United In Their Mission
Philo-Strong Chapters Across the Country
Harness Their Power
To Aid Victims of Disasters At Home and Abroad
When called upon to help the less fortunate, the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society always answers the call. Over the past few months, chapters across the nation have done so in a big way.
Responding to an appeal announced by National President Maria Logus, chapters have worked with their communities to raise funds for the Hurricane Relief Fund. However, the need is great. Funds collected will be disbursed to families in need in the stricken areas. While, the following article relates to the destruction in North Carolina, Philoptochos is working to assess damage in South Carolina, as well.
Hurricane Florence
By: Lekita Essa
Hurricane Florence made landfall at 7:15 a.m. on Friday September 14, 2018. It crossed onto shore at Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington, North Carolina. Wilmington became an island cut off from the rest of us. Tropical-storm-force winds extending almost 200 miles along the Carolina coastline caused extensive damage.
Though Hurricane Florence finally left North Carolina days ago, we continue to experience river cresting and flooding of towns and cities. Hundreds of primary and secondary roads also closed. Thirty-six deaths are blamed on Hurricane Florence. Thousands across the state were displaced, many with nothing to go back to. Many residents have lost their livelihood with no way to recover. Still others were just seeing their way clear of Hurricane Matthew from 2 years ago.
Many communities are experiencing empty grocery shelves — lack of baby food, diapers for children and adults and other daily needs are not being met. Access for delivery trucks in many areas had been cut off by flooding. The sweet potato crop, one of North Carolina’s money makers, has been lost. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said Tuesday that so far 3.4 million chickens and turkeys have been killed by Hurricane Florence, and 5,500 hogs have perished since the storm deluged the state.
It will take some school systems weeks to reopen for the school year. Some schools experienced an increase in attendance after Hurricane Matthew and even higher attendance is anticipated once schools open again. Two main reasons for the increase is associated with the safety that parents feel with schools, as well as the availability of electricity and food. Parents will also count on Back Pack Buddies for food on the weekends.
The Cape Fear River runs 202 miles and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The Cape Fear River is the main tributary and name sake of the nation’s largest river basin. The river is now polluted with toxins that will adversely affect the health of water life and may bring ill health to people living along its banks. A parishioner from Lumberton explained that authorities are handing out face masks for people (to wear as a precaution) along the Lumber River. Coal ash from Duke Energy Plants is now been reported to be in the Cape Fear River.
The loss of business and property is estimated to be in the billions. Several of the local beach towns have extensive damage — Surf City, Topsail Beach, Southport, Oak Island, Bald Head Island to name a few. It will take a long time to recover from this storm, especially since we are still recovering from Matthew.
Parishioners from St. Nicholas in Wilmington reported they were displaced and returned to flooded homes, roof damage, leaks, loss of personal items such as photos, spoiled food in the refrigerator, and yet they all still felt very blessed. Rebuilding will take some time.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has said numerous times “the people who can afford it the least often get hit the hardest.”
2,000
We still have roughly 2,000 people in shelters. At the peak of the storm that number was 20,000, but we know that these folks have a long road to recovery. This number goes up and down and we know the number of displaced individuals is likely higher given that some are fortunate enough to stay with friends and family or find hotels.
27
Counties in our state have now been approved for federal assistance; these were the ones hardest hit by the storm. Approval comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
36
Storm-related deaths confirmed in North Carolina.
CoreLogic analysis shows that the aftermath of Hurricane Florence is estimated to have caused between $20 billion and $30 billion in flood and wind losses. Approximately 85% of residential loss is uninsured.
We are grateful for the support of first responders, local officials, volunteers and faith-based groups. While disasters by their very nature are crushing to communities and bring many challenges, they give us an extraordinary opportunity to come together as Orthodox Christians and help those in need — whether it be giving our time, skills or monetary donations.
For a PDF version of the above article, please click here.
Fires in Greece
On August 1st, our President circulated a humanitarian appeal to help our brothers and sisters in Greece where the deadly wildfires were devouring homes and devastating seaside villages. In an extraordinary demonstration of compassion and generosity, Philoptochos chapters across the nation, over 400 strong, have raised $106,585 to date, with more funds arriving daily. Responding to an appeal from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the monies collected have been entrusted to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who will personally distribute the funds to the people in need.
