Click on links below for President Spyridoula Digaletou-Coutsouvelis' Welcome and Annual Report at the IPS Annual General Meeting held on Sunday 1 August 2021.
Click on links below for President Spyridoula Digaletou-Coutsouvelis' Welcome and Annual Report at the IPS Annual General Meeting held on Sunday 1 August 2021.
It was fantastic to celebrate and acknowedge the 2020 year 12 students who successfully overcame the educational challenges brought about by COVID to complete this significant milestone in their educational journey.
Congratulations and our best wishes for the future to the award recipients.
Ithacan Philanthropic Society Award recipients:
MIKAYLA BEASLEY
SORAYA DEFTEROS
EMILY McQUILLEN
NICHOLAS PAIZIS
TIMOTHY PAXINOS
ANTHONY TURONE
Panoyiannis Raftopoulos Award recipients:
ANTHONY DRAKE
LEEAWULEENA SIKIOTIS
Thank you also to Spearo Raftopoulos, son of the late Panoyiannis Raftopoulos, for the family’s ongoing support for our Year 12 Awards. The IPS Year 12 Award program which commenced in 1987 was an initiative of Panoyiannis Raftopoulos. In 2018 the IPS established a similar award program for the year 12 graduates of the Ithaki Lykeio (senior high school), Greece.
A video from Ithaki outlining the history and challenges of the island's blood bank program. Featured are Ithaki locals, Jenni Vlass-Karantzis (Spavento Kioni), Poppy Pagoulatos (Rementzo Frikes), Savasti Kouvaras (Ageri Frikes), Telemachol Tsindilas (Perahori, southern Ithaki), George Karantzis (Spavento Kioni).
We are thrilled to announce that $3595 was raised at the recent High Tea held on Sunday 1st March to assist the Ithaki Blood Bank program.
A big thank you to all those who supported this great cause.
For those who were are unable to make the day, we are still accepting donations.
Donations can be made to the IPS account:
BSB: 033 005 Account:116636
Reference (for internet transfer): YOUR NAME plus the reference IBB
Click here to view photos of the afternoon.
The IPS Recovery Appeal Report details the operation and outcome of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society (IPS) Cyclone Recovery Appeal and the rationale underpinning the allocation of funds raised. Download the IPS Recovery Appeal Report
We were all shocked and deeply saddened to see the devastation suffered on our beautiful Ithaki as a result of the recent Cylone Ianos. Our thoughts are with our families and friends on the island. At this stage, the damage appears widespread and is not limited to the sea-side ports. Homes, businesses, roads, public infrastructure, farmland and olive groves have been damaged, and this will have a long-lasting economic impact on the island. The cyclone has come at a time when the local economy has already suffered from a major fall in tourism due to COVID-19. It is understood that insurance and emergency services are not always available or accessible, and as a result, this may impede the recovery process.
The IPS seeks to support the recovery on Ithaca by establishing a Go Fund Me page, in the name of the IPS, with a target of AUD$50,000.
The IPS kick started the fund raising with a donation of AUD$5,000.
UPDATES FROM NATASHA ANAGNOSTOU, FUNDRAISER COORDINATOR
7 October 2020
Cyclone Ianos has been categorised as a cyclone with winds estimated in-excess of 130km/h, waves up to 7 metres high and 365 mm of rain in 28 hours. Click here to view video of damage caused.
Impact
Why Ithaca needs the support of government and communities
Tourism
Livelihood
The Environment
Government support to date
The national government has pledged recovery relief for
Latest information is that reconstruction of the main road outside of Vathy has already commenced. The bus is now doing the daily run from North Ithaca to Vathy and return, so high school students who have just commenced the school year from the North can go to school. However, where the road is damaged the passengers get off and walk the distance of the damaged road and then get on the bus again.
Also, recently informed that local government is seeking compensation for damage to fishermen’s boats.
What are Public Benefit Groups (Omiloi)?
These are organisations which must be registered with the Ministry of Interior. They are governed by Greek law and their respective constitutions which define the scope of their community activities. They are not for profit organisation which are independent of political and religious allegiances.
In Ithaca, there are 9 Omiloi which are village-based. The scope of their activities varies. Some are focused predominantly on matters relating to the village. Others engage in cultural and other activities which benefit the island as a whole. The following are examples of services provided by the Omiloi:
29 September, 2020
Dear Donors and Friends,
It appears that the worst damage has occurred in the North of Ithaca in the villages of Frikes and Kioni and Stavros.
People have begun the clean-up however it is only now that the extent of the damage is being recognized. Many roads, pathways, stairs, walls and buildings are unsafe. The Government has pledged support for issues such as road construction, however there is a lot of recovery work that will not be covered by government funds.
As much of Ithaca has been built by the locals and not the Government, this is a massive issue for the residents, businesses, and the tourism and fishing industries among others that have been decimated. The IPS is staying in close contact with local authorities who are working hard to restore Ithaca and to determine where the best placements are for your donations.
Could you please share this and if you haven't yet had an opportunity to donate, now would be a great time.
We appreciate your patience, and thank you for supporting our friends and relatives in Ithaca who need our help right now.
Natasha Anagnostou
The IPS Year 12 Awards were presented to our 2019 Year 12 graduates on Sunday 1 March.
Thank you also to Spearo Raftopoulos, son of the late Panoyiannis Raftopoulos, for the family’s ongoing support for our Year 12 Awards. The IPS Year 12 Award program which commenced in 1987 was an initiative of Panoyiannis Raftopoulos. In 2018 the IPS established a similar award program for the year 12 graduates of the Ithaki Lykeio (senior high school), Greece.
Click here to view photos of this year's award presentations.