Daughters of Penelope (DOP)History
The Daughters of Penelope was founded in 1929 by Alexandra Apostolides Sonenfelds. She formed the 1st Chapter with 25 charter members on November 16, 1929 in San Francisco, California. The Dayton Chapter (named Polydoma) was established on July 19, 1942 by Mrs.Mary Drakos Preonas, who also was the 1st president. The current president is Mary Mitrousis Searles and the chapter has 50 members.
Today, the Daughters of Penelope is a leader in philanthropic, educational and cultural activities with local chapters in the United States, Canada, Greece and Cyprus.
Mission
The objectives of the Daughters of Penelope are to promote Hellenism, Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family & Individual Excellence. The Daughters of Penelope encourages and promotes loyalty to the country in which they live; cultivates the ideals and traditions of Hellenism; promotes opportunities of education.
Promotes educational, cultural, scholarship and civic programs; fosters research in art, education, science and public affairs, to promote social, ethical, philanthropic, and intellectual interests of the members of the Daughters of Penelope and to preserve and promote the ideals and traditions of Hellenism.
Civic Responsibility and Activities
The Daughters of Penelope promotes civic responsibility through community service and encourages its members to participate in helping others as part of the organization's overall mission. The Daughters Charities both at the National and local chapter include: Penelope House Family Violence Center, Papanicolaou Cancer Center, Cooley’s Anemia, Multiple Sclerosis, Breast Cancer Vaccine Research, Lupus, St. Basil’s Academy, Special Olympics, American Heart Association, Penelope House Family Violence Center and the Buckeye Scholarship Fund.
The Daughters of Penelope provides funding for scholarships, seminars, symposiums, lectures and other educational activities, and promotes education through reading with its Children's Literacy Program; awards the Daughters of Penelope scholarships each year.
The Dayton Chapter of the Daughters of Penelope is active in supporting the Church activities, such as the Sunday School Christmas Brunch, Greek Independence Day, hosting the Young at Heart Luncheon, and Coffee Hour.. In order to support the charities, the DOP hold fund raising activities such as the Scholarship Tea, Tsourekia sales, selling of fleece blankets, etc. Of course, there are also fun activities planned thought the year, such as, the Christmas dinner and great entertainment, night out for dinner and a play, learning to make Koliva, and a movie with the AHEPANS.