“It’s all about the children,” said Father. Michael Palamara, one of hundreds of Greek-American faithful gathered on the beautiful park terrace in Queens, New York, to attend the archbishop’s gala on November 17, 2024.

In addition to celebrating the feast of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America on November 2, the now annual gala raises critical funds for the archdiocese’s youth summer camp scholarship fund, providing financial assistance to youth throughout the archdiocese and enabling them to attend Greek Orthodox summer camps. regardless of their financial situation.

Thanks to the generosity of last year’s donors, the 2023 Inaugural Gala enabled 275 youth to participate in summer camping ministries, distribute funds to the Ionian Village, every Metropolis summer camp and start a scholarship fund for future campers.

This year’s gala was an even greater success, led by co-chairs Stephanie Litsakis Clark and Fr. Panteleimon Papadopoulos, who highlighted the importance of summer camping ministries in the lives of our youth. The Archons, members of Leadership 100 and other esteemed guests at the gala donated more than $400,000 to the fund, which will allow more young members of our archdiocese to attend these ministries.

Addressing To the participants of the gala, His Eminence expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to “achieve something for the faithful children of the ecumenical throne: their progress, as we pray in the Divine Liturgy, “in life, in faith and in spiritual understanding.

He also emphasized that the archdiocese’s camping ministries are not “some kind of innovation – a gimmick to instill our faith and traditions” but “are entirely consistent with the oldest, first principles of our Church “. At our summer camping ministries, youth devote themselves “to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, and to the breaking of bread, and to their prayers,” just as the early Christians did in Acts 2:42 .

These camps “provide a unique opportunity for young people to grow in their faith by taking them out of the techno world in which they continually inhabit and bringing them back into nature… Our camps are refuges for our young people,” His Eminence. stressed. These experiences need not be limited to those of financial means, which makes fundraisers such as the Archbishop’s Gala and the archdiocese’s summer youth camp scholarship fund. As His Eminence maintains: “There are people in need and families who cannot afford the luxury of a Greek Orthodox summer camp. We must make these transformative experiences financially accessible to every child who wants to participate.

These sentiments were echoed by the participants. Presvytera Meghan Karloutsos, herself a former camp counselor, said that “going to Camp St. Paul is life-changing. We need to give as many kids as possible the chance to go, because it’s truly life-changing. » Another participant, Ms. Irene Stellas Ferranti, spoke of the transformative effect that the camp has on so many children: “the week is so special because it fills the children and the animators with peace and light.” Whether it’s lighting bonfires, watching fireflies or praying together daily, “there are lots of ways for kids to feel like they belong,” Ferranti said.

Donations to the Archdiocesan Youth Summer Camp Scholarship Fund may be made. here.

Photos: GOARCH/Brittainy Newman.