Philoptochos and All Ladies of the Parish

St. Andrew’s Women’s Philoptochos

Invites

Philoptochos and all ladies of the parish

to its annual

Holiday Christmas Dinner Outing

on Thursday, December 11, 2014, 6:30 pm

at

Zia’s

6699 N. Northwest Highway, Chicago

(773)775-0808

Please RSVP by Monday, December 8, 2014

to Hellena Chrones at email

or (847)340-6519

Dinner will be served family style and include

hors d’oeuvres, salad,

chicken, pork and tilapia, tiramisu, coffee, tea, soft drinks and gratuity

Complimentary parking is available

$32 Per Person

Make Checks payable to SAWPS

______

December Upcoming Events

St. Andrew’s Women’s Philoptochos Dinner Dance, Saturday, December 7, 2014. Cathy Fasseas and Pat Perritt along with their committee have been working very hard planning this wonderful evening of holiday cheer. Gather your friends and join us at this

special event. If you haven’t made your reservation, please contact Cindy Melas at 847-673-8826 or email or at. (see invitation below)

LOUKOUMI BOOK SALE

During the month of December Philoptochos will be selling these books. They make great gifts!

Every book that is purchased another book is donated to a charity of our choice. We will be donating those books to UI Pediatrics along with the gifts that the Sunday School Children bring.

The author also donates back:

$2 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital &

$2 to National Philoptochos.

Stop by the Philoptochos table after church

or see Kathy Siavelis

Be a part of this outreach project!!

TIPS TO ENCOURAGE SUCCESSFUL READERS-

By Philoptochos Literacy Committee

·  Be a good role model, let your children see you read.

·  Set aside a regular time to read to your children every day.

·  Surround your children with reading material.

·  Have a family reading time.

·  Encourage a wide variety of reading activities.

·  Go to the library frequently.

·  Be knowledgeable about your children's progress.

·  Use a variety of aids to help your children: computers, textbooks, games, visual aids and books on tape.

·  Show interest in and enthusiasm for your children's reading.

·  Build a love of language and learning by engaging your children in meaningful conversation.

Together we CAN make a difference!

Dear Philoptochos Members and Friends,

As you will see below we have been very busy over the past few months.

First, on behalf of the ladies in Philoptochos we are very proud to CONGRATULATE, Arlene Siavelis Kehl, Kathy Siavelis and Marilyn Tzakis for being reappointed to the National Philoptochos Board, and to Arlene for being reappointed 1st Vice-President to National.

Thursday, September 4, we had our first meeting of the Ecclesiastical Year. We had over 25 women at our meeting, who enjoyed a potluck dinner. What a wonderful way to begin the year! Thank you to all who attended.

Thank you to Cindy Melas who helped organize Holy Cross Vespers/Feast Day and to all the ladies who baked and helped with this event.

Saturday, September 21, we had 2 tables who represented our chapter at The Metropolis of Chicago Ladies Philoptochos Annual Luncheon. This luncheon benefited St. Iakovos Retreat Center, Philoxenia House in Rochester, MN., and the Metropolis Philoptochos Philanthropic Endeavors. Thank you Demetra Christus for coordinating this event. It was a lovely afternoon.

Thursday, October 9, we had an Oktoberfest gathering in the Presidents’ Room. We had over 35 ladies in attendance.

During the evening we had a pumpkin carver who carved a 100 lb pumpkin. We enjoyed fall type foods along with hot apple cider and homemade Corn Chowder. Thank you to Marilyn Tzakis and Seva Johnson for making this evening enjoyable. We also were given goody bags.

Saturday, October 25, we held our breakfast meeting. Thank you to Terri Mikuzis for making her delicious French toast bake and homemade coffee cake and to all those who brought items to the meeting. We began making our fleece blankets that will be given to the UIC Pediatric Unit. We have over 15 blankets that we will be giving the children at Christmas. It was a wonderful morning of fellowship. Thank you to those who joined us.

Saturday, November 1, the ladies visited The Greek American Rehabilitation Care Centre. I would like to thank Maria Kotsinis for coordinating this delightful afternoon. (see thank you below)

I would like to thank the following people who volunteered to bake and/or come to serve at the home. They are: Helen Papaioannou, Peggy Papaioannou, Patty Harrison, Gena Brelias, Georgia Farlekas , Patty Harrison, Seva Johnson, Timi Pappas, and Cynthia Melas. This year we served rice pudding, paximathia, koulouria, yaourtopita, kourambiethes, pound cake, strawberries, cantaloupe, Greek and American coffee and apple cider.

