Deptford, NJ – From their inception in 1992, they have raised more than 600 million dollars in aid that has been distributed to some 60 countries worldwide. Our motherland Greece has been the recipient of 38 million dollars of funding in the last three years. On October 29 the International Orthodox Christian Charities celebrated 25 years.
On Sunday night, Philadelphia chapter president Tony Pantezopoulos welcomed some three hundred guests to the celebration banquet and thanked clergy, media, and volunteers for their support these past years. “When we started this chapter, there were just my wife and I. Today there are more than one hundred volunteer members. I am grateful and proud to see where we have gone”, said Pantezopoulos. The IOCC’s efforts to expand in Philadelphia has united many in the Orthodox community including Russian, Ukranian and Serbian to name a few.
A special check presentation by Supreme Treasurer, George G. Horiates, Esq., to Philadelphia chapter president Tony Pantezopoulos and IOCC Development Officer Lou Zagami for $5,000 was presented. It was later announced that the total the AHEPA donated totaled $20,000, making it the biggest donation of the day.
The evening was highlighted by a speech from IOCC president Dean Triantafilou. Triantafilou shared his thoughts on the day and the path of the IOCC. He also introduced a short film about current projects they have embarked on this year. Triantafilou then went on to share several inspiring moments of his 20 plus years with the IOCC and from his life. He called these, “moments of illumination.” These were moments that changed and defined his life, as well as reaffirmed his faith.
Constantine Menelaus (Dean) Triantafilou, was born in Winchester, Massachusetts. Less than two years later, he moved with his family to Houston, Texas, where he grew up in a home that followed the traditions of his Greek family and heritage. To this day, those traditions are influential in Dean’s life, reflecting both the values of his heritage and those inspired by his parents, Reverend Father Nicholas and Presbytera Diane Triantafilou.