Philoptochos

 

About Philoptochos

The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos society is the official philanthropic women’s organization of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and one of the largest Christian women’s organizations in America.  The name means “friend of the poor” being derived from the Greek words philo(friend) + ptohos (poor).  Established in 1931, this non-profit organization is comprised of over 25,000 members in more than 480 chapters nationwide. The Holy Apostles chapter is one of the largest chapters nationwide with about 200 members. 

 

Our Mission

Our mission is to promote charitable and philanthropic outreach by aiding the poor, the hungry, the sick, the orphaned and the victims of disasters.

 

The Holy Apostles Chapter

• More than 50 years of Philanthropic Endeavors
• This chapter supports a variety of philanthropic and charitable organizations as well as programs that benefit our parish.  
• Our volunteers assist year-round with projects and fundraising events to benefit the local community and national and international communitites.
• The Holy Apostles chapter has donated over $250,000 over the last 5 years to charitable causes.

 

        

Board of Directors for 2019-2021

 

Officers

President – Cynthia Stathopoulos  

1st Vice President – Anne Theophilos

2nd Vice President – Antella Thiakos

Treasurer – Nia Kouchis   

Asst. Treasurer – Eleni Poteres  (Programs) 

Corresponding Secretary – Emily Rehn 

Recording Secretary – Tina Dillon

Advisor - Faye Adams (Philanthropy)

 

Board Members

Chrisie Alex (Membership)

Aleka Ernst  (Programs)

Wanita Loupakos

Cathy Magas (Pillars & Rocks)

Aleka Mandelaris (Pillars & Rocks)

Patty McKay (Philanthropy)

Evelyn Paleothodoros

Terry Parafink

Maria Patt (Publicity & Technology)

Anthoula Pomrening

Bess Shizas (Sunshine)

Margo Tomaras (Philanthropy)

Sundy Urban (Membership)

 

Message from Our President, Cynthia Stathopoulos

Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos    (NEW WEBSITE as of 3/1/2021)

Metropolis of Chicago Facebook Page

National Philoptochos

 

All in person Philoptochos events are currently suspended in accordance with the Metropolis and State of Illinois guidelines regarding the coronavirus.  Philoptochos will resume its in person activities once directed to do so.

 

CURRENT EVENTS:

 

Easter Brake & Take

Proceeds to benefit Operation Classroom

and other Philoptochos charities

 

 CURBSIDE PICKUP ONLY!

SATURDAY, APRIL 24th (11am-1pm)

 

Kronos Foods

Frozen and ready to bake - 21 x 13inch pans of Pastichio

                                     

Zorbas’s Pastry Shop

Frozen and ready to bake – trays of 1 dozen tiropites and spanakopites

Tsourekia (1.5 lbs)

1 dozen Koulourakia

1 dozen Kourambedes

1 dozen Melomakarouna

 

ALL ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THURSDAY, APRIL 15TH

 

CURBSIDE INSTRUCTIONS:

• Please wear a mask when picking up
• Place a sign with your FULL NAME in the passenger window
• Enter via the South Parking Lot
• Pull up to the Pickup Sign by the front door of the church
• Call this phone number (630) 336-2012
• Give your name and open your trunk
• A masked and gloved volunteer will place your order in your trunk
• Exit via the North Parking Lot

 

Please click here to download the Curbside pickup sign for your car window.

 

Please contact Eleni Poteres at epoteres@hotmail.com

or (630) 204-8902 with any questions.

 

Lambathes Sale

Sundays in April and during Holy Week

       

Philoptochos is selling decorated candles (lambathes) for Easter again this year.  These candles are hand made by our Philoptochos members and make great gifts for Godparents to give to their Godchildren. 

 

Candles will be available to purchase after:

• The Divine Liturgies every Sunday in April
• The afternoon Holy Unction service on Holy Wednesday
• The morning (Royal Hours) and afternoon (Apokathelosis) services on Good Friday. 

The candles will be sold outside in front of the church. The cost is $15.00 per candle. Due to COVID restrictions, cash will NOT be accepted, only checks or credit cards. 

Please wear a mask while browsing and purchasing. 

 

Please contact Angela Karras Neboyskey at akarras@gmail.com

or (773) 719-2619 with any questions.

 

Operation Classroom

 

 

Philoptochos is participating in a new ministry called Operation Classroom.  The mission of Operation Classroom is “to assist and offer support to teachers and students in underserved or underfunded schools and provide resources that would not have been available through the local school district”.  The committee has chosen a project for the kindergartners at the Westchester Primary School for our first mission.  This will be an ongoing ministry.  