Hope to see you all next year and a blessed Holiday season to all. Thanks, Maria Kotsinis

Sunday, November 9, we had our “Grab a Lunch.” The proceeds to this event will be going to the St. Nicholas Shrine at Ground Zero campaign. Thank you Marilyn Tzakis for organizing this and to Vicki Laudizio, Arlene Siavelis, Kathy Kaporis, and Patty Tsaoussis for helping. Thank you Kathy Siavelis for making the board which explains what this project is about. A big thank you to those who supported this fundraiser. We were able to raise $550. Along with this event and other donations made we have collected $1578 towards this campaign. Watch your bulletin for more events to help support this worthy cause.

2015 Membership

We are now accepting 2015 Philoptochos Membership. See form below.

Volunteer Form 2014 - 2015

Please take a few moments and look at the form below and sign up where you would like to help. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Everyone is welcome!

Vonnie Karafotias, Philoptochos President

Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from

January Meeting Notice

Philoptochos Breakfast Meeting

Saturday, January 24, 2015

in the Presidents’ Room, at 9:30 am

Fleece Blanket /Cookie Baking Projects

RSVP to Vonnie by Wednesday, January 21, 2015,

at or call 630-378-4878

so we may prepare for breakfast and how many blankets we will need to purchase.

Please bring a scissors.

Bring a friend!!

January Upcoming Events:

Metropolis Vasilopita

The Philoptochos is now selling Tickets to the Metropolis of Chicago Citywide Vasliopita event. Tickets will be sold Sundays following church up until the event and are $10 or see one of the board members for tickets.

This year the event will take place at St. Nicholas, Greek Orthodox Church, Oak Lawn, IL on Sunday, January 11, 2015, at 6pm.

Please support these children in need. Additional information on St. Basil’s Academy and their good works can be found at http://www.saintbasilacademy.org. If you cannot attend in person, we are happy to accept donations.

Feed the Hungry

Please join the Philoptochos for the Feed The Hungry program at Annunciation Cathedral on Tuesday, January 27, 2015. Your two hour commitment of serving a hot meal to approximately 200 guests will be appreciated.

We are also collecting ONLY clean coats, scarves, hats, gloves, clothing for both men and women (NO CHILDREN’S ITEMS). These garments are available for our guests to take after they have been served a hot meal. Because many of our guests are homeless, these items are much needed and appreciated. You may drop off your items at church no later than Sunday, January 25th. Drop off bins will be provided in the hallway of the auditorium.

Please contact Patty Tsaoussis at 773-467-8810 or email , if you can join us on January 27th at 10:45 am.

Please Note: Dates and Times Subject for change.

Check your weekly bulletin, Anchor and emails.

______

February Meeting Notice

Philoptochos Meeting

Thursday, February 12, 2015

in the President’s Room at 6:30 pm

Bring your favorite Appetizer to share

with everyone.

We will be having a guest speaker.

(more details to follow)

RSVP to Vonnie by Monday, February 9, 2015,

at or call 630-378-4878

so we may prepare for this event.

Bring a friend to the meeting to see what Philoptochos is all about!

February Upcoming Events:

“Go Red for Women” is the American Heart Association’s national call to increase awareness and help prevent disease. This is the number one killer of American women.

Here is information from National Philoptochos:

The statistics make it clear why awareness is important. Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. Only one in five women believes that heart disease is her greatest health risk. The most important statistic, eighty percent of cardiac events in women could be prevented if women made the right choices for their hearts involving diet, exercise and not smoking. Join in the mission to fight heart disease in women today!

National Philoptochos Society is designating Sunday, February 1, 2015 as Go Red Sunday and asking ALL women around the country to wear red when attending Church.

Stop by the Philoptochos table to get information from the American Heart Association or go to their website www.heart.org for information.

Save the date!!!

Apokreatiko Glendi - Saturday, February 7, 2015

Join Philoptochos for this fun filled event for the whole family! See flyer in anchor for more details!.

______

Save the Date:

Saturday, March 14, 2015

ALL ARE WELCOME!!

St. Andrew’s Women’s Philoptochos presents

Triple award winning writer, and author

of Seasons of Sun,

Paula Renee Burzawa (Akouris) as she presents

“Tasso’s Journey“

Tasso's Journey is the love story of her

Yiayia and Papou.

He was from Sparta (Magoula) and

she from Vassara

Tasso is in the race of his life to protect his family as Nazi troops invade Greece. Facing countless challenges,

his struggle to understand purpose forces him to examine his personal faith. Tasso’s destiny is far from

what he imagined.

