Where Your Support Goes: 2026 Grant Snapshot
Because of your philanthropy, Leadership 100 continues to be the bedrock of our Archdiocese’s most vital programs.
$6.5 Million in new grants approved in 2026
Key Focus: Advancing Hellenic College Holy Cross, Youth & Young Adult Ministries, and modernizing Church IT infrastructure
Lifetime Impact: Over $89M will be distributed since our inception to sustain Orthodoxy in America
Each month, we highlight the tangible impact of our leadership in action and the difference our grants make in the community.
April Ministry Spotlights:
Investing in the Next Generation at Ionian Village
Fueling the Future of Global Advocacy: UN Girl Delegates Program
Investing in the Next Generation at Ionian Village
Each summer, Ionian Village brings together young people from across the country for an experience that is both immersive and transformative. As the national camping ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Ionian Village offers Orthodox teens and young adults the chance to deepen their faith, explore their Hellenic heritage, and form lifelong friendships in the breathtaking setting of western Peloponnese, Greece. Campers walk in the footsteps of saints, visit historic monasteries, and participate in a vibrant Orthodox community that has shaped more than 20,000 young people since 1970.
Leadership 100’s support is essential in making these experiences accessible to more families and sustaining the program’s long‑term impact. Through this generosity, young people are able to grow, explore, and return home with a renewed sense of purpose and confidence. As the next summer season approaches, Ionian Village stands as a powerful example of how investing in youth today helps cultivate the leaders of tomorrow.
A Ministry Rooted in Faith, Culture, and Transformation
Ionian Village is widely recognized for its unique blend of spiritual formation, cultural immersion, and community building. Campers disconnect from technology and daily distractions, embracing a rhythm of prayer, fellowship, and experiential learning. As one public reflection notes, participants “shed distractions…and become newly connected to their faith in the most powerful and unexpected ways,” returning home with renewed confidence and spiritual clarity.”
The camp’s two summer sessions, along with IV Next for young adults, offer a one‑of‑a‑kind journey through Greece: combining at‑camp programming with travel days to places like ancient Olympia, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, and the Acropolis in Athens. These experiences help young people understand Orthodoxy and Hellenism in a tangible, life‑shaping way.
Photos Courtesy of Ionian Village
Leadership 100’s Role: Expanding Access and Strengthening Infrastructure
Leadership 100 has long been a cornerstone supporter of Ionian Village, enabling the ministry to grow, innovate, and reach more families. Its investments support not only the summer camp itself but also the expansion of year‑round and nationwide programming.
OPEN IV: Transforming the Camp for Year‑Round Use
Through the Open IV grant, Leadership 100 is helping Ionian Village realize a long‑held vision: transforming the campgrounds from a summer‑only facility into a year‑round spiritual and cultural center. Leadership 100 provided funding for upgrades and necessary renovations for Ionian Village.
These improvements replace original fixtures dating back to 1970 and ensure the camp is safe, accessible, and welcoming for broader audiences throughout the year. These changes “allow the camp to prepare to become inhabitable outside of the summer months” and expand its reach beyond traditional campers.
IV On‑the‑Go: Bringing Ionian Village to Parishes Nationwide
Leadership 100 also supports IV On‑the‑Go, a traveling retreat program that brings the Ionian Village experience directly to parishes across the United States. The program offers youth a taste of the camp’s interactive, faith‑centered approach right in their home communities.
Recent retreats include a program at Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Orleans, with upcoming regional retreats planned in Boston, Denver, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta. These events strengthen relationships with Metropolis youth departments and help introduce more families to the transformative power of Ionian Village.
A Legacy of Leadership and Lifelong Impact
Ionian Village’s influence extends far beyond the summer months. Alumni often return home inspired to lead, serve, and strengthen their local parishes. With more than 17,500 alumni nationwide, the program has become a powerful network of faithful, engaged Orthodox Christians.
As Fr. Steven Klund, Director of Ionian Village, reflects:
“Ionian Village is the national camping ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America… Since its founding in 1970, Ionian Village has provided tens of thousands of participants unforgettable memories, cherished friendships, and a Faith that lasts a lifetime. For many of these participants this life‑changing opportunity would not have been possible without the generous support of Leadership 100.
Thanks to its significant annual contributions, Leadership 100 enables Ionian Village to fund critical portions of its summer camp and expand its reach to other initiatives such as IV Next and IV On‑the‑Go… The Office of Ionian Village is deeply grateful for its longstanding partnership with Leadership 100 and is proud to serve and raise the future leaders of our Holy Archdiocese together.”