Photo by: Alexandros Vlachos
Photo by: Antonis Nicolopoulos
Photo by: Christos Doudomis
|
|
 October National Ministry Commitment |
|
|
|
National Philoptochos Emergency Fund
Can you imagine seeing your home swept away in a torrent of flood water, everything you own reduced to ashes by a wildfire, or your house and property literally blown away by a violent tornado? These are the kinds of natural disasters faced each year by millions of people in this country and across the globe. In the aftermath of such devastation, the victims find themselves lost, afraid, alone and confused by the magnitude of the catastrophe that has upset their lives. And in the worst case scenarios, it is not only property that the victims have lost, but too often the precious lives of their loved ones.
The National Philoptochos Emergency Fund was established to help those in the US and throughout the world who have been affected by natural disasters. Over the past decade, these obstacles and trials have come in the form of blizzards, hurricanes, tropical storms, tsunamis, tornados, floods, earthquakes and wildfires. At such times, Philoptochos is able to provide immediate assistance because of the monies readily available in the Emergency Fund. Cases of drinking water were sent to Louisiana in the first days of the recovery following Hurricane Katrina, and portable water along with tents for temporary shelter were sent immediately to Nepal following the devastating earthquakes. This year, Philoptochos was able to forward $20,000 to IOCC from the Emergency Fund to assist the people in Greece who were affected by the devastating wildfires. This money is in addition to the $106,585 sent to the Ecumenical Patriachate due to the special appeal.
We cannot know where or when the next emergency will occur. We can, however, be certain that whenever and wherever the need arises, the National Philoptochos, through its Emergency Fund, will come forward to help the victims. In such times of strife, it is important for each of us to remember that “there but for the grace of God go I.” Please send your generous contributions to the National Philoptochos Emergency Fund so that we can continue to provide immediate assistance to our brothers and sisters in times of crisis.
|
|
|
Make a Difference in 2018 and Pay it Forward
National Make A Difference Day was established in 1992 as the largest national community service day in the United States. It is held annually on the 4thSaturday in October, and millions of American citizens participate in this day of volunteerism to improve the lives of others.
In 2015, the first year of the Philoptochos Make A Difference initiative, chapters offered more than 4,000 good deeds. In 2016, National Philoptochos invited chapters across the country to join together with their parish families to offer 8500 multi-generational acts of kindness during the month of October to honor His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, on the occasion of his name day, and also to celebrate the 85thanniversary of the founding of Philoptochos.
In 2017, Philoptochos’ goal was to teach children to engage in philanthropy and contribute to their communities. Chapters responded with projects such as collecting canned food for the hungry, making “get well” cards for patients in children’s hospitals, assembling personal care kits for the homeless, collecting used blankets for animal shelters and sending “thank you” cards to Veterans for their service. In one community, members of Philoptochos and JOY joined together to sew and stuff heart pillows for children recovering from heart surgery.
Last year’s initiative was so well received that we are repeating it again this year – and adding a twist. First the challenge will be to increase the number of Acts of Kindness to 10,000 for 2018, and the focus will continue to be on partnering with children in our communities to perform the good deeds, once again teaching and encouraging them to be philanthropic. Additionally, we are asking every Philoptochos steward to perform one random act of kindness, and to ask that person to Pay It Forward. In this way, we will multiply our good deeds and affect many more people.
Make A Difference with Philoptochos and spread positivity and kindness. For more information, see below:
 |
|
|
What Every Chapter and Metropolis Should Know About Social Services
The core and the heart of Philoptochos is our mission of
Social Services/Philanthropy.
At the 2018 National Philoptochos Biennial Convention, Philoptochos ran a Social Services Break-out session where delegates were given a presentation and then were encouraged to ask questions and discuss Social Services. It was an eye-opening experience for both the members of the National Philoptochos Social Services Committee, and the chapter representatives who often operate without formal guidelines or protocols.
The objective of this article is to clarify any misconceptions and to educate chapters about National Philoptochos Social Service programs and procedures. Following are the Social Service guidelines for chapters and metropolises.
