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Another Successful Annual International Orthodox Christian Charities - IOCC Event in Los Angeles On Sunday, November 23 of this year, Saint Steven's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral was host to the annual Los Angeles IOCC charity benefit. The host bishop, His Grace Maxim, welcomed a few hundred faithful from throughout Southern California , and extended his warm welcome to the Serbian Orthodox bishop of Australia and New Zealand , His Grace Irinej. From1992 to this day, the IOCC has implemented over $275 million in relief and development programs in 33 countries around the world. The IOCC was founded sixteen years ago as the official humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA). His Grace Irinej is a great supporter and well-known advocate of the IOCC. “I'm letting people know the daily reality for children in Kosovo is to go to school under armed escort,” said the Serbian American bishop who is originally from Ohio and was once an IOCC employee. “We must be that ray of hope for those children even in the simplest provision of school books and school kits,” he said. Since 1993, the IOCC has provided more than $75 million in emergency relief and development programs to the former Yugoslavia , and is currently hosting a special speaking tour featuring his Grace Bishop Irinej. More events featuring Bishop Irinej are scheduled for Steelton , Pennsylvania and Detroit , Michigan . The IOCC announced recently that every gift made to Kosovo would be matched up to $100,000 through the generosity of Bishop Irinej and the faithful of his diocese and the John G. Rangos Sr. Family Charitable Foundation. All gifts ear marked for Kosovo will go toward IOCC's broader goal of providing $500,000 in assistance to Kosovo and for aid to some of the approximately 225,000 people who remain displaced from the region. IOCC aims to expand efforts to provide educational programs, sustainable agricultural training, and other projects that provide employment and stimulate wider regional cooperation in Kosovo. Jasmina Boulanger led the Sunday night event at St. Steven's Cathedral. She eloquently introduced evening performers and speakers: Lisa Xanthos, IOCC Los Angeles Metropolitan Committee Chair, pianist Oksana Germain, violinist Kaiya Germain, Branislav Radakovic, a renowned baritone, IOCC director of development, Dan Christopulos, Sasha Alexander Ponti, an Serbian American actress with her husband Eduardo Ponti, and the guest speaker, His Grace Bishop Irinej. “It is my distinct honor to welcome you all on behalf of the Philanthropic entity that is very dear and so close to my heart,” said his Grace Irinej as he proceeded to reiterate the fact that the IOCC acronym has come to mean for so many people life and love in and of itself. Today IOCC is one of the top five charitable organizations in the world. Events such as the Los Angeles one make this possible. It is through the generosity and faith in action that the lives of many stricken by poverty and desperate circumstances are changed for better. The IOCC helps people move from desperate conditions to hope and economic self-sufficiency . It is through advocates such as his Grace Bishop Irinej and those gathered on Sunday evening at St. Steven's Cathedral that the work and mission of IOCC continues. To become an IOCC advocate and to help in providing assistance to families in Kosovo and the Balkans, visit www.iocc.org , call IOCC toll free at 1-877-803-4622, or mail a check or money order payable to “IOCC” and write “Kosovo” in the memo line to: IOCC, P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, Md. 21263-0225. |