The Daughters of Penelope (DOP) is the women’s organization of the AHEPA Family (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) with headquarters in Washington, D.C., and today is the leader in philanthropic, educational and cultural activities, with Chapters in the United States, Canada, Greece, Europe and Australia. The DOP helps others through monetary contributions and lends a helping hand to those in need by devoting countless hours of volunteer work to hospitals, retirement homes, women’s and daycare centers and other charitable causes. It organizes educational seminars, awards scholarships and supports its local churches. The DOP has also established retirement homes and women’s shelters.

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The first Canadian Chapter was established in 1938 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, marking the beginning of the phenomenal international expansion of the organization.

 

The Daughters of Penelope contributes thousands of dollars every year to local, district and national projects. The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation was the first National Project to be adopted. Not only was money raised for research, but the DOP also paid for the printing of 100 000 BSE awareness pamphlets in English, French, Greek, Chinese, Italian and Finnish, to be distributed to different ethnic groups across Canada.

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The Montreal Chapter, called Meandros 168, was founded on February 16, 1948. The Chapter has been serving the Montreal community by hosting various events to raise money and awareness on topics such as illness, poverty, domestic violence, and many more.

 

Together with Montreal's AHEPA Chapter Mount Royal CJ7, Sons of Pericles Chapter Olympic SCJ1 and Maids of Athena Chapter Electra 52, we started the Montreal AHEPA Family St. Valentine’s Ball, to raise money for children’s causes. In 2021 and 2022, we were unable to host our annual event due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Our 22nd Annual St. Valentine's Ball was on Friday, February 10, 2023. The total raised by the St. Valentine’s Ball since its beginning is now over $1 118 000. 

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In the last thirteen years, Meandros 168 raised over $110 000. We donated it to several causes:

• $34 100 to Hellenic Education including Socrates and Demosthenes Schools, Papachristidis Chair for Hellenic Studies at McGill University, and the Hellenic Studies Program at Concordia University

• $38 563 to organizations promoting awareness of illnesses, such as the Arthritis Society, Alzheimer’s Society, Thalassemia, Breast Cancer, DOvEE Project for Ovarian Cancer, Triad Cohort, and the Brain Tumour Foundation

• $13 300 to organizations helping the homeless and those in need, such as Dans la Rue, the Welcome Hall Mission, The Shield of Athena, and the Hellenic Ladies Benevolent Society

• $11 500 in scholarships, awarded to students in CEGEP, undergraduate and postgraduate studies

• $7 050 to local churches 

• $3 000 to charities, such as FILIA, HCGM and SPCA

• $4 670 to the Melissa Orphanage for Girls in Thessaloniki, Greece

• $1 400 to Hope & Cope Cancer Wellness Centre

• We have donated non-perishable food to FILIA, Cuisine et Vie Collective, Resilience Montreal, and various Christmas Food Drives

• We have donated food and clothing to Chez Doris Women's Shelter

• We have donated food, toys, and personal hygiene products to St. Sophie Ukrainian Orthodox Church to help Ukrainian refugees

• We have donated school supplies to Bancroft Elementary School and various Back-to School Drives

• We have sponsored 'meet & greet' coffee hours at Bancroft Elementary School, welcoming new students and their parents

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All of this has been accomplished with the help of our dedicated volunteers and supporters.

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