New York, NY – On Sunday, November 5, Capitale in New York City was adorned with the warmth and unity of over 500 attendees as they rejoiced in the revival of the cherished Archbishop's Nameday Gala. This historic Archdiocesan tradition, which once brought people from every corner of the Archdiocese together during the tenure of the late His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos, was joyfully resurrected by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. The Gala, following its original model, sought to raise funds for a worthy cause within the Archdiocese.
In its renewed form, the Archbishop's Nameday Gala proudly supported the newly established Youth Summer Camp Scholarship Fund. Archbishop Elpidophoros, in establishing this enduring Fund, demonstrates his unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child within the Archdiocese, regardless of their financial circumstances, can partake in the cherished Archdiocesan and Metropolis summer camps. This includes the crown jewel of our summer camping program, Ionian Village, nestled in Greece.
The evening, hosted by Anthoula Katsimatides, featured inspiring addresses from various distinguished speakers, including Gala Co-Chairs Stephanie Litsakis Clark and James Polos, Eva Konstantakos, the Archdiocesan Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Alexander Kuvshinoff, former Program Director of Ionian Village, and the Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, V. Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Papazafiropoulos.
Archbishop Elpidophoros, in his heartfelt reflections, stated, " The camps are very active places, but our young people find the inner rest that the Lord spoke of to His Disciples. That spiritual ἀνάπαυσις restores the balance to one’s walk with Christ. All of this is made possible by the Archdiocesan Youth Summer Camp Scholarship Fund, providing the children of the Archdiocese with equal access to the diverse programs throughout the Archdiocese, especially Ionian Village, which can be a challenge for many families. Your generosity will give these campers that life-changing opportunity to go away, for a little while, with the Lord and His ministers."
Following His Eminence's inspiring words, a poignant video presentation emphasized the crucial role that each individual, parish, and organization can play in transforming the lives of numerous young people across our Archdiocese. The video, narrated by Rev. Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Alexander Karloutsos and produced by MG Productions, fervently appealed to all the faithful.
During the culminating segment of the evening, attendees united to contribute generously to the new Scholarship Fund. The paddle raise was initiated by Vice-Chair of the Archdiocesan Council, John Catsimatidis, who graciously donated $25,000 and encouraged others to support this noble cause. By the end of the night, total contributions to the Scholarship Fund, including ticket sales and sponsorships, exceeded $400,000, with the donation portal still open for those wishing to contribute.
To view the video and support the Archdiocesan Youth Summer Camp Scholarship Fund, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCVHOx9TAB8 or donate at https://www.goarch.org/donate/nameday.
View all of the images from the gala here.
Photos: GOARCH/Brittainy Newman
