a former Boy Scout Leader for the Greek Boy Scouts at Holy Trinity Church, and a member of two Greek Orthodox Churches; and

Whereas: George Florakis has personified the spirit and practice of giving back and contributing to one’s community, city and society; and

Whereas: George Florakis is a proud graduate of Columbia University, having attended the college and the medical school, and completed his residency at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical center; and

Whereas: George Florakis started the non-profit Cornea and Educational Research Foundation, which educates physicians, fellows, and students about corneal eye disease; and

Whereas: In 1998, George Florakis went to Morocco with the American Pediatric Ophthalmology Congress on a mission called Healing the Children. There, George Florakis performed numerous corneal transplants which imparted the gift of sight to many children who otherwise would have remained in darkness; and

Whereas: George Florakis has traveled the world giving ophthalmic lectures and has received a multitude of academic honors, including election to Best Doctors in America and Docs on Top: Westchester and Greenwich’s leading physicians; and

Whereas: On this auspicious occasion, as we celebrate the 186th Anniversary of Greek Independence Day and extol the great cultural heritage of the Greek nation, we are immensely proud to honor George Florakis, an individual whose dedication to the community is inspirational. He has enriched our City and the Greek community with his contributions and is worthy of the esteem of all New Yorkers; now, therefore

Be It Known: That the Council of the City of New York most gratefully honors

GEORGE FLORAKIS

For his exceptional service to the community, City and nation.

Signed this 11th day of April in the year Two Thousand and Seven.

Alan Jay Gerson
Council Member, 1st District
Manhattan