The donation celebrates 50th anniversary of Older Americans Act Nutrition Program
The Daughters of Penelope (DOP), a leading international service organization comprised of women of Hellenic heritage and Philhellenes, proudly presented a $10,000 donation to Meals on Wheels America, March 24, 2022, announced Grand President Kathy Bizoukas. Grand President Bizoukas presented the donation to Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander.
“We are proud to support the worthy mission of Meals on Wheels America and its vision of an America in which all seniors live nourished lives with independence and dignity,” Grand President Bizoukas said. “We are especially delighted to be able to present our donation during Meals on Wheels America’s March for Meals campaign, a month-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program. The program provides funding for nutrition services for seniors and helps support programs such as Meals on Wheels.”
“We commend the Daughters of Penelope for continuing to support our work to address senior isolation and hunger, especially as the post-pandemic demand for services remains high and operational and food costs continue to soar. We also appreciate their timely donation as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program and seek to bolster this vital public-private partnership for decades to come,” Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Hollander said.
This is the fifth $10,000 donation in as many years to Meals on Wheels America, which is the leading organization to address senior hunger and isolation.
“Our support of Meals on Wheels America dovetails with our community service programs that assist our nation’s older adults who are in need,” Bizoukas added. “For example, Meals on Wheels serves many residents of AHEPA’s and Daughters’ 87 affordable senior housing communities.”
The donation made by the Daughters of Penelope was made possible by the late Mr. Nicholas Economy.
“The Daughters of Penelope is proud to honor his memory and his wishes to help the elderly in need,” Grand President Bizoukas said.
Executive Director Elena Saviolakis accompanied Grand President Bizoukas to the presentation. Meals on Wheels America’s Chief Development Officer Kristine Templin accompanied President and CEO Hollander.
About Meals on Wheels America
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
About the March for Meals Campaign
Each year, the March for Meals celebration commemorates the historic day in March of 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older. This legislation supported the rapid growth of the nationwide network of senior nutrition programs – commonly referred to as Meals on Wheels – that collectively served more than 223 million meals to over 2.4 million seniors prior to the pandemic.
About the Daughters of Penelope
Founded in San Francisco in 1929, the Daughters of Penelope (DOP) is the first women’s service organization of its kind established in the United States. It is an affiliate organization of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA).
The mission of the DOP is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Hellenism, Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence.
For more information about the DOP, or any of its programs or projects, please visit www.daughtersofpenelope.org.
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