Race to Respond: Athletes for Team IOCC
Are you an avid walker, runner, or marathoner? Use your talents to support IOCC! Check to see if your city will have a walk, run, or marathon this fall, and consider leading a group for IOCC. Register your team and publicize it in advance to recruit other athletes without a team to your cause. Check out a sample page here and set your personal fundraising goal. Contact us to help get your team together by emailing outreach@iocc.org or calling 410.243.9820.
DIY for IOCC: We Need You
Do you have a wedding, baptism, or birthday coming up this summer? If you’d like to support IOCC with your special day, consider starting a personal fundraising page through IOCC’s website! Connect your family and friends with the work IOCC does and collect donations in support of IOCC programs around the world. Check it out atsupport.iocc.org/DIY, or email outreach@iocc.org to get started—and thank you!
Need IOCC Materials?
If you have an IOCC coffee hour coming up, or would just like to freshen up the materials you display at your parish, please don’t hesitate to contact an Outreach Coordinator by emailing outreach@iocc.org or calling 410.243.9820. We have a variety of brochures, newsletters, postcards, and other materials that will help you and others learn more about our work from the comfort of home!
Volunteers Needed in the US!
Want to help neighbors in need by volunteering right here in the US? We need volunteers to help with critical home repairs and builds! Several opportunities are now available for the upcoming summer:
- June 4-9 in Houston, TX
- June 11-16 in Houston, TX
- July 16-21 in Houston, TX
- July 23-28 in Houston, TX
- August 13-18 in Houston, TX
To register or learn more, visit iocc.org/homebuild. To read more about our long-term response after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, made possible by your support, click here.
Did You Know …?
To increase access to education in rural Uganda, IOCC in partnership with the St. Nektarios Education Fund built a new school in Lwemiyaga in 2014, including two rainwater-harvesting systems to collect water for laundry and washing. The school is run by the Uganda Orthodox Church, and now we are constructing a new dormitory there. The new dorm’s own rainwater-harvesting system, plus a modern latrine and shower, are currently in the works.
Meet five students you’re helping by visiting here.
We Met Our Match!
In October 2017, IOCC announced a $1 million matching challenge for projects in Greece—a gift from the Jaharis Family Foundation, Inc. The foundation challenged IOCC to raise $1 million in donations for IOCC’s Give for Greece program, offering to match gifts up to that amount dollar for dollar. IOCC issued the call, and you responded. From October 2017 through February 2018, you gave more than $1.2 million to help people in need in Greece: families, farmers, small businesses, refugees, schoolchildren, and more. You can read more about it on IOCC’s blog, or on Hellenic News of America, where they also picked up the press release.
IOCC Awareness Events
Organizing an IOCC event in your parish or community? IOCC Outreach is here to help you plan and publicize! To get your local IOCC event on the calendar, contact us atoutreach@iocc.org.
Pittsburgh, PA
For the second year in a row, faithful supporters in the Pittsburgh area used their athletic talent to raise awareness for IOCC at the Pittsburgh Marathon Weekend on May 5–6. Dean Stambolis, Catherine Weber, and Chris Weber raced in beautiful spring weather, supported by their friends and family in the local Orthodox community. Each made the most of their race by creating personal fundraising pages using IOCC’s DIY fundraising platform. IOCC is so grateful for the generous funds they raised and is excited to watch this team grow year after year. Thank you to Dean, Catherine, and Chris for running for a cause!
Denver, CO
Young adults gathered on May 19 at St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Greenwood Village for a Springtime Beer Garden event. The cold and rain didn’t keep people from enjoying an indoor picnic, complete with pretzels, bratwurst, and cold beverages. Along with the fellowship, the 30 participants learned about IOCC’s work from IOCC Frontliner Fr. Demetrios Kyritsis and Metropolitan Committee member Omar Rihani.Thanks to Danielle Xanthos and Alex Demos for putting together this great gathering, along with Epic Brewing Company for the donation!
Volunteers in Action
Let us know about your kit drives and IOCC presentations – email images and brief write-ups to outreach@iocc.org so we can feature them here. And thank you!
Virginia Beach, VA
Thanks to Louis Paulson, a Boy Scout in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Louis’s Eagle Scout project included acquiring funds and supplies needed to assemble 100 school kits. With the help of family and friends, he completed the project and delivered them directly to the warehouse in New Windsor. Thank you, Louis, and congratulations on your accomplishment!
Upcoming Events
Interested in planning your own event to raise awareness about IOCC? Get one on the calendar today! We’d love to send a speaker to your parish or event, so please contact us at 410.243.9820 or outreach@iocc.org. Thank you for bringing IOCC to your community!
Check for updates at iocc.org/events.
- June 2: Pawtucket, RI — Pan-Orthodox Vespers and Dinner for IOCC
- June 3: Cleveland, OH — IOCC Annual Banquet
- June 24: Hunt Valley, MD — IOCC Falafel Lunch
- June 26: Seattle, WA — Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser for IOCC
- July 15: Ann Arbor, MI — International Coffee Hour
- July 26: Pittsburgh, PA — Craft Beer Tasting
- August 25: Denver, CO — Pan-Orthodox 5K Run/Walk
- September 6: Pittsburgh, PA — Irish Whiskey Tasting
- September 29: Akron, OH — Akron Marathon
- October 13: Long Island, NY — Vespers & Reception to Benefit IOCC
- October 20: Baltimore, MD — TEAM IOCC at the Baltimore Running Festival
- October 21: Philadelphia, PA — Seventh Annual Benefit Banquet
- October 27: Charlotte, NC — Annual IOCC Benefit
- November 25: Albuquerque, NM — IOCC Sunday Coffee Hour