Every chapter should:
- Have a Social Service/Philanthropy Committee with a “point person”
- Respect each request with compassion, discretion and dignity for the applicant
- Adopt and use forms for financial assistance; Step by Step Procedures for Metropolises and Chapters, Application for Assistance, and Consent for Release of Information are 3 forms available on the National Philoptochos website
- Every Metropolis and Chapter should establish a cap for the amount of financial assistance they can provide to any one individual or family; the National Philoptochos' cap is $7500
- Always operate with complete discretion and protect the identity of the people they have helped
Working with your priest:
- Working alongside your parish priest is key. However, the responsibility of evaluating the merit of cases and deciding whom to assist lies with the Social Services Committee and the Metropolis/Chapter
- Remember that your priest is your spiritual adviser, not head of the Philanthropy/Social Services committee
Providing assistance:
- Philoptochos support is not intended as a supplement to an individual’s monthly income, rather clients are helped to address and resolve, as best as possible, the problems and concerns they face. Each case has an initial assessment of the person’s history and issues leading to their current situation.
- Philoptochos does not make car payments or insurance payments but instead assists with requests for food, housing, rent, utilities, medical expenses, funerals, etc.
- Requests for payment of housing, rent, utilities and medical bills go directly to those companies; all checks are made payable to vendors, not individuals
- Assist once per family unless your cap has not been met
- Philoptochos never makes payments to individuals
- Chapters can contact their Metropolis for further assistance when their cap is met or further assistance is needed
- Metropolises contact the National Philoptochos Social Worker when even more assistance is needed
- Assistance always begins at the chapter level and moves up the chain as additional assistance is needed:
Chapter > Metropolis > National
- When chapters have questions, they should contact their Metropolis president, National Social Services Committee Chairs, or the National Philoptochos Social Worker, Paulette Geanacopoulos, e-mail: pauletteg@philoptochos.org or (212) 977-7782
- Metropolises/Chapters should never provide assistance without obtaining appropriate documentation and filling out the forms as outlined above
- Metropolises/Chapters must maintain files and documentation on all cases where assistance has been provided
Why is Social Services So Important?
Social Services is truly at the core of our mission – helping those who need it most. The following are a few testimonials from those who have been helped through Philoptochos. Much of the stories have been retracted and names have been withheld to protect their identities. As mentioned above, we treat every case with discretion.
Testimonial One:
There is no way one can do justice to explain the importance and positive impact Philoptochos had on my life and my young son’s life. I have always been a person of faith. My marriage to a non-believer took me away from church physically but never emotionally. I was a stay-at-home parent to a toddler, recently having moved to a state with no family or support. I was served with divorce papers and what followed was no spousal support. Due to custody requirements, I could not leave the state, and I became lost in a sea of events that I had to navigate: court hearings, evictions, collection calls, flooding, paying rent, looking for work and taking care of a toddler.
Through all these events, I turned to the one home I have always known: Church. God helped me find my way to National Philoptochos. I sent an email and remember receiving a response the very next morning from Pauletter Geanacopoulos, National Philoptochos Social Worker, with a list of items I had to begin working on. A sense of relief surrounded me; there was someone out there whom I had never met who was ready and willing to provide support. I sent back all the requested documentation and began working on the other items, reaching out to the support services listed. At this time, I was able to secure employment but had a very poor credit score and no money for payment of the requested security deposit for housing. The housing I was in was temporary. National Philoptochos paid the security deposit so we could move into a permanent place.
Although I have always been a part of the church I truly had no idea of the value of Philoptochos. Because of my experience we have become even more involved with the volunteer work of the Church and my Philoptochos chapter. I am a big advocate of Philoptochos and encourage people to always support their local Philoptochos chapter because it is truly God's work carried out on earth.
Testimonial Two (Written by a young woman with a school-aged child. Her husband abandoned them and fled the country after she was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness):
My son and I are truly thankful to the Philoptochos for helping us. After all the struggles I have faced, I was so overjoyed with the help I received that I broke down crying. I truly don’t know how I’m ever going to pay back the church for its act of grace. Words cannot describe how grateful we are for all your help . . . but with all my heart, thank you so much.
