The Philoptochos Women’s Society of St. Athanasios is an organization whose primary purpose is aimed toward
philanthropic endeavors and programs. All men and women in our parish may become members of this society,
which provides for the disadvantaged and assists the church in many ways.
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month.
Philoptochos News
philoptochos@stathanasiosnj.org
This Year's Philoptochos Board:
Karen Scoullos, President
Vasiliki Panagopoulos, 1st Vice President
Marguerite Lahanas, 2nd Vice President
Arete Pavlou, Recording Secretary
Ann Kamvosoulis, Corresponding Secretary
Xanthippi Nakopoulos, Treasurer
Patricia Ekonomidis, Assistant Treasurer
Theodora Portelos, Advisor
Congratulations and Panta Axia to our new officers and Board Members.
On behalf of Philoptochos, we wish you and your families a wonderful summer. Our Chapter had a busy spring; a few of our activities were sponsorship of the Palm Sunday Luncheon, where we raised $2,370. We would like to thank all of those who volunteered, made donations and supported this event. We honored the Mother’s in our Community with carnations on Mother’s Day. We were proud to honor Vasiliki Panagopoulos for her service to Philoptochos, as the recent Clergy Laity banquet on May 12th at the Venetian.
From January to May our Philoptochos has distributed $10,062 to philanthropic causes and we are continuing to assist those in need. We also donated $1,000 towards the heating system of our church in the winter and on Mother’s Day our chapter donated to Saint Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church $5,000. Your Philoptochos membership dues go directly to philanthropy. We encourage all of the woman of or community to join our organization and make a difference in the world. As Orthodox Christians it is our social responsibility to assist those in need. As Saint Basil said:
“Resolve to treat the things in your possession as belonging to others. After all, they bring little pleasure for only a little while, then fade away and disappear, but afterwards a strict accounting of their disbursement will be demanded from you.”
Everything we have belongs to God and we need to be good stewards of what he has given us. Therefore, we do not have to wait until we are older or until we attain wealth to be philanthropists.
St Irenes’ Philoptochos Society of St Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church
Paramus, NJ Chapter 1031
In 2012 we disbursed $47,393 charitably
Breakdown is :
$7, 725 to National Commitments
$8, 763 to Saint Athanasios GO Church
$6,500.00 Contributions to the Greater Community
$1,804.00 Metropolis Disbursements & Commitments
$22,700.00 for Social Services Cases and Aid to Families in our Community
Our Event & Operating Expenses Were $24,123.79
In 2013 we disbursed $34,899 charitably:
Breakdown is:
$7,344.00 to National Commitments
$7,130.00 to Saint Athanasios GO Church
$12,390.00 Contributions to the Greater Community
$1,885.00 Metropolis Disbursements & Commitments
$6,150.00 for Social Services Cases and Aid to Families in our Community
Our Event & Operating Expenses were $26,139
The focus of Philoptochos, is its mission. We are principled to foster love, endorse good will, and sustain the inherited noble Philoptochos tradition.
With Love in Christ,
Karen Scoullos
President
Below is a partial listing of the many philanthropic charities that our chapter supports:
Philoptochos Scholarship Fund
UNICEF
St. Michael Home for the Aged
Valley Hospital Blumenthal Cancer Center
St. Basil’s Academy
Hackensack University Medical Center
Greek Orthodox Missions - IOCC
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Cancer Fund
Autism Assistance Fund
Aid to the People of Greece
Tomorrows Children Fund
Ronald McDonald House
Cochlear Implant Research
Center for Food Action
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Alzheimers Association
Parkinson’s Disease Foundation