 

There are several ways to contribute:  

1. Support the Philoptochos Easter Curbside Pickup Sale – Easter Brake and Take.  A portion of the proceeds from this sale will be earmarked for this project. 

2. Monetary donations without a purchase using a credit card will also be accepted on-line by clicking the link below. 

3. Send cash or a check to the church office.  Please make checks out to Holy Apostles Philoptochos and put Operation Classroom on the memo line. 

 

Please click here to donate to Operation Classroom using a credit card.

 

Membership Drive - Ongoing

 

 

Membership Drive

Membership Night, which was originally scheduled for September 24th, has been canceled.  We would still like to encourage ALL women in our parish to join Philoptochos and support our charitable efforts.  Philoptochos is the heart of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.  Through our efforts to help those in need, you will meet amazing women, assist those less fortunate, and have fun!  We have had 102 women either renew their Philoptochos membership or join as new members to date this year.  We are so grateful for your support!

 

It is not too late to join Philoptochos!  Please click here to join Philoptochos or to renew your membership via credit card.

 

 

PAST EVENTS:

 

Pillars & Rocks Spring Visits

March

Pillars & Rocks volunteer Stacy Kinnas shops for spring plants

to deliver to our seniors and shut-ins

 

The Philoptochos Pillars and Rocks Ministry continues to reach out to the seniors and shut-ins of our parish.  The goal this month was to spread a little spring cheer.  Approximately 80 individuals received a spring plant of either tulips or daffodils in our signature Philoptochos bag which was tied with a colorful ribbon and a tag that read “Wishing you a Blessed Spring and Lenten Season”. 

The drop offs included local residences and nursing homes, as well as the Greek American Nursing Home.  All deliveries were contactless, with volunteers calling recipients in advance to alert them that a plant would be delivered to their door.

Pillars and Rocks plans to deliver tsourekia and Easter treats at the end of April and will continue with phone calls and cards throughout the summer.

 

 

Blankets of Love

February

 

 

Thank You for your generous contributions to this ministry!  We collected far more in donations than ever before.  Over 80 blankets have been delivered to the Ronald McDonald Houses near Central Dupage and Loyola Hospitals and to Metropolitan Family Services.  We are still receiving blankets and we have fleece to make additional blankets - we hope to have a blanket making session before the holidays. 

Philoptochos would also like to extend a thank you to Beth and Sophia Fotos and to the team of Jen, Nicole, and Renee Govostis, Vanessa and Joanna Clohessy, Stefanie Milak, and Eleni Stamatopoulos (St. Demetrios-Elmhurst) for purchasing, making, and donating 12 blankets for this worthy cause. 

 

 

Pictured (L to R)  Nicole Govostis, Renee Govostis, Joanna Clohessy, and Stefanie Milak.  Not pictured - Eleni Stamatopoulos from St. Demetrios in Elmhurst.

 

Everyone’s efforts and contributions are sincerely appreciated!

 

 

Pites in the Trunk

 

CURBSIDE PICKUP ONLY!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12TH

 

Tiropites & Spanakopites Sale

To Benefit St. Basil Academy

 

A total of 265 tiropites and spanakopites were pre-bought for this Curbside Pickup sale, resulting in a $1,990 donation to St. Basil Academy.  Each St. Basil resident will receive a $30 gift card for Christmas and the remainder will be a monetary donation to this Greek Orthodox Archdiocese home for children in need.

 

 

A special thank you to the “Pites In the Trunk” pickup team:

Philoptochos Board Members Cynthia Stathopoulos, Tina Dillon, Eleni Poteres,

Anthoula Pomrening, Antella Thiakos (in back)

and

Our High School Helpers - Alex Pomrening and Sarah Govostis   

Not pictured - Stacy Kinnas

 

 

Christmas Drive for Needy Children

 

Philoptochos hosted a very successful drive to benefit Family Shelter Service (FSS), which supports victims of domestic abuse.  We collected $6,857!!!   Most of these proceeds were used to purchase gift cards, winter coats, winter hats, and blankets and were delivered to FSS the first week of December.  The remainder (collected after the deadline) will be sent to FSS as a monetary donation.  FSS typically sponsors a Holiday Shoppe where clients can select age-appropriate Christmas presents, free of charge, for their children.  These may be the only gifts these children will receive for Christmas.  FSS is EXTREMELY grateful to the Holy Apostles community.  Many of their usual donors had to cancel their fundraisers due to COVID.     