Looking Ahead: A Ministry Poised for the Future
With registration open for Summer 2026 and programs continuing to grow, Ionian Village remains a vibrant and essential ministry of the Archdiocese. Its mission, to build “faith and friendships that last a lifetime,” continues to resonate with new generations of young people seeking connection, meaning, and spiritual grounding .
Leadership 100’s investment ensures that this mission not only endures but expands. Through facility upgrades, nationwide outreach, and ongoing program development, Leadership 100 is helping Ionian Village remain a place where young people encounter their faith, heritage, and community in profound and lasting ways.
As we look ahead to the upcoming summer season, Ionian Village stands as a powerful example of how investment in youth today helps shape confident, engaged leaders for tomorrow.
Fueling the Future of Global Advocacy: Leadership 100 Strengthens the UN Girl Delegates Program
Leadership 100’s continued investment is powering one of the Archdiocese’s most impactful youth initiatives: the UN Girl Delegates Program, housed within the Department of Inter‑Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations under the direction of Rev. Dr. Nicolas Kazarian.
With Leadership 100’s support for 2025–2026, the program has expanded its national reach, strengthened its training model, and elevated the voices of young Orthodox women in global policy spaces.
At the center of this growth is a dedicated consultant whose work - funded in part by Leadership 100 - focuses on developing a long‑term strategic plan, supporting delegates and families, and ensuring that all advocacy aligns with Orthodox values and the mission of the Archdiocese. The program embodies the Church’s teaching that “men and women are equals in personhood,” offering young women a platform to represent their faith at the United Nations.
Leadership in Action
From Summer through Fall 2025, the Girl Delegates stepped into significant global roles. They participated in the UN Women’s Girl Townhall, contributed to planning the International Day of the Girl Summit, and represented the Archdiocese in interfaith and international forums.
One delegate served as moderator for the global International Day of the Girl event, an achievement made possible through intentional preparation and partnership. Another, contributed to the Digital Advocacy Committee.
During this period, the program also welcomed 11 new delegates, bringing the cohort to 25 young leaders trained in advocacy, public engagement, and the workings of the UN system.
These efforts directly support Archbishop Elpidophoros’ call that “we must be a Church that embraces our young people,” empowering girls to use their gifts in service to the Church and the world.
A Transformative New York Experience
Leadership 100’s grant made possible the Fall 2025 in‑person program in New York City, held October 8 - 10. Delegates:
Explored the legacy of Greek women’s advocacy, including the Thracian tradition of Babo and the work of Dora Stratou and Domna Samiou
Met with interfaith leaders such as Cardinal Dolan and Rabbi Potasnik
Took visible roles in the Girls Speak Out Townhall, with delegates moderating sessions and serving as panelists
This experience moved the girls from observers to active contributors, engaging ambassadors, speaking in public forums, and participating directly in international policy dialogue.
Preparing for the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70)
Throughout late 2025 and early 2026, the delegates trained intensively for the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70). Their preparation included:
A CSW70 consultation session introducing the 2026 theme
A statement‑writing workshop contributing to the Archdiocese’s official CSW70 submission
Mission‑visit training to prepare for meetings with diplomats
Participation in the Adolescent Girl Townhall with UN Women, where two delegates served on the planning committee and spoke at the event
These opportunities reinforced a core message of the program: girls are stakeholders, not merely beneficiaries, in global policy.
Impact That Extends Beyond the UN
The program’s outcomes demonstrate measurable progress:
Six leadership and advocacy workshops
Eight major events attended or led
Fifteen delegates participating in the Fall in‑person program
Delegates moderating UN events and serving on global committees
The ripple effects extend far beyond New York. Delegates return home with strengthened confidence and a commitment to service, launching initiatives such as Green GOYA and Project Xenia, and even earning national recognition, including being honored as a Girl Leading Change at the White House.
A Partnership Shaping Tomorrow
Leadership 100’s support, combined with the stewardship of Fr. Nicolas Kazarian and the Department of Inter‑Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, continues to sustain a program that equips young Orthodox women to influence global conversations on gender equality, human dignity, and faith‑informed advocacy.
As His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros told the delegates in March 2024:
“Your enthusiastic participation in advocacy work at the UN exemplifies the teachings of our Church. We are proud to have you represent not only your Greek Orthodox sisters at this pinnacle of international collaboration, but all Greek Orthodox faithful.”
Photos Courtesy of the Orthodox Observer
