GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0215 Web: http://www.goarch.org Email: communications@goarch.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 6, 3007
Contact: Nikki Stephanopoulos Tel.: 212.774-0244
ARCHDIOCESE MOBILIZES APPEAL FOR THE BIRTHPLACE OF DEMOCRACY
New York - In a continuing effort to maximize the assistance offered to the victims of the fires in Greece, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America launched a major campaign to heighten the awareness of the general public to the devastation caused by this calamity. On Wednesday, the New York Times and USA TODAY, with a combined circulation of well over 7,000,000 newspapers, included a full-page ad sponsored by the Archdiocese which contained an appeal from prominent Americans from across the nation for assistance for the Churchâ??s Greek Fire Relief Fund. The ad depicted a dramatic picture of the Winged Statue of Nike (Victory) which was threatened by the wildfires in Olympia, the birth-place of the Olympics. The ad will also appear this weekend in the Chicago Tribune and in the Los Angeles Times.
Enthusiastically supporting this campaign and whose names appear in the ad are: Senators Paul Sarbanes and Olympia Snowe, New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg as well as Hollywood celebrities Melina Kanakaredes, Nia Vardalos, Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks, Maria Menounos and Jim Geanopoulos. Also part of these ads are Nicholas Bouras, Margo and George Behrakis, John Calamos, Margo and John Catsimatidis, Mary and Michael Jaharis, Helen and Peter Kikis, Anthony Limberakis, Georgia Skeadas and Faye and Alex Spanos.
As is known, at the onset of the disaster, the Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America issued a special encyclical which requested all parishes to offer special prayers on behalf of all those who have been adversely affected by this disaster and a special collection to take place in all churches for the Greek Fire Relief Fund.
Archbishop Demetrios of America has appointed a Special Committee of prominent Greek Americans who will oversee and coordinate the collection and distribution of monies raised by the Archdiocese through the Greek Fire Relief Fund. Serving as Special Advisor to the Archbishop is Andrew Natsios, who as former director of US AID, has tremendous experience in offering assistance to beleaguered nations.
Contributions can be made by visiting the Archdiocese website at www.goarch.org.