WASHINGTON, DC – The Daughters of Penelope (DOP) kicked off the New Year by launching a national project series which will include weekly webinars on each of their national projects through February. The fourth webinar of the series was about the Daughters of Penelope Foundation, Inc., and live streamed on February 5, with Foundation President/DOP Past Grand President Anna-Helene Grossomanides, Foundation President Emeritus/DOP Past Grand President Sonja Stefanadis, and DOP Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Chair Antoinette Marousis Zachariades.

“The Daughters of Penelope Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1983 to promote the social, ethical, philanthropic, cultural, educational and intellectual interests of its members. The Foundation also preserves and promotes the ideals and traditions of Hellenism and supports the programs and goals of the Daughters of Penelope. The Daughters of Penelope Foundation, Inc. works hand-in-hand with the Daughters of Penelope and serves its members and the citizen’s where our members reside world-wide,” said Past Grand President Grossomanides.

Foundation Scholarship Chair Antoinette Marousis Zachariades gave a detailed presentation on the scholarship application process, noting that “this year the Foundation is proud to have available 19 perpetual scholarships and 9 annual scholarships in the amount of $31,500.”

Details on eligibility and how to apply are available on the Foundation’s website.

The Daughters of Penelope (DOP) Foundation, Inc. webinar presentation regarding the history of DOP scholarships was held on February 5. Photo: Elena Saviolakis

Past Grand President Stefanadis said, “in 1982, as outgoing Daughters of Penelope President, I recommended the newly elected Grand Lodge appoint a committee to investigate how to form a Foundation that would enable the Daughters of Penelope to perpetuate their programs. With that single sentence, steps to form the DOP Foundation were launched and finalized the following year at the Supreme Convention. Since its inception, the officers and directors have served as volunteers and had the responsibility of handling the educational scholarships. I am personally gratified and thankful to the many Sisters that have served our Foundation as officers and directors through the years. It is not a one-person job and without their support and the support of our members, we would not be where we are today. Our hope is to one day establish a Daughters of Penelope library at our Headquarters and to be able to grant full scholarships to students.”

Additional guest panelists included DOP Grand President Celia Kachmarski, Grand Secretary Georgette Boulegeris, Grand Governor Kathy Matrakas, and Executive Director Elena Saviolakis.

Grand President Kachmarski added, “the Foundation is more than a DOP national project. It is an arm of the DOP and does more than just administer the scholarship program. I had the honor and privilege to serve as President and Secretary of the Foundation about twenty years ago. I encourage our Sisters to learn more about the Foundation by visiting their website at www.dopfoundationinc.com.”

The fifth webinar of the national project series was about Penelope’s Place and was live streamed on February 11, with Health Imperatives’ CEO & President Julie Kehoe and Health Imperatives’ Vice President of Development and Community Relations Jennifer Allison.

More information is available online: www.daughtersofpenelope.org.