There are several ways you can give to our Community. Here are a few….
Stewardship, A Gift of Gratitude to God
Your stewardship is a tangible expression of heartfelt gratitude to God, it is critical to the ministries of our Church Family, and it is greatly appreciated. Consider that our very existence, all that we have, all that we are, are gifts from God. We are called to be co-workers with God in the ministry of His Church. Financial stewardship is a primary way of offering thanks to God, and of sharing in the work of His ministry. Your stewardship gift supports Worship, pastoral care for all of our members, educational and fellowship programs for our youth; seniors; and whole Church Family, philanthropic outreach to the broader community and so much more.
It costs approximately $2,100 per day to offer all of the ministries of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church. Please consider sponsoring a day or more as your stewardship gift. Your gift can be made in quarterly or monthly installments.
We thank you for sharing in the ministry of the Church!
Make a Donation
Thank you for supporting our ministries! With your donation, our Church is able to Glorify God, help those in need, raise our youth in the faith, and offer educational and cultural programs for everyone on the East End of Long Island!
Holy Cross Endowment Fund
Our Plan for Sustaining our Commitment to Faith, Family , Culture, Philanthropy and Community for Generations to Come
“Civilization hangs suspended, from generation to generation, by the gossamer strand of memory. If only one cohort of mothers and fathers fails to convey to its children what it has learned from its parents, then the great chain of learning and wisdom snaps. If the guardians of human knowledge stumble only one time, in their fall collapses the whole edifice of knowledge and understanding” (Jacob Neusner).
Introduction
Almost fifty years ago, a small group of Greek Orthodox Christians came together on the east end of Long Island with a vision of creating a place of worship for their families. They established the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church (Kimisis tis Theotokou). There, they gathered to worship and built a strong community based on faith, family, culture, philanthropy, and community.
Initially holding Church services in a rented auditorium and meetings in members’ living rooms, our Community gradually grew, and the Church became a sanctuary for members, where they celebrated baptisms, weddings, chrismations, and funerals. In 1998, Father Alexander and Presbytera Xanthi Karloutsos were called to serve the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. With their experience and leadership, the community flourished, growing into a parish serving over 350 families. In 2010, Father Constantine and Presbytera Anastasia Lazarakis joined Father Alexander and Presbytera Xanthi to lead our Church Family into the New Millenium. The dynamic ministries and programs have attracted Orthodox Christians, some of whom travel from long distances to be part of this Church Family. Thanks to the generosity of Its supporters, our Congregation now venerates one of the most magnificent and awe inspiring Sanctuaries in America, with a state of the art Community Center, The elegant Muses (our event spacel), a reference-filled and beautifully appointed Library, classrooms, and various meeting spaces.
Today, the vibrant ministries of the Church are funded through annual fundraising initiatives. Our Church Family has always risen to the occasion when asked to help meet the needs of the Church. Whether it was creating a Clergy housing fund, building our new Church and Cultural Center or “Burning the Mortgage”, they have always done what was necessary to fulfill Dormiton of the Virgin Mary’s mission. It was in this spirit, that in 2018, a small group of generous and visionary Church members, including Coula Johnides and Greta and Peter Nikiteas, established our Endowment Fund. We are now focused on taking the next major step in the life of our Parish, and invite you to help your Church Family achieve the dream of a fully funded Endowment, strengthening ministries today and ensuring their long term stability tomorrow and for generations to come.
General Overview
What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. – Pericles.
As with any other successful charitable organization, our Church realized the need for future planning and thereby established the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Endowment Fund in 2018. To date, it has accrued $800,000 which is held in a separate, restricted fund account, monitored by the Parish Council. The capital of the Fund is inviolate, and when fully funded, its interest and earning will be periodically dispersed to support the Church’s ministries, maintenance and beautification. The goal of this Fund is to accrue to an amount at which the interest from the account will significantly offset the operating costs of the Church.
Every member of our Church can make a donation earmarked for the endowment Fund. Our Church is now focused on further specifications on how this Fund is managed, invested, overseen and disbursed. In keeping with the Fund’s by-laws (approved by General Assembly in 2018) we are now creating a Board of Trustees and an Investment Committee. The Board and Investment Committee will include the clergy, parish council members, donor members and informed professionals who have expertise in law, accounting and wealth management. The Trustees will also present a complete financial report to the Parish Council and the General Assembly annually.
Membership
Anyone who would like to show their gratitude for our Church and strengthen its ministries in perpetuity may make an earmarked donation to the Endowment Fund. Your gift to the Endowment Fund will continue to strengthen the Church even beyond your lifetime. Every donor to the Fund will be listed in Church publications. Once a year, our Church will host a reception to honor distinguished Founder Circle donors (those donors making a minimum contribution of $20,000 to the Fund). The Endowment Fund donors all play an essential role in ensuring that the Church's mission and commitment to Faith, Family, Culture, Philanthropy and Community continue for future generations. We thank you for your contribution and look forward to working together to support our Community.
