DEPTFORD, NJ – Marking a decade supporting the humanitarian work of International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), Philadelphia-area volunteers hosted their 10th Anniversary Evening to Benefit IOCC at Adelphia Restaurant in Deptford on November 7.

For the last ten years, the all-volunteer Greater Philadelphia Committee of IOCC, chaired by Tony Pantazopoulos, has organized annual benefits supporting emergency relief and development programs both in the U.S. and around the world. Volunteers from various Orthodox jurisdictions make up the committee, reflecting wide support for IOCC’s mission across the area. The Philadelphia-area event is part of IOCC’s nationwide fundraising campaign, comprising almost exclusively volunteer-led local events. The organization’s Executive Director and CEO Constantine Triantafilou offered the keynote presentation at this year’s event.

“IOCC is incredibly grateful to our dedicated volunteers, both in Greater Philadelphia and across the country,” said Katrina Straker, IOCC’s Director of Development and Communications. “The pandemic has raised so many challenges, but it hasn’t stopped our supporters from working hard to support IOCC’s mission. Through IOCC, they are reaching around the world in the spirit of Christ’s love to serve people in need.”

While pandemic conditions limited in-person events in 2020, the Greater Philadelphia Committee and other volunteers across the U.S. found creative ways to continue their activities. This year, some events are moving forward with health-safety measures in place, and depending on local conditions and regulations.

Nationwide, individual volunteers and groups like the Philadelphia-area committee raise over $700,000 annually in support of IOCC’s global work.

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is the humanitarian relief and development agency of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops of the United States of America. Since its inception in 1992, IOCC has provided more than $742 million in humanitarian relief and sustainable development programs in over 60 countries worldwide. Today, IOCC applies its expertise in humanitarian response to natural and manmade crises in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, offering assistance based solely on need. Learn more at iocc.org and follow @IOCCRelief on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.