For more than eight decades, The Hellenic Women’s Club activities have embodied the values of selflessness and achievement for the benefit of others. Through the generosity of our continued sustaining sponsors and our fundraising events the EOK supports a variety of worthy causes, including, but not limited to those listed below. Please consider supporting our philanthropic endeavors by making a donation towards the EOK's established charities.
THE DEMETRA FUND
The EOK's Demetra Fund for Breast Cancer Research and Patient Assistance provides funds for internationally recognized research focused on basic science, clinical research programs and/or patient care.
GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The EOK provides scholarships to deserving young women who are USA citizens of Greek-American heritage based on academic achievement, community service and leadership.
American farm school - tuition support
Seeks to educate youth and adults to become professionally accomplished in agriculture, ecology and life sciences in order to make Greece and its neighbors a better place.
BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL - THALASSEMIA RESEARCH
Works to understand the causes of cancer and blood diseases and to develop better treatments. The main research focus is clinical trials in non-malignant blood disorders, including thalassemia and iron overload, ITP and hemophilia.
HELLENIC WOMEN'S BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION - HELLENIC NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTER
Seeks to provide long-term health care to the acutely ill and those with memory impairment in an environment of compassion and quality of life. In addition, rehabilitation services are also provided.
MASS-GENERAL INSTITUTE FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE (MIND) - ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH
Strives to translate laboratory discoveries into prevention, treatment and cures for Alzheimer's, ALS, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases. MIND seeks to accelerate therapies that lessen the devastating toll of these diseases on patients and families.
Metropolis of Boston Camp
Provides scholarships and enrichment programs to help campers foster a lifelong appreciation and love for their faith and cultural heritage.
PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND - INFANT AND TODDLER PROGRAM - TOY LENDING LIBRARY
Provides education and services that build productive, meaningful lives for children and adults, starting at a young age who are blind, deaf blind, or visually impaired with or without other disabilities.
PHILOXENIA HOUSE
Under the direction of the Metropolis of Boston, this Orthodox Home of Hope provides a "home away from home" for those who come mainly from Greece but also from around the US and the world for medical treatment of serious illness.
ROSIE'S PLACE
Provides a safe and nurturing environment for poor and homeless women in order to maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives.
SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
HELLENIC COLLEGE HOLY CROSS SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY - EOK SCHOLARSHIP
Supports a student from the School of Theology who is a USA citizen of Greek heritage.
WELLESLEY COLLEGE - EOK SCHOLARSHIP
Enables talented young women who are USA citizens of Greek-American heritage to pursue the dream of a college education.
CHARITY REVIEW
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Elaine Zouzas Thibault, Chair
Jane P. Kourtis, Ex-Officio
Janice Panagako, Ex-Officio
Jean Speare Canellos
Pamela Lazares
Frances Economos Levas
Andrea Argeros Mihos
Jamie Monovoukas
Mary Papastavros
Susan Anton Pasanen
Diane Triant
EOK SPECIAL APPEALS & MAJOR GIFTS
In addition to the many established charities that the EOK supports annually, the Club has a unique Special Appeals and Major Gift program. These programs allow for additional donations to be made to support timely and sometimes urgent philanthropic needs.
Made at the request of an EOK member, a Major Gift can be used to fund larger projects and in many cases, pledges that are funded over a span of three years. Past major gifts have included donations to the Maliotis Cultural center, The Archbishop Iakovos Library at Hellenic College, the Mosiac Floor restoration at the Museum of Fine Arts and the Boston One Fund.
During the fiscal year 2016-2017, two major gifts were made. The first was to the rebuilding fund for the Ionian Village located in the Greek Peloponnesus. A devastating tornado in the fall of 2016 swept through the campgrounds just weeks after the final campers had left the summer program. For over forty years, The Ionian village has connected Greek Orthodox young people from across the globe and thanks to many donors like the EOK, the camp was able to rebuild and reopen in the summer of 2017. A second major gift was made to the Metropolis Camp of Boston located in Contoocook New Hampshire where youths in grades 3-12 from across New England gather to connect with God and each other. This gift provided scholarships for a number of girl campers attending the summer camp. These scholarships were made in memory of Fotini Tournas, sister of His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios who had recently passed away.
Special Appeals requests, also made at the suggestion of a member, can be used for smaller yet equally impactful donations. Through last year's program a donation was made to Pencils of Promise (PoP), an educational nonprofit promoting global education for all. PoP has built more than 400 schools around the world, believing that every child should have access to quality education. Other Special Appeals donations have included, Belle of the Ball, Beacon Academy, Horizons for Homeless Children, MedFlight and Neighbor Brigade to name just a few.
EOK Special Appeals and Major Gifts Given Throughout the Years
Anatolia College
Archbishop Iakovos Library – Hellenic College
Battered Women Fight Back
Belle of the Ball
Boston Ballet
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Children’s Aids Program – Boston Medical Center
College Year in Athens
Doctors Without Borders
Girls, Inc. of Lynn
Globe Santa
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of New England
Greek Orthodox Metropolis Camp
Harvard University – Rare Greek Book Collection
Hellenic Chronicle Digitization Preservation Project
Horizons for Homeless Children
IOCC Refugee Relief Effort
Ionian Village Tornado Relief Fund
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston (camp program, youth ministries, mosaic cross for retreat center)
Lighthouse Charitable Foundation
Lupus Foundation
Maliotis Cultural Center
Massachusetts 9/11 Fund
Massachusetts Cystic Fibrosis
Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center
Museum of Fine Arts
New England Conservatory of Music
Pine Street Inn
Project Mexico and St. Innocent Orphanage
The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division -- COVID-19 Emergency Disaster Services and Food Insecurity Program
Sickle Cell Anemia Scholarship Fund
St. Basil’s Academy Educational Fund
St. Nicholas Church, NYC, 9/11 Fund
Starlight Foundation
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Tufts University Dental School COVID-19 Research Project