John Dedakis, CNN

“Paula Burzawa does it again. She brings family history alive in this gripping saga of survival, faith, and enduring

Philoptochos Commitments

It is with the fundraising that we do and

with your support that we are able to help

with the following:

September Commitments/National

$1000 for the Retired Clergy Association

Benevolent Fund

$500 to Holy Cross/Hellenic College,

October Commitments/National

$500 for the Emergency Fund (Natural Disasters)

Planned Other Philanthropy

$1000 to St. Iakovos Camp/Retreat Center

Unplanned Philanthropy

$350 – Aid to Greece & Cyprus,

November Commitments/National

$500 to SS. Cosmas & Damianos - Ecumenical Patriarchate,

$500 to National Sisterhood of Presbyteres

Planned Other Philanthropy

$1000 Greek American Rehabilitation Centre

Unplanned Other Philanthropy

$1578 St. Nicholas Shrine at Ground Zero

November/December Commitments

Planned Other Philanthropy

$500 Care for Real – Thanksgiving Turkeys

December Commitments

National

$500 General Medical Fund

$100 UNICEF

Metropolis

$150 Metropolis Christmas Wish List for the needy

$300 Metropolis Open House

Planned Other Philanthropy

$500 Chicago Food Depository for Care For Real

lovlove. If you liked Seasons of Sun, you'll love Tasso's Journey.”

Don’t forget to tell your friends to mark their calendars.

More details to follow!!

PHILOPTOCHOS

2015 STEWARDSHIP FORM

Philoptochos is you and me making a difference.

National Philoptochos is the largest women’s Christian charitable organization in the U.S.

We are 27,000 strong nationwide!!

Our St. Andrew’s Women’s Philoptochos Society supports and helps those in need here in our community and beyond. Philoptochos assists the elderly, the sick and the poor. We give to Orthodox missions, IOCC, St. Basil’s Academy, local hospitals, neighborhood food pantry and other places. Philoptochos works to make the lives of others better.

We pray you choose to be part of St. Andrew’s Women’s Philoptochos in your time, talent, and support. It is only through your generous commitment that we are able to pursue our philanthropic mission.

Suggested Annual Stewardship Donation: $40.00

To be distributed as follows:

National Philoptochos: $15.00 & Metropolis Philoptochos: $6.00

Any additional amount supports the good works of our chapter.

Please print a copy of this form and complete the requested information.

Name ______

Spouse ______

_

Address ______

City ______State ______Zip ______

Phone Number ______Cell Number______

Email ______Donation Amount $______

Please make check payable to St. Andrew’s Women’s Philoptochos Society (SAWPS)

Mail your check and this form to:

St. Andrew’s Women’s Philoptochos Society

Attn: Membership

5649 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660

Whether you can help for one hour or spend the day with us, your time is appreciated!!

Please indicate the SAWPS activities that interest you:

____Holy Cross Vesper/Names Day –Sept. 13 & 14

____ Blanket Making – October. & January

____IOCC Walkathon – September or October

____ Nursing Home – November/month may vary

____Thanksgiving Food Baskets – November

____St. Andrew’s Vesper/Names Day – November 29 & 30

____Christmas Food Baskets – December

____Dinner Dance Committee - December

____Christmas Dinner Outing – December

____Vasilopita/Coffee Hour – January

____Feed the Hungry/Annunciation Cathedral – January

____Go Red Sunday – February

____Lenten Lunch/Veneration of Holy Cross - March

____Glendi Committee – February/March

____Spring Event - April

____Baking - Lent and/or when needed – Month varies

____Bake Sale/Palm Sunday – Month varies

____End of Year Dinner Outing - June

____Boutique - As needed/July Festival

____Breakfast/Dinner Meetings - Coordinate

____Bulletin Board - Ongoing

____Public Relations - Ongoing

____Membership - Ongoing

____Programs for Monthly Meetings – Ongoing

Volunteer Form for Philoptochos – 2014 & 2015

St. Andrew’s Philoptochos invites ALL of the ladies in the parish to join in helping with any of the events listed below and to join us at our monthly meetings. Your time and talent is greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Vonnie Karafotias, Philoptochos President

Please put a X next to what you’d like to volunteer or attend.

Please put in Philoptochos box or email it to

December, 2014

___Sunday, December 7, 14, 15 & 28 St. Andrew’s Vasilopita - selling tickets

___Thursday, December 11 Christmas Dinner Outing – Location TBD

Sunday, December 14 Metropolis Christmas Open House

Special Trays – 2015

___Sunday, January 4 Vasilopita Tray

___Sunday, March 23 HC/HC Lenten Tray

January, 2015

___Sunday, January 4 Vasilopita/Sponsoring Coffee Hour

___Tuesday, January 27 Soup Kitchen – Annunciation Cathedral

February, 2015

___Sunday, February 1 Go Red Sunday/Sponsoring Coffee Hour

___Friday, February 6 Glendi Set-up 6pm (church)

___Saturday, February 7 Glendi – Fellowship 6pm & Dinner 7pmi

March, 2015

___Sunday, March 15 4th Annual Lenten Luncheon

___Saturday, March 28 Bake-a-thon – 9:30 am (Palm Sunday Bake Sale)

Name:______

Phone:______Email:______

Please Note: Dates and Times Subject for change. Check your weekly bulletin, Anchor and emails