CHICAGO – During the Seventeenth National Philoptochos Children’s Medical Fund Luncheon held on November 16 His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America designated the Sunday of the Good Samaritan each year (which is the 8th Sunday of Luke according to the Kanonion) as National Philoptochos Society Sunday.

The Archbishop addressed the gathering and praised the work and the value of Philoptochos and each one of its members, stating that “nothing you do is small or insignificant. Each fashion show, each festival of tables, each coffee hour that you host, has great value. Each member of Philoptochos has great value. This is because you work together, in every parish, in every Metropolis, and across our Archdiocese. You are an “army of αγάπη (love)” that conquers pain and anguish through generosity and kindness. You are a model of cooperation and collaboration for our Church. You prove that, “alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

The Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos, under the High Patronage of Archbishop Elpidophoros, and Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, hosted this year’s Seventeenth National Philoptochos Children’s Medical Fund Luncheon, with the main theme, Let Us Rejoice and Embrace the Children.

Established in 1989, the Children’s Medical Fund (CMF) has made a positive difference in the lives of children in the United States and throughout the world by donating close to $3 million to medical programs and facilities that offer care, treatment, innovative research and cures.

National Philoptochos President, Maria Logus and Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos President and Luncheon Chair, Pamela Argyris disbursed nearly $300,000 and announced the following 2019 Children’s Medical Fund Grant recipients:

1) Anchored in Hope, Lake Forest, IL; 2) Child’s Voice, Wood Date, IL; 3) Elyssa’s Mission, Northbrook, IL; 4) Hadley School for the Blind, Winnetka, IL; 5) Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, Chicago, IL; 6) Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL) Foundation Gages Lake, IL; 7) John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL; 8) University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary (IEEI), Chicago, IL; 9) Beacon Children’s Hospital, South Bend, IL; 10) Mental Health America of Northwest Indiana, Hammond, IL; 11) Unity Point Health, St. Luke’s Foundation, Sioux City, IL; 12) Fairview Foundation, St. Paul, IL; 13) Hennepin Health Foundation, Minneapolis, IL; 14) Family Forward, Brentwood, Children’s Home, St. Louis, IL; 15) University of Missouri Health Care, Columbia, IL; 16) Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis. IL;) Rogers Behavioral Health Foundation, Oconomowoc, IL.

Bishop Apostolos of Medeia, Philoptochos spiritual advisor, attended the event. Fr. Mark Munoz, Head Priest at Holy Anargyroi SS. Cosmas & Damianos Church in Rochester, MN. was the keynote speaker. A special honor was presented to Anastasia Michals of Blessed Memory, Chair of the Sixteenth Children’s Medical Fund Luncheon. Serving as Emcee for the afternoon was Andrea Darlas, Senior Director for Constituent Engagement at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.