 

Philoptochos and the Family Shelter Service

Thank the Holy Apostles Community

for your generous support!

 

 

Veteran's Day Artoclasia

Sunday, November 8th

 

 Thank you to Eleni Poteres for making the Artos

 in honor of our Veterans.

 

Fall Raffle

The annual Fashion Show and Luncheon, our primary fundraiser, was also canceled this year due to COVID.  We held a Virtual Fall Raffle instead to raise funds for Philoptochos. The generosity of the Holy Apostles community and the surprise participation of those outside of our parish combined for a very successful raffle. The raffle raised $6,910 and, together with the proceeds from our Membership Drive, will help us to fund our many philanthropic endeavors.

All prize winners were contacted immediately after the raffle drawing on October 24th and most prizes were delivered that day.

 

Thank you so much for your support - we look forward to putting these funds to good use during this difficult time!

 

Below is a list of the Raffle Prize winners.  Only the first name and city of residence is listed in an attempt to protect the winner's privacy.

 

Congratulations to all of the winners!!!

 

Prize # 1 - Diamond & Ruby Tennis Bracelet - Patricia, Chicago

Prize #2 - $600 Cash Prize - Joanne, Glen Ellyn

Prize #3 - Tory Burch Leather Hobo - Anastasia, Burr Ridge

Prize #4 - John Hardy Sterling Silver Earrings - Andrew, Glen Ellyn

Prize #5 - Michael Kors Shoulder Bag - Mary Beth, Elmhurst

Prize #6 - Coach Leather Tote - Faith, Madison,WI

Prize #7 - Le Creuset Dutch Oven - Dimitrios, Oak Brook

Prize #8 - Coach Bag with Floral Appliques - Maria, Hinsdale

Prize #9 - Bric's Luggage - Elaine, Oak Brook

Prize #10 - Calvin Klein Croc Satchel - Angela, Elmhurst

Prize #11 - Apple Air Pods with Charging Case - Stacy, Burr Ridge

Prize #12 - Ruby Leaf Pendant - Angie, Lemont

Prize #13 - Dooney & Bourke Leather Tote - Elena, Glenview

Prize #14 - Giorgio Armani "Code" Eau de Parfum - Barbara, Hinsdale

Prize #15 - $100 in Greek Islands Gift Certificates - Cathy, Elmhurst

Prize #16 - Melange Throw - Zoe Ann, Glen Ellyn

Prize #17 - Geode Bookends & Lizzadro Museum passes - Freida, Glen Ellyn

 

 

Metropolis of Chicago Virtual Events/Activities:

 

 

Masks Matter

The goal of this Metropolis of Chicago initiative is to make 10,000 masks by the end of the year for use by those in under-served communities.  Parishioners are welcome to either sew masks or purchase materials to acheive this goal.  Please refer to the CDC website to access the recommended mask patterns. 

Holy Apostles parishioners have made over 300 masks for this project.

Please contact either Cynthia Stathopoulos at cstath11@comcast.net OR Wanita Loupakos at wloupakos@gmail.com to pick up any completed masks. 

Monetary donations are wlso welcome.  These should be made payable to the Metropolis of Chicago Metropolis and sent to:

Pat Gerbanas

2524 W. Ainslie

Chicago, IL  60625

 

Past Events:

 

Fashion Show 2019 - An Afternoon in Provence

 

 

Fashion Show Co-Chair Jen Govostis and Philanthropy Co-Chair Faye Adams present a $10,000 check to Carol Simler, President and CEO of DuPage Pads.  The DuPage Pads medical respite program was one of the primary beneficiaries of the Fashion Show.

 

 

Fashion Show Co-Chair Anthoula Pomrening with Helen Chrones - Secretary to the St. Iakovos Retreat Center Board of Directors.  The Retreat Center was the other primary beneficiary of the Fashion Show.  Holy Apostles also donated $10,000 to the Retreat Center from the proceeds of the Fashion Show.    

 

 

 

 

Thank you to all that made our annual fundraising event such a success!  We are so grateful to all that worked on a committee, to our many donors, and to all the guests that attended the event.  Attendees enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship, delicious food, beautiful fashions, and fabulous raffle prizes.  The majority of the proceeds of this event support the DuPagePads medical respite program and the St. Iakovos Retreat Center.  The remainder of the proceeds will fund our various philanthropic endeavors throughout the year.

A special thanks to our Co-Chairs, Anthoula Pomrening and Jen Govostis, for their tireless efforts!

 

We appreciate your support!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(