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 January 29, 2008
Department of Philanthropy Tel.: 212.774-0283
FACT-FINDING VISIT TO GREECE
New York, NY ?His Grace Bishop Andonios, Director of the Departmentt of Philanthropy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, arrived yesterday, January 28, 2008 in Greece to personally visit areas affected by this past summer's wildfires. This is to be a fact-finding visit which will afford His Grace the opportunity to meet with local Metropolitans and Civil Authorities of the devastated areas and to see first hand what assistance is needed. Accompanying the Bishop are Constantine Triantafilou, Executive Director of International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) and Fr. Angelo Pappas from Portsmouth, NH, a trained First Responder. Both individuals visited Greece at the onset of the fires and have extensive knowledge of the devastation.
Upon his return to the United States, Bishop Andonios will report to His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios and the other members of the Special Committee of the Greek Fire Relief Fund, which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, February 6, 2008. Since its last meeting, the Committee has received a number of proposals regarding relief projects. This fact-finding mission by His Grace will enable the Committee to have greater insight into the scope of these proposals as well as the needs of those people affected by the devastation. To date, the Fund has collected $3,903,441.