Leadership 100 Approves $8.2 Million in Grants, including $5 Million for St. Nicholas National Shrine
The Leadership 100 Board of Trustees, in a historic vote, approved a total of $8.2 million in grants, including a grant of $5 million toward the St. Nicholas National Shrine and $3,174,158 million in additional grants, bringing the total of grants distributed since the founding of Leadership 100 to $60 million. The vote took place on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at the 29th Annual Leadership 100 Conference in Palm Beach, which concluded on Sunday, February 23, according to Chairman Argyris Vassiliou.
“We wanted to respond to the priorities of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros by offering the fullest participation possible in supporting the St. Nicholas National Shrine and ministry. Our action demonstrates the support of Leadership 100 in ensuring the realization of this significant national symbol for our Church and our Nation,” Vassiliou said.
The St. Nicholas grant will be paid over the next two fiscal years, $2.5 million in 2020 and $2.5 million in 2021. The Executive Committee had approved the grant, along with additional new and prior year grants of $3,174,158.
In addition to the required Executive Committee approval of all grants, the decision was made to submit the St. Nicholas grant to the full Board of Trustees for their support because of its significance.
Additional new grants included:
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Information Technologies Department - $500,000 for the Modernizing Archdiocesan Technology – Telecom and Systems Redesign.
The Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries - $270,000 for the Metropolis Camping Ministries to support each of the eight Metropolis camps as well as one for the Direct Archdiocesan District.
Hellenic College/Holy Cross - $250,500 for Certificate in Youth/Young Adult Leadership.
Hellenic College/Holy Cross - $250,000 for Real Estate Advisory Services.
The Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations - $100,000 over two years ($50,000 per year) for the Orthodox Christianity and Mental Health.
The Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries - $90,000 over three years ($30,000 per year) for the Youth Safety Education to ensure compliance with the newly adopted Policies for the Safety of Children and Youth.
The Hellenic College/Holy Cross Office of Vocation & Ministry - $80,000 for the Training Our Leaders in Transformative Value of Excellent Fundraising Practices.
The Department of Stewardship, Outreach and Evangelism - $76,200 for the Home Mission Parish Program.
The Office of Ionian Village - $74,558 for the IV Next 2020.
The Project Mexico and St. Innocent Orphanage - $65,000 for the Project Mexico Harvest 100 to support volunteers and interns building new homes.
Ancient Faith Radio - $60,000 for the National/Global Orthodox Digital Media Expansion Project to create three remote studios in order to expand its reach and programming.
The Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations - $50,000 for the International Project and Partner Engagement.
The Spanish Ministry Initiative - $50,000 for the Clergy Conference for Spanish Ministry.
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco - $50,000 for the 2020 Young Adult League Conference.
The Center for Family Care - $15,000 for the Clergy Couple Care - Inaugural National Clergy Couple Retreat.
The St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine - $12,500 for the Costas Balafas – Photographic Hierarchy on Mount Athos 1969-2001 Exhibit.
The Department of Stewardship, Outreach & Evangelism - $5,000 for the Inter-Orthodox Missions, Outreach & Evangelism Roundtable.
Prior year grants included:
Hellenic College/Holy Cross Scholarship Program - $1,000,000 (second year of a ten-year grant totaling $10 million).
The Small Parish Program - $105,000 for second year funding of a $330,000 three-year grant.
The Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University - $50,000 (third year of five-year grant totaling $250,000) for the Affirming an Orthodox Christian Theology of Human Rights to develop an international research initiative and publish analyses of Orthodox Christianity’s engagement of human rights issues.
The Office of Ionian Village - $15,000 for the IV On-The-Go (third year of a five-year grant totaling $75,000) to organize eleven retreats that seek to replicate the Ionian Village experience in parishes within the United States.
Retired Clergy in Need Program - $5,400.
