At the Archdiocesan Assembly Meeting in November 2013, the assembly approved the establishment of an Archdiocesan Benevolent Benefactor Fund to support charitable activities and ministries throughout the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.  Click here to read the proposal adopted at the assembly meeting.  In addition, a committee was established to oversee the activities of the benefactor fund.  The committee consists of two clergy, two laity, and two ex-officio members with oversight and guidance provided by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon.  The two clergy are Father John Parsells (Christ the Savior, Berlin, MD) and Father Mark Koczak (St. Mark Orthodox Church, New Castle, DE).  The two laity are Noel Brackett (Holy Archangels Orthodox Church, Annapolis, MD) and Yuriy Dzambasow (St. Andrew Orthodox Church, Baltimore, MD).  The two ex-officio members are Father John Vitko (Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.) and Michael Hydock (Treasurer of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.).
 
The committee held its initial meeting via conference call on Saturday, March 22nd.  At this meeting, the committee agreed that the initial focus will be on the first three items identified in the proposal adopted at the assembly meeting, which are 1) to generate awareness of benefactor fund; 2) to encourage contribution to the benefactor fund; and 3) provide guidance for identifying and enrolling donors for the fund.  In addition, the committee agreed to work on renaming this effort more appropriately so as not to focus solely on fundraising and monetary contributions, but rather to promote its purpose in enabling the many charitable activities and ministries that are desired to be performed through our Archdiocese.  Over the coming weeks, the committee will meet often to work through these initial three areas and to provide information to the parishes throughout the Archdiocese.  To facilitate this process, the committee elected Yuriy Dzambasow to be the chair.  Please continue to check back periodically to view the progress of this benevolent effort.  If you have comments or suggestions for the committee, please feel free to email them to the committee.

See Also:

• Diocesan Benefactors Fund