OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
CATHEDRAL ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION
Contact: Ron Canakaris (rcanakaris@montag.com) at 404-836-7113
Purpose: Established solely for the benefit of the parish, the foundation seeks contributions that will be held by the foundation in perpetuity. Income from the Foundations investments will be expended only by the Parish Assembly to further its long term goals, objectives and ministries. The value of all contributed gifts will be perpetually maintained in the Endowment and prudently invested in accordance with Georgia laws and the by-laws of the Foundation. With these investments, the Foundations Board of Directors will strive to produce income that ensures the growth and prosperity for our parish for generations to come.
HELLENIC TOWER
Contact: John Kalinoglou, Chairman (kalinoglou@aol.com) 770-491-3322
Membership open to: All senior citizens age 62 and up.
Purpose: The Hellenic Tower is low-income senior apartment living, located in north Sandy Springs, with 125 one-bedroom apartments, convenient to grocery stores, shopping centers and MARTA. The Hellenic Tower offers activities, a wellness clinic, library, beauty shop, laundry rooms on each floor and transportation to grocery stores & shopping, as well as 24-hour staffing, emergency pull cords smoke detectors and sprinklers.
HOSPITAL / NURSING HOME / SHUT-IN MINISTRY
Contact: Fr. Christos (frchristos@atlgoc.org) at 404-633-5870.
Purpose: To reach out and offer God's healing touch to the ill, infirm and aged. Visitations are made by the clergy on a regular basis and also periodically by our various organizations.
WITNESS TO CHRIST'S LOVE
Contact: Ginnie Roglin (ginnie@atlgoc.org) at 404-633-5870.
Membership: All are invited to participate.
Purpose: To complement our Hospital / Nursing Home / Shut-in Ministry by visiting, helping, befriending and caring for those who are in nursing homes.
GARDEN CLUB
Contact: Pete Soulimiotis at 770-414-4673
Membership open to: Everyone
Fee: None
Purpose: The Garden Club meets at the Cathedral to help beautify the grounds, by planting flowers, removing trash and debris, and keeping the over-all look of the flower beds in pristine condition.
PAREA
Contact: Stella Vaughn at 404-296-7532
Membership open to: All Ladies of the Parish
Fee: None except for outings.
Purpose: PAREA meets once a month for lunch at various venues to engage in Christian Witness and Fellowship.
G.O.O.Fs.—Greek Orthodox Old Fellows
Contact: Mike Balsamides at 404-321-4492.
Membership open to: Everyone
Fee: None
Meetings are held: In the Kafenion on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and on Friday’s from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with a full breakfast offered on Fridays.
Purpose: G.O.O.Fs. is an organization that meets to engage in Christian witness and Fellowship.
Activities: Besides the breakfast that is offered, the G.O.O.Fs. also have the opportunity to play games in the Kafenion as well as watch television programs from around the world, usually from Greece. The G.O.O.Fs. have also participated in many tours such as CNN and Chick-fil-a, and have special cook-outs throughout the year.
COMMUNITY CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
A.H.E.P.A.—American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
Contact: William Simitses, President (wsimitses@yahoo.com) at (404) 847-9416
Participation open to: Men 21 years of age or older
Fee: $80 per year ($60 per year for Seniors 65 years of age or older)
Meetings are held: On the 3rd Thursday of every month except in July at the A.H.E.P.A. Apartments #1.
Purpose: To promote Hellenism, Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and individual excellence with projects in the community and surrounding areas.
Activities: Monthly meetings, annual Fellowship Dinner to raise money for scholarships, preparing dinner for the Metropolis of Atlanta Winter Youth Rally, the Empty Stocking Fund, Guardian Angel for the Metropolis Diakonia Center, and ongoing church support. Activities in the past have included Project Faith, Twin Pillars, Statue Tribute for the 1996 Summer Olympics and various charitable contributions to I.O.C.C., Greek School, and R.O.T.C.
DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE—MENELAOS CHAPTER
Contact: Carrie Pribas (gjp2333@comcast.net) at 770-552-0843
Participation open to: Women 21 years of age or older.
Fee: Initiation fee is $60 and annual dues are $45
Meetings are held: On the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the A.H.E.P.A. One House
Purpose: This is the Women’s Auxiliary of A.H.E.P.A. The mission is to promote Hellenism, Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and individual excellence with projects in the community and surrounding areas. Currently the national projects are Penelope House, St. Basil’s Academy and A.H.E.P.A. educational scholarships
Activities: Baking Kourambiedes for the Greek Festival; hosting Fall Carnival for the children of the parish family and surrounding communities to raise money for national and local projects; Operation Christmas Child; Annual Bake Sale to raise money for national and local projects; Ronald McDonald House; Golden Group Luncheon, and Annual Christmas party and Spring Luncheon.