*This case was an example how each of the three levels of Philoptochos - Chapter, Metropolis Philoptochos and National - collaborated to help her as effectively as possible. Each level helped her with a different aspect of her life and needs, and her faith gave her the resiliency and strength to persevere for herself and her son.
Testimonial Three (We frequently hear about the challenges faced by the “sandwich generation;” however, when all three generations suffer from varying forms of physical and mental disabilities and all are on fixed incomes, they no longer are challenges – they are examples of trying to survive on “a tightrope over the Grand Canyon in gale force winds.” The following was written by the ‘mom-in-the-middle’ who was caught between needing to be up all night to care for her mother, and all day to care for her daughter):
After so many months, mom finally got her in-home nursing care from the state - 12 hours daily - 7 days a week. Without the assistance that Philoptochos provided until the state benefit came through, I don't know what I would have done. I will forever be grateful to all of you.
|
|
|
|
Philoptochos Members Attend Their First National Philoptochos Biennial Convention
There were many new delegates at the 2018 National Philoptochos Biennial Convention this year. These delegates were of all ages; some were long-time Philoptochos members who had never attended a Convention and some were new members who were thrilled to meet people with the same mission and with the same drive to engage in philanthropic works. We would like to introduce you to two such delegates.
 Testimonial #1: Lindsay Stavrakas- Metropolis of Chicago- Chapter 2044 Annunciation Cathedral. "This being my first convention, it exceeded my expectations. Simply put, I was overwhelmed with all the insightful presentations. The information and knowledge that I gained will be used in my future endeavors in Philoptochos. Coming back home from Boston, I cannot wait to share all of the stories/presentations with my chapter. Being able to listen and watch what other chapters are doing, and taking these valuable notes was eye-opening. It is a very humbling experience to see how much time, and effort that Philoptochos has done to help those in need. I also loved meeting and socializing with the different philoptochos women from all over the country and cannot wait for 2020!"
 Testimonial #2: Irene Stefanakos, Metropolis of Boston Treasurer from Worcester, MA- St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Chapter 3046. "I joined Philoptochos when I was 18. My mom was a member for many years and I was always brought up with the example of philanthropy from both of my parents. In one of my first years in Philoptochos I had attended a CMF Luncheon and one of the speakers had lost her home to Hurricane Katrina and had a young family. She described the despair and fear she felt until the local Philoptochs sent aid. It was helping hand and hope giving her strength to move forward. It is wonderful to be a part of an organization that impacts others giving them something beyond what money can provide.
I was excited to attend the Convention this year. It is empowering to speak with so many successful women who give back to their communities. Throughout the week I was able to really see how far Philoptochos' reach is and it really was inspiriting to hear what different chapters do and how unique the needs are in different regions of the country. Most importantly how we do not do this work in a vacuum- partnerships are a key to the success of so many of the stories we heard.
The new initiatives coming from National Philoptochos brings another layer to the work that we do on both the Metropolis and Chapter levels and are really meaningful to help members build connections with the organization. The most important thing we can do to help sustain Philoptochos is help others find a connection to have meaning to the work we are doing. I had a wonderful time and am inspired to grow within my Metropolis position and within my chapter." |
|
|
The General Grant Application Process for Organizations
Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible for consideration, all applicant organizations MUST:
- Have current 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service.
- Be located in or serve populations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, which includes the 50 states of the United States and the Bahamas (Nassau).
- State clearly your project or program mission or intent and provide appropriate justification for funding.
Exclusions:
The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc. will not consider requests for:
- Direct grants, scholarships or loans for the benefit of specific individuals;
- Projects of organizations whose policies or practices discriminate on the basis of race, ethnic origin, sex, creed, sexual orientation.
How are general grant applications reviewed?
They are reviewed pursuant to the following set of criteria.
- Organization structure, missions and constituencies
- Project/Program purpose which is clearly written and/or comprehensively described and relevant
- Clinical outcomes/deliverables/goals such as maximizing disease survival or minimizing rates of various infections
- Efficient coordination of care as demonstrated by complying with accepted “best practices”
- Sufficient care-related resources such as providing nursing staff and/or outpatient programs tailored to conditions
- Budgets that are well outlined and realistic
- Project/Program estimated cost which is clearly delineated
- How well Project/Program will enhance the lives of people in its community or service area
When and by whom are general grant applications reviewed?
