On December 15th, the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church (founded in 1892) is taking such an artistic step as it hosts its annual Stewardship Gala at the Harvard Club, NYC. Like most galas, this event helps raise vital resources for and awareness about the Annunciation. However, the Annunciation Gala is more than a fundraiser. When asked about the gala’s mission, the chairperson, Ms. Kassandra Romas, told us that, “the Annunciation Stewardship Gala could be thought of as a ‘friend-maker.’”

The parish council president, Mr. John Galinos, expressed his gratitude for the committee members’ hard work and commitment. Mr. Galinos noted that by supporting the event, our guests “help us forge new partnerships between Orthodox Christians of different origins and other members of the broader New York City community.”

This doesn’t sound like your typical church gala. Indeed, when we asked the parish priest of the Annunciation his thoughts, Fr. Nathanael Symeonides told us that, “the gala is anything but typical precisely because the Annunciation is not your typical Greek Orthodox Church.” He told us that the parish is always eager to set new trends as it progresses the work of the Gospel through the age-old ingredients of love and cooperation.

This sentiment is evident when you consider the date of the gala. While the event has traditionally been held in the Autumn Season, the committee agreed that there are too many events going on during the months of October and November, which means that the various Hellenic-based organizations and churches are competing with one another. The Annunciation Church, therefore, decided to take move its gala to December.

This is quite a bold and risky move on the part of the church. Many fundraisers consider December a difficult time to for such events as most people concentrate much of their time and resources around the Holiday Season. When we asked Tina Livanos about the decision to move the gala to December, she told NEO: “Why not? Yes, people are busy with last minute shopping for Christmas, but this doesn’t mean that they can’t take a break from the rush and enjoy an amazing evening with friends—what better way to capture the spirit of Christmas than to support the work of one of New York’s most dynamic and caring churches!”

We learned that this year’s event will also feature the “Mistletoe Gala,” a venue within Harvard Hall dedicated to young professionals. Quite different than the formal dinner, the Mistletoe Gala is designed to help people socialize and network with colleagues and friends. And while the price of a Mistletoe Gala ticket is less costly than the dinner ticket ($300 vs. $125), the committee is not planning on cutting any corners; guests will enjoy excellent food, a premium open bar, live music and dancing, and a Viennese dessert station. We’ve been told that guests can also look forward to a few surprises that are bound to make the night even more enjoyable for everyone.

As a community of faithful whose living tradition spans three centuries, the Annunciation Church is a parish that has made caring for others a top priority. Located on the corner of West End Avenue and W91st Street, the Annunciation has made a significant impact on the lives of its faithful and its neighbors. The parish not only offers various programs through its Institute of Greek Language and Culture and its Orthodox Formation Programs, it actively tries to answer some of the most pressing social concerns, including unemployment, homelessness, and hunger. Through our discussions with numerous parishioners it is clear that bigger and better things are on the horizon.

For more information about the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church please visit: www.Annunciation-NYC.org, and to learn more about the Stewardship Gala and the Mistletoe Gala, or to purchase tickets, go to: www.bit.ly/OiYDUB.