MAIDS OF ATHENA
Contact: Victoria Pavlopoulos (Victoria.pavlopoulos@gmail.com) at 770-367-5743
Participation open to: Young ladies of Hellenic descent between the ages of 14-27.
Meetings are held: Once a month. Dates and times TBD.
Fee: $20 Annual membership fee. $7 one-time initiation fee.
Purpose: To promote Hellenism, Education, Philanthropy, Civic responsibility, and family and individual excellence.
Activities: Meetings, various fundraisers, fun events such as ice skating, bowling, going for coffee, dinners and lunches.
Other Information: Through our philanthropy, we have made numerous contributions to charities such as St. Basil’s Academy, Cooley’s Anemia, Penelope House, Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Association. Scholarships are available for academic and financial purposes.
SONS OF PERICLES
Contact: Michael Hadjisimos (mhadjisimos@yahoo.com) at 404-550-5161
Participation open to: Men 18 years of age and younger.
Meetings are held:
Purpose: The young men’s auxiliary of the A.H.E.P.A.
Activities:
DANAOS SOCIETY
Contact: Nicholas C. Jones, President (nickcjones@comcast.net) at 770-436-6242
Participation open to: Any adult of the Orthodox Faith
Fee: $35 per year
Meetings are held: 4 times a year the year.
Purpose: Originally one of the main purposes was establishing dowries for the marriage of poor and orphaned girls of Greece, but Danaos has evolved into a society that supports the Cathedral and Youth of the community.
Activities: Annual Membership Dinner on May 3rd, the Feast of St. Peter of Argos, the patron saint of Danaos, as well as serving a meal to the Golden Group, and sponsoring the Sunday Coffee hour. Fundraisers including a golf tournament, raffle, etc. to support the Cathedral youth.
Other Information: In 2008, The Danaos Society celebrated its 100 year anniversary. The Danaos Society was also the the first fraternal organization connected to the Annunciation parish family The Society has also made two major contributions through its history: one to rebuild the Church of Living Springs of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, southwest of Argos, Greece, which was destroyed by and explosion. The second was to the Atlanta Greek Orthodox community, where generosity on the part of the Danaos Society’s leaders, combined with that of other Cathedral organizations and individuals, led to the purchase of the original Hellenic Center on Cheshire Bridge Road, which was later donated to the Annunciation Cathedral parish.
AGIA EKATERINI FRATERNITY
Contact: Elias Papanikolopoulos, President (kpoulos@bellsouth.net) at 404-248-1111 or 404-226-9401
Participation open to: Everyone
Fee: $35 per year
Meetings are held: Bi-monthly dinner meetings on Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m. in Carlos Hall.
Purpose: The Fraternity was founded in 1917 by parishioners from the village of Nedousa, near Kalamata, Greece. It was established to provide for the restoration and improvements of the village church in Nedousa, and assistance to fellow “patriotes” from this area of Greece.
Activities: Annual bake sale in March, a November banquet on the feast of Saint Katherine, an annual May picnic. Past activities include a donation to help rebuild the monastery of Mardaki (near Nedousa), construction of a road from Nedousa to other villages, relief funds for the victims of the 1986 Kalamata earthquake, and other charitable contributions over the years, both in the United States and Greece. The mosaic icon of St. Katherine, in the Cathedral narthex, was donated by Agia Ekaterini Fraternity.
ARCADIAN SOCIETY
Contact: Anna S. Plagianis, President (nikolesi@comcast.net) at 770-242-8722 or Spyros Kontoes at 404-636-7890 or George Skoufis (gskoufis@comcast.net) at 770-491-0592
Participation open to: Everyone who has origin, ancestry or descent from the prefecture of Arcadia, Greece.
Fee: $30 per year
Meetings are held: The society holds board meetings every 2 months, on varying days, and general membership meetings 4 times a year. Members are notified of meetings and other events by mail.
Purpose: the purpose of the Society is to bring together individuals with a common background to discuss issues that concern the region, to celebrate and commemorate events that took place in Arcadia, perpetuate customs and traditions, and work for philanthropic causes for the community in Atlanta, the Church and Arcadia.
Activities: The Society holds the annual “Macaronada” with the Laconian Society and Greek school, sponsors a Spring Picnic, commemorates the “Allosis tis Tripolis” in September and co-sponsors a Christmas Party with the Danaos Society. A January general membership meeting celebrates the cutting of the Vasilopita. Additionally, we hold various other fundraising activities to contribute to our Church and various other causes, such as volunteering at Greek Festivals of other area parishes,
including Athens, Cumming and Peachtree City. The Society has supported the Medical Fund of SAE, and has sent funds to Greece after the devastating Arcadian fires of 2007. It has bought Bibles for the Annunciation Day School, and sent funds to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and various other causes, totaling more than $38,000 in the last 10 years.