- General grant applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
- First, National Philoptochos Project Review and Management Co-Chairs and Committee review applications and offer their suggestions on distributions and any other actions to be taken.
- Second, the Project Review and Management Committee’s suggestions are forwarded to the National Philoptochos Finance Committee, which is chaired by the National Philoptochos Treasurer, for their review and recommendations.
- Third, Treasurer discusses the Finance Committee recommendations with the National Philoptochos Executive Board, and they render their opinion.
- Fourth and finally, Treasurer takes the Executive Board recommendations to the full National Philoptochos Board for final decisions to be reached.
Where can the general grant application be found?
In what ways are general grant applications submitted?
- Inquiries come into the National Philoptochos office from organizations on how they can apply for National Philoptochos grants. They are directed to the National Philoptochos Society website where they can access the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc. Grant Application 2018- 2020 form.
- Philoptochos stewards from across the country know of worthy organizations within their communities and metropolises. They refer these organizations to our website, so they can access the Grant Application 2018 – 2020 form and submit their projects and/or programs for National Philoptochos’ consideration for funding and/or support.
- In some cases, Philoptochos chapters and/or metropolises have partially funded these projects and/or programs, and the organizations are seeking additional funding if available at the national level.
- You too, our fellow Philoptochos sisters, can explain to worthy organizations the Request for Proposal (RFP) Process for applying for financial support of their projects and/or programs.
What are the sources of funding for projects/programs approved based upon
their grant applications?
- Philoptochos has been able to help support important projects/programs throughout the country through money raised in the Autism Assistance Fund, Cancer and Other Major Illnesses Fund, Children’s Medical Fund, Emergency Fund, General Medical Fund, Orthodox Christian Missions Fund, 75thAnniversary Founders Fund, and Social Services Fund.
How do Philoptochos chapters meeting National Ministry Commitments impact funding of projects/programs?
- When chapters meet National Ministry Commitments on a timely basis on their designated months of the year, National Philoptochos can fund worthy projects/programs.
- When chapters send in more than minimum or suggested amounts for National Ministry Commitments, National Philoptochos has more funds available for grant distribution.
- When Philoptochos stewards from throughout the country attend and support the Children’s Medical Fund Luncheon, held every 18 to 24 months, more funding is available to help vetted projects/programs at children’s hospitals and other health care organizations.
How does applying for a General Grant differ from applying for a Children’s Medical Fund Grant?
- General grant applications submitted are reviewed on a rolling basis.
- Children’s Medical Fund (CMF) grant applications must be submitted by a set deadline for grants to be reviewed and awarded at the Children's Medical Fund Luncheon.
- It should be noted that funds raised in conjunction with the Children's Medical Fund support grants awarded to children's health care concerns in the host metropolis at the time of the CMF, support critically ill children’s medical cases during the 18 to 24-month period between the CMF, as well as support other children’s health care organizations as they are vetted and approved at various times of the year.
When are grants awarded?
- Generally, they are awarded after National Philoptochos Board Meetings held in the fall, winter, spring, and at the time of National Philoptochos Biennial Conventions.
What are some examples of projects/programs that National Philoptochos has funded in the past?
- Educational greenhouse for children on the autism spectrum disorder continuum
- Critical job training and placement for homeless adults
- Emergency meal packs for the needy
- Nurse call system for rehabilitation and care center
- Social worker at clinic to help human trafficking survivors
- Vulnerable youth initiative in Nairobi, Kenya
- Social work emergency funding to aid disadvantaged families of critically ill children
- Pediatric cancer care, feeding program, and intensive care among other services at children’s hospitals
SUMMARY:
The National Philoptochos Project Review and Management Committee’s grant application has added structure to the Request for Proposal (RFP) Process and ensured that grants are awarded to both small and large organizations which provide services consistent with the mission of Philoptochos and where donations can make a real difference in the lives of others.
|
|
|
National Philoptochos Online Giving Page
By clicking on the button below, an individual can make an online donation to National Philoptochos ministries such as Aid to Greece & Cyprus, Children's Medical Fund, National Philoptochos Social Services and more. The page can also be accessed through www.philoptochos.org via the Side Bar.
|
|
|
|
