How YOU Helped in 2022: IOCC’s Annual Report
The year 2022 brought with it an increased need for IOCC’s services. Conflict in Ukraine overturned millions of lives during the year and continues to do so. With your overwhelming generosity, IOCC’s multifaceted response took shape swiftly, and it grew to include new and expanded partnerships with funders and on-the-ground implementers alike. Internally, a more robust and extensive institutional framework took shape, strengthening IOCC’s capacity for service into the future. Even as IOCC grew its response structures across Europe, global needs remained. Our other programs in Africa, the Middle East, the US, and the Caribbean served hundreds of thousands with IOCC’s unique expertise. Learn more about your impact in IOCC’s 2022 Annual Report.
Praying for Greece amid Fires
As communities across Greece face rampant wildfires, especially on the island of Rhodes, IOCC invites our friends and supporters to pray for everyone affected.
IOCC’s team is closely monitoring developments and is in communication with Apostoli, the humanitarian arm of the Archdiocese of Athens. A gift to IOCC’s International Emergency Response Fund helps address immediate needs following disasters like this one and also supports long-term recovery efforts. Your gift today helps IOCC respond quickly to emergencies like this all over the world.
Help our neighbors in need. Donate today at iocc.org/greecefires23.
Volunteers in Action
Thank you to the IOCC volunteers across the country who support our mission every day!
Ann Arbor, MI
July 9 was the Annual IOCC International Coffee Hour at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Ann Arbor, Michigan! The coffee fellowship after Divine Liturgy brought together strong supporters of IOCC who celebrated its worldwide efforts while raising funds in support of its essential work. The parishioners had a good time celebrating the ethnic diversity of their church family and tasting delicious dishes cooked by their fellows, such as Polish sausage, Scottish shortbread, French pâtisserie, and Syrian halvah, just to name a few. The organizers will continue this collection through August of this year. A heartfelt thanks go to Pandora Katsikas and Philoptochos members who organized this annual event and who have supported IOCC’s work for more than 30 years. We also thank all the parishioners who brought their signature dishes, and all the volunteers who made this event a great success!
Virginia
Cathy P. from Virginia (pictured above, right) facilitated a Girl Scout project on behalf of IOCC that included educating Sunday School students on the importance of caring for people in need and assembling 200 kits full of school supplies for the IOCC school kit program! This project was supervised by IOCC’s Marketing Manager, Christina Meares. For her efforts, Cathy received the Girls Scout Gold Award! Thank you, Cathy, for putting together this wonderful project, and we congratulate you on this amazing achievement!
Volunteers Needed in Western Kentucky
Under a grant from the American Red Cross, IOCC has been on the ground in Western Kentucky since January 2023 in response to the 2021 tornadoes. Volunteers have worked on 23 homes across three counties in Western Kentucky. To help get more beneficiaries back in their homes, IOCC is looking for volunteer teams and individuals through October of 2023. Room and board are available for out-of-town volunteers. Volunteers are welcome to help a day, a week, or longer at a time. Please contact Krista Hamann, US Administrative Project Assistant, at volunteercoordinator@iocc.org or 667.331.9812.
Help Us Plan Fall Events Now
Summer vacation is here, and we hope you’ll have time to relax and enjoy time with your loved ones. AND… this is also a great time to think about scheduling an IOCC in-person or virtual event for the fall. Please let the Outreach team know what you’re planning, so we can support you with the event preparations. And don’t be afraid to get creative! Reach us at 410.243.9820 or outreach@iocc.org to start the conversation—we look forward to hearing from you!
Run a Race or Create Your Own Fundraiser with IOCC!
Are you looking for a powerful way to give? IOCC has a way to fundraise that uses your passion to help those in need. Run a race, dedicate your birthday, celebrate a loved one or wedding—and help those in need at the same time. Our DIY (do-it-yourself) fundraising platform allows you to create a personal page and collect donations to improve the lives of families facing disasters around the world. Is there anything better than knowing you’ve rallied your community to help others? Get started here: iocc.org/diy.
Growing Businesses & Promoting Economic Stability in Greece
“For the first time,” he said, “I don’t feel alone in this, and I feel confident [I can] disengage myself from the production process and commit mainly to implementing my business plan and promoting my company.”
This is what Vasilis said after participating in IOCC’s business mentoring program in Greece. His company processes lemon juice for cooking, baking, and salads, and now it’s growing.
For more than a decade, families in Greece have faced intense economic pressure—still they remain committed to finding a path forward. Since 2015, working with Apostoli, the humanitarian arm of the Archdiocese of Athens, IOCC has helped small agricultural and manufacturing enterprises grow and expand their markets through a special mentoring program.
Read the rest of the story here.
Upcoming Events
Interested in planning your own virtual or in-person event to raise awareness about IOCC? Get one on the calendar today! We’d love to help you organize, so please contact IOCC’s Outreach team at 410.243.9820 or outreach@iocc.org.
Check for updates at iocc.org/events. And thank you for partnering with us!
- September 16 – Denver, CO: IOCC Pan-Orthodox 5K Run/Walk
- September 24 – Pittsburgh, PA: Ukrainian Relief Dinner & Prayer Service
- September 24 – St. Louis, MO: 21st Annual IOCC Banquet
- September 30 – Chicago, IL: Walk the Walk for IOCC
- October 3 – Virginia Beach, VA: St. Nicholas Golf Tournament
- October 7 – Charlotte, NC: A Taste of IOCC
- October 13 to 15 – Richmond, VA: Serving for Charity Tennis Tournament Weekend to Benefit IOCC
- October 16 – Cleveland, OH: Wine Tasting to Benefit IOCC
- October 19 – Pittsburgh, PA: Oktoberfest Happy Hour
- October 29 – Philadelphia, PA: 12th Annual Banquet to Benefit IOCC
IOCC Is Hiring!
Bring your expertise to an organization making a difference around the world, and join our team. Know someone who would be a perfect fit? Please pass this info along to them! For full job descriptions and application instructions, visit iocc.org/careers.
- Program Officer for the Middle East
- Project Coordinator for the Programs Department
- Human Resources Generalist
- Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Officer
- Director of Communications
- Global Knowledge and Information Systems Lead
- Development Officer, West Coast
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