Faith:
It was Moses, who exhorted the people of the promise to impress the words of the Almighty upon the hearts of their children and their children’s children. “Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Above all, exhorted Moses, “do not forget” (Deut. 6:7–9, 12).
The focus on Faith is at the core of the mission of The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Endowment Fund. Our faith in the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit drive all that we do. By providing financial stability for the Church, the Fund allows the clergy to focus on their primary role of celebrating the Divine Services, leading the faithful in prayer, preaching the word of God and supporting the spiritual needs of our Church Family.
The Fund also provides an opportunity to invest in the future of the Church by supporting the training of new clergy, funding mission work, and expanding the Church's reach to new communities. With a stable economic base, the Church can focus on its primary mission of spreading the Gospel, nurturing faith, and building a strong Community of believers centered on Christ, our Lord and Savior..
Community:
The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Endowment Fund allows our Church Family to focus on bonds of Christian friendship and to grow in love as sisters and brothers. It will ensure space for us to share in joyous celebration, to band together in times of hardship, to mark life’s milestones and rejoice in everyday blessings. The Church is the epicenter at which people from various walks of life, of all ages, from a variety of backgrounds find the common ground of God’s love and become, as God’s children, brothers and sisters.
Family:
Father Alex and Father Constantine consider each and every member of our Church family as precious and integral. Families are formed as couples are married, and infants are baptized. Families are strengthened as we sanctify life’s milestones. From the time each baby is blessed in our Church, he or she is a child of Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church Family. Many young men and young women baptized in our Church return here for Easter and Christmas celebrations, their own weddings and for ongoing spiritual guidance. The Church provides space and time for families to be together and to remember their blessings. Raising a family in our Church brings unconditional love, support and encouragement throughout life’s challenges. Each member of our Family rises and falls together.
Culture:
The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Endowment Fund allows our Church members to focus on producing culturally enriching experiences throughout the year which cultivate cultural appreciation and literacy in our youth and enriches the lives of all of our members as well as the brother community. Through language instruction, Greek Dance, Byzantine Chant Lessons, musical performances, guest speakers, art exhibits and more, we perpetuate and celebrate Hellenic Culture, Pan-Orthodox Culture, as well as the arts, literature, gastronomy, and multicultural literacy.
Philanthropy: The Dormition of the Virgin Mary is a leader in philanthropy on the East End of Long Island and in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The Endowment Fund allows our Church Family to focus on philanthropy and active ministries that address social issues, alleviate suffering, and bring materal support and joy to those in need. These ministries include our special needs organizations, Luv Michael and US Autism Homes, as well as The Retreat, Southampton Hospital, the Heart of the Hamptons, Alcoholics Anonymous, ALANON and many others. Through pastoral care, our clergy offer support and help to families and individuals in crisis. Ready to respond to community needs as they arise, our Church supports local, national and global nonprofits and charities. Through the Blue Dream Summer Gala, we have given over $2M to a variety of worthy causes.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Endowment Fund
What is the minimum contribution necessary to be listed as a member of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Endowment Fund?
There is no minimum donation required to be a member of the Endowment Fund.
What is the minimum contribution to be part of the Founder’s Circle?
$20,000 is the minimum donation to be part of the Founder’s Circle. The Founders will be honored each year at our Endowment Fund reception.
What is the purpose of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Endowment Fund?
The purpose is to realize the dream of ensuring that the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons can continue in perpetuity preaching and acting upon Its core values of Faith, Family, Community, Culture, and Philanthropy.
What is the goal of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Endowment Fund?
The goal is to create a fund of inviolate capital producing enough revenue to substantially support the yearly operating costs of the Church. Up until that time, the interest from the Fund will be reinvested into the Fund.
Why do we need the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Endowment Fund?
The operating costs of our Church have grown over the years, and considering the demands of our mission with the rate of inflation and other external economic pressures, the challenge of financial administration and funding could potentially become overwhelming. An endowment is critical for ensuring the financial security and future growth of the Church.
Will the Church still do its usual fundraising events?
Yes, the Church will continue to raise money for its operating costs through Stewardship, The Hampton’s Greek Festival, the Blue Dream Summer Gala and the Philoptochos’ initiatives and other means..
How will the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Endowment Fund be managed?
The Fund will have its own Board of Trustees and an Investment Committee. The Trustee Members will include individuals who possess the necessary skills and commitment to ensure the success of the Fund and must also be contributing members to the Fund.
What will be the method of reporting on the fund?
The Board of Trustees of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Endowment Fund will be required to produce an annual report to the Parish Council and to the General Assembly.
What are the responsibilities of the Board of Trustees of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Endowment Fund?
The Trustee Members will appoint an Investment Committee and will select a financial institution to manage the fund. The Board and Investment Committee will oversee the fund and ensure that the Fund is effectively managed, conservatively invested, and transparently reported upon .
“We now have the opportunity to that our Church for enriching our lives for the better! We have made the Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons a beneficiary in our wills”
–Peter and Greta Nikiteas
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