Philoptochos Society

2021 was a year which saw the Annunciation Philoptochos reinvent itself as a dynamic force in our church, the community, our city, and society at large. Seventy percent of the 7-member executive board is new and we increased membership 30% to 40+ women, men, girls and boys under the banner "Rebuild New York" during the worldwide pandemic. 

At one time the Philoptochos raised money in only two ways: membership dues and bake sales. With new members came new ideas. Programs now include our own projects as well as traditional participation in district-wide events: 

• a first ever wine sale

• 17,000 diapers donated to help at-risk families living in poverty via Manhattan’s Little Essentials

• 16,068 products donated to fight period poverty for NYC-based Her Village

• 78 pairs of gently used shoes collected for the Upper West Side’s Housing Works

Perhaps most poignantly, 29% of our 2021 income went to assisting our own parishioners when they were in need during the pandemic. Going forward, we are now passing an offering basket on the first Sunday of every month as well as holding a successful Autumn Appeal for funds to help those in need. 

Our local efforts were focused on: 

West Side Campaign Against Hunger’s supermarket-style food bank

Philoxenia’s pop up food pantries

The Goddard Riverside After School Program's Christmas Angel Tree 

We began a lecture series called “60 Minutes with…” which in its first season explored two relevant topics: 

• “Racism and the Orthodox Church: Understanding Our Past & Present to Shape Our Future,” and

• “Women in the Orthodox Church: Faith, Service and Leadership,” which spurred the creation of a Roundtable exploring how to engage young women, give them opportunities to deepen their faith, keep them in the faith, and strengthen our parish. 

Numerous girls and women now participatein facets of the Liturgy. Father Sotirios is working with both young women and men to equip them to play a greater role in the life of the church.

Reaching into the Annunciation community, the Philoptochos involved 4-12 year olds of JOY & HOPE in a Christmas card and ornament-making event for the residents of the St. Michael Home. We look forward to additional partnering with Annunciation ministries in the year to come. 

Female, or male, join us and become a member of the philanthropic arm of the Annunciation community and see what we can accomplish in 2022!

The Annunciation-Evangelismos actively supports the following charities

• • The Annual Vasilopita 

  • Saint Basil’s Academy

  • Agape Fund

  • Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)

  • Sisterhood of St. Basil Academy

  • Hellenic College Holy                                    

  • Social Services Cancer Fund

  • Cross Scholarship Fund

  • Autism Assistance Fund

  • Retired and Widowed Clergy

  • Saint Photios Shrine

  • Presbyteres Fund

  • Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC)

  • National Philoptochos Emergency Fund

  • Hellenic College Holy Cross

  • Ecumenical Patriarchate

  • International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC)

  • Sisterhood of Presbyteres

  • 75th Anniversary Founders Fund

  • Benevolent Fund

  • UNICEF General Medical Fund