LACONIAN SOCIETY OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Contact: Gus Plagianis, President at 770-242-8722 or Poppy Skoufis at 770-491-0592
Participation open to: Anyone who is of Laconian origin, ancestry, or descent, whether by marriage or direct ancestry.
Meetings are held: General Assemblies are held three times a year. Board meetings are held every six week or as called by the president.
Purpose: The purpose of the society is purely social and benevolent in nature. It provides the opportunity to unite Laconians in the Atlanta area and neighboring states to create a forum to socialize, exchange information on major events in Laconia, Greece, and encourage, cultivate and promote social interaction among the Laconians, especially the youth.
Activities: Annual dinner dance with the Evrytanians, the Apokreatiki Makaronada with the Arcadians and the Greek School, an annual Artoclasia and memorial service for St. Nikon “Tou Metanoite”, patron saint of Laconia and for the 118 Spartans who were executed by the Germans in Monodendri; assistance in making pastries for the Atlanta Greek Festival. The Society usually goes on one or two field trips a year. It also remains active with the Atlanta-wide community by providing financial support and assistance to local churches, schools, and various other charitable organizations and individuals in the U.S. and Laconia, Greece.
Other Information: The Society was organized and established in 1984. The current membership is 114 members
PAN-CRETAN ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA—SAMARIA CHAPTER
Contact: John Doulgerakis, President (samaria.president@gmail.com) at 770-246-0669
Participation open to: Everyone with Cretan lineage and their families. Friends of Cretans are welcome to join as associate members
Fee: $20 per year ages 18 and older, Free to those under 18 years of age
Meetings are held: As deemed necessary.
Purpose: To promote and preserve the Cretan culture, customs and heritage
Activities: Besides holding social events throughout the year there is an Annual Cretan Glendi and a children’s dance group.
Other Information: Qualified students who are active members in good standing may apply for educational scholarships.
PAN-MACEDONIAN SOCIETY—PELLA SOCIETY OF GEORGIA
Contact: Eftichia Macris, President at 404-255-2315
Participation open to: Anyone interested to learn, share stories or news about Macedonia.
Fee: $25 per year for adults and $5 for students.
Meetings are held: In various homes
Purpose: To promote friendships, share experiences and keep the new of Macedonian importance alive.
Activities: The annual celebration of Clean Monday. Past activities have included: lectures, dinners, exhibits of books and pictures of the Macedonian struggle.
PAN-IKARIAN SOCIETY
Contact: Bill Androutsopoulos at 770-339-4064
Participation open to:
Meetings are held:
Purpose:
Activities:
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR HELLENIC STUDIES
Contact: Dr. George Kleris at 404-255-3456
Participation open to:
Meetings are held:
Purpose:
Activities:
ATLANTA HELLENIC LIONS CLUB
Contact: Romilos Ioannides (romilos33@bellsouth.net) at
Participation open to: Everyone
Meetings are held: The third Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m.
Purpose: To collect and provide prescription glasses for the needy. Also helps with the summer camp for the Blind, aids the Leader Dog Program, and Light House for the Blind of Greece. The organization currently has about 14 members.
HELLENIC ACADEMIC SOCIETY
Contact: Christos Kiriazis (ckhellas@aol.com) at 770-391-0908
Participation open to:
Meetings are held:
Purpose:
Activities:
HELLENIC WOMEN’S CULTURAL ASSOCIATION
Contact: Kiki Tsitsilianos (kikitsi@hotmail.com) at 678-289-6560
Participation open to: Everyone
Meetings are held: Monthly
Purpose: To promote the Greek language and culture in America.
Activities: Besides the monthly meetings, guest speakers are invited to attend.
GEORGIA FEDERATION OF HELLENIC ORGANIZATIONS
Contact:
Participation open to:
Purpose:.
Activities:
LYKION TON ELLINIDON
Contact: Margo Alexander at (Alexander.margo@gmail.com)
Participation open to: Anyone 5 years of age and older interested in learning about Greek Folk Dance
Meetings are held: Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at the Cathedral (August to May).
Fee: $120 per child per year
Purpose: The program educates the youth in areas of Dance, Music, Costume, Art, Language, History and Geography, to help keep the Greek culture alive. It currently has approximately 75-100 young people.
Activities: Atlanta Greek Festival, Greek Independence Day Celebration, H.D.F. (Hellenic Dance Festival), F.D.F. (San Francisco Dance Festival), dance recital, school performances, local Atlanta festivals.