National Philoptochos President Georgia Skeadas
Mrs.
Georgia Skeadas has served as President of the National Board of the
Philoptochos Society since 2002. In 2006, His Eminence Archbishop
Demetrios of America, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America,
reappointed Mrs. Skeadas to an unprecedented third term as President.
In making the announcement, His Eminence noted, "I deemed it imperative
for the continued growth and progress of the Philoptochos Society, this
vital Institution of our Archdiocese, to reappoint Mrs. Skeadas for
another term so that she be enabled, along with the dedicated members
of the National Board, to fulfill the work which they began when Mrs.
Skeadas was first appointed in 2002. It has been under the dynamic and
charismatic leadership of Mrs. Skeadas, that Philoptochos has moved in
significant ever-increasing philanthropic activities. It is my hope
that the next two years will witness Philoptochos rising to new heights
and accomplishing even greater goals."
Since her administration began, the National Philoptochos Society has donated more than $8.5 million to its National Commitments and special projects. These funds have supported Archdiocesan institutions, including St. Basil Academy, Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, St. Photios Shrine, the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, as well as the programs on national and international levels, including the philanthropic work of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, UNICEF, IOCC, Children's Medical Fund, Operation USO Care Package, Natural Disaster Relief, and many other social service projects that address homelessness, domestic violence, and health issues.
The Society, under the vision of Mrs. Skeadas, has extended its outreach beyond the boundaries of the Greek Orthodox community, by incorporating new programs that have a more global scope. This goal is consistent with her commitment to broaden the horizons of Philoptochos and to encourage a more concrete and personal approach to its philanthropic mission.
One such endeavor is the Wheelchair Project, which targets those in need in the Republic of Georgia and in Thessaloniki, Greece. The Wheelchair Foundation is a non-profit organization that "seeks to deliver a wheelchair to every child, teen and adult who needs one - bringing new independence to those deprived of mobility by war, disease, accident, natural disaster or advanced age."
In addition, in December 2005, Philoptochos expanded the Children's Medical Fund to include the establishment of a six-room Children's Medical Clinic in Woliso, Ethiopia, where responding to the HIV/AIDS crisis is of the highest priority. In September 2005, the National Board voted to fund the development of this medical clinic in Woliso, to be constructed by the IOCC, in cooperation with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. In 2007, from the highly successful Children's Medical Fund Luncheon, a donation earmarked for the Parktown Medical Clinic was made to IOCC, for its work with the Clinic in the Archdiocese of Zimbabwe, which provides medical services for children.
Born and raised in Hartford, Conn., Mrs. Skeadas is a graduate of St. Joseph College in West Hartford. She was a member of the National Philoptochos Board in 1998 - 2000, a member of diocesan boards in Denver and New Jersey, and she has served in parish Philoptochos chapters in Hartford, Connecticut; Denver, Colorado; Belmont, California; and in her current parish of St. Luke in Broomall, PA. In 2000, she served as a member of the Archdiocesan Council Executive Committee as an appointee of Archbishop Demetrios. During her term, she chaired the Youth Ministry Committee of the Council.
Mrs. Skeadas has been active in many civic organizations, including school committees and boards and the Family Service Auxiliary, an organization that provides assistance for seniors, children, and families of abused children and adults.
Together with her husband, Chris Skeadas, Mrs. Skeadas co-chaired the 35th Biennial Clergy Laity Congress held in Philadelphia in 2000. Chris and Georgia have two children, Peter and Mariana, both recent graduates of George Washington University.