Van Vlahakis’ Giving Spirit Lives On One Year After His Passing

Earth Friendly Products, the world’s leading green cleaning products manufacturer founded by Greek-American Dr. Van Vlahakis, pays tribute to its founder by establishing the Eftichios Van Vlahakis Endowed Scholarship on the one-year anniversary of his passing. Vlahakis was passionate about youth and sustaining our planet, and the scholarship is intended to focus on both by supporting needy students intending to complete baccalaureate or graduate studies in Chemistry, with a preference given for students of Greek descent.

Earth Friendly Products said in a statement: “In memory of Dr. Eftichios Van Vlahakis (BS, ’58), an esteemed alumnus of Roosevelt University, the Vlahakis family has established the Eftichios Van Vlahakis Endowed Scholarship.”

“Van was an extraordinary visionary who dedicated his life to the advancement of green chemistry for the benefit of all living things, and as such, was granted his honorary doctorate from Roosevelt University in 2012.”

Through the generous contributions of Earth Friendly Products, the ‘Eftichios Van Vlahakis Organic Chemistry Lab’ was developed in the Wabash Building at Roosevelt University in hopes students will work to find new formulas and products based entirely on renewable resources.

“Van’s dream lives on within Earth Friendly Products, where we work everyday to carry on his vision,” reads the company’s release.

One of the best ambassadors of the Greek-American dream, Dr. Eftichios “Van” Vlahakis, passed away at his Florida residence on April 6, 2014. He died at age 79 after suffering a heart-attack, leaving behind his rich legacy of generosity, compassion, and dedication to protecting our precious planet. A successful Greek immigrant to the US, Vlahakis was the founder and CEO of Earth Friendly Products, the largest green cleaning products manufacturer in the world.

Tough Beginning
Born in Crete on January 14, 1935, Van Vlahakis came to the US as a young man ready to change his life and the world; and he did. He left Greece in 1953 to escape poverty after World War II had torn apart Europe, and went to Chicago, IL to study chemistry at Roosevelt University. He was going to school in the morning and straight to work after his classes in order to make a living. The man who was forced to live in homeless shelters when he arrived in the States, ten years later founded the green giant known today as Earth Friendly Products. His story, which is not just about transforming his life, but also the lives of the ones around him, became the basis for a motion picture titled “A Green Story.”

Green Pioneer
Van Vlahakis did not join the green movement when it became “cool,” he created it. When a historian will investigate the origins of the green movement and green products he will stumble upon the young man from Greece living in Chicago who was struggling with English but knew he could master the symbol-intensive subject of chemistry. After graduating, Vlahakis worked in the cleaning products industry exposed to harsh chemicals that gave him headaches and caused co-workers to suffer from rashes and other irritations.

Remembering that his mother used natural substances such as water, vinegar and olive oil for cleaning, Vlahakis decided to start his own business to make better cleaning products. In 1967 Venus Laboratories was founded in his home’s garage. Due to Vlahakis ‘ environmentally-friendly formulas and patents, the company quickly moved out of his garage and into the public eye. In 1978, Vlahakis created the formula for Pet Stain & Odor Remover as well as the famous Nature’ s Miracle line. In 1989, Vlahakis ‘ concern to provide non-toxic cleaning products to the public caused him to create an eco-friendly household and commercial cleaning products line, and change his company’s name to Earth Friendly Products.

“I wanted to make something that was better for people, safer for the environment,” he told LA Times in 2013.

Under the leadership of its founder’s daughter Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, Earth Friendly Products is continuing to grow rapidly and making a change to our world today.

Earth Friendly Products is the manufacturer of the #1 selling ‘green’ laundry detergent in the world, ECOS; the first to manufacture a pH neutral auto-dishwashing gel, Wave; and has won awards for progressive business practices, including its use of renewable energy and offering employees financial incentives for buying hybrid or other green vehicles. The green giant has also been recognized as one of California’s best employers providing the highest in the nation min. wage of at least $17 an hour, among other benefits. Earth Friendly Products has more than 300 employees, five geographically diverse manufacturing facilities in the United States and more than 150 products with worldwide distribution.

Love for Greece
Dr. Van Vlahakis was one of the first businessmen of diaspora to open a sister company in Greece and show his support to the country’s recovering economy. Earth Friendly Products Hellas, which paves the way for a production facility that will service Europe, the Middle East and Africa, was inaugurated in Summer of 2013.

“Greece has fallen on hard times, and I feel it’s my duty as a Greek-American to take some of my success back to Greece. We hope we can lead by example and encourage other Greek American businesses to consider getting involved in restoring the Greek economy,” Vlahakis told Greek Reporter in 2013.

In addition, the love for his homeland kept him committed to supporting numerous organizations benefiting Greece.

For more information and to donate to the Eftichios Van Vlahakis Endowed Scholarship at Roosevelt University please email: scholarship@ecos.com.