On Sunday, September 24, 2023 the IOCC Pittsburgh Metropolitan Committee plans to hold it’s second prayer service and fundraising dinner that will benefit our Ukrainian brothers and sisters. This “Ukrainian Relief” gathering will be held at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Pittsburgh, PA. We would like to cordially invite your Parish to attend, and support IOCC’s aid efforts in Ukraine. The recent conflict has been devastating. It has resulted in the displacement of fourteen million people that are now hungry, homeless, and lacking essential items. (Please see material below)
From 2013-2018, we held six similar efforts to benefit Syrian Relief. Up to 650 people attended these annual gatherings, and we were able to send over $300,000 to IOCC. Glory to God! In past gatherings we were blessed to have Metropolitan JOSEPH, Metropolitan ANTONY, Metropolitan SAVAS, Archbishop MELCHISEDEK, Archbishop MITROPHAN, Archbishop DANIEL, Archbishop GREGORY, and Bishop THOMAS in attendance. We have also had several non-Orthodox religious leaders in attendance – and are expecting Catholic Bishop Zubik to attend this year.
At these gatherings we strive to spend as little money as possible in the logistics of holding this event. Our greater Pittsburgh region has lovingly donated almost all of the food and supplies in past years, and we are prayerful that we can continue this tradition. Our goal is to pass the maximum amount of money through to IOCC in their Ukrainian aid efforts. (As a reminder IOCC is typically able to obtain $7 worth of grant/other money for each $1 we raise. Last year we were able to pass $57,000 through to IOCC at our Ukrainian event. By this historical measure, our community’s efforts were able to contribute approximately $400,000 of total aid to Ukraine).
In Christ,
Nicholas E. Terezis, Chairman
IOCC Pittsburgh Metropolitan Committee
740-282-5198 · nterezis@mstrategic.com
TO VIEW/DOWNLOAD PDF OF IOCC UKRAINE RESPONSE CLICK HERE
TO VIEW PDF OF THE FOLLOWING IMAGES CLICK HERE.
IN PDF, IMAGES HAVE LINKS AVAILABLE WHERE INDICATED.
We need your help in the following ways:
- Attend the Event – Reserve tables for your Parishioners and attend as a group. Encourage the philanthropic organizations within your Church to participate and help as a group. See Flyer for reservation details.
- Enlist a Liaison – Assign a liaison from your Parish that can help sell tickets. We have included 6 tickets for you to help us sell (and a signup sheet to keep track of reservations). We can send you more. Please call Zelfa for questions or details at 412-417-4706.
- Make a Donation – Consider making a group Church donation (perhaps pass a tray). Bring the donation to the gathering, or send it to Nick Terezis (c/o IOCC, 306 Marberry Dr. Pittsburgh, PA 15215), Please make the check payable to IOCC and write “Pittsburgh - Ukrainian Relief” in the memo. Donations from individuals are also welcome. Additionally, credit card donations can be made on IOCC’s website at iocc.org/pittsburgh.
- Sponsorship & Ad Book - Advertise as a Business or Individual in our Sponsorship and Ad Book. Click here for the Sponsorship form.
- Festival Donation Jar – Consider having a IOCC Ukrainian Relief donation container at the check out line of your festival. (Thank you Holy Trinity G/O Church of Pittsburgh for doing this last year!!)
- Volunteer to Help at the Dinner – PLEASE volunteer to help during the day of the event (September 24), AND encourage your Church Youth Group to volunteer. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Zelfa at 412-417-4706. Note: all leftover food from the event will be donated to The Neighborhood Resilience Project and local Food Panties.
- Build Awareness – Please place the Event Flyer in your church bulletin, post it on your bulletin board, and verbally encourage friends to attend.
- Pray – Most importantly, pray for our Ukrainian Brothers and Sisters in Christ, and for all people risking their safety to deliver aid.
We are hoping that this gathering will help to foster more frequent collaborations in our Pittsburgh region – where all of the Orthodox faithful come together, in Christ, to aid one another when tragedies occur in our ethnic homelands. Thank you for your love and help in the ministry of IOCC.
In Christ,
Nicholas E. Terezis, Chairman
IOCC Pittsburgh Metropolitan Committee
740-282-5198 · nterezis@mstrategic.com
SPONSOR EVENT
To sponsor the the event, download the form by clicking on form image.
VOLUNTEER AT EVENT
To volunteer at the event, click on the plate of food image!
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