The Cyprus Children’s Fund celebrated 50 years of charitable work on Sunday, October 20, at the Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park, NJ.

During the event, the family of Michael, Charles, and Elena Anastasiou was honored for their long-standing contributions to the organization.

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, in his written message, congratulated the organization’s board for completing five decades of charitable work.

“Each year, tens of thousands of dollars are given to help students fulfill their dreams and sick children to heal. I wish that your God-pleasing work will continue to serve as an example for others to follow.”

Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey thanked the Fund for its significant contributions, congratulated the honorees, expressed his solidarity with the Fund, and wished them continued progress and success in achieving their goals.

The First Lady of the Republic of Cyprus, Philippa Karsera Christodoulides, expressed in writing her admiration for the contributions of the Fund and stated her continued support for this great charitable endeavor.

The Brooklake Country Club was packed for the event celebrating 50 years of the Cyprus Children’s Fund. Photo: TNH/Michael Kakias
The president of the Cyprus Children’s Fund, Nicos Zittis, thanked the guests and donors through The National Herald and emphasized that the annual dinner is one of the organization’s largest fundraising events, with its proceeds going towards supporting its charitable programs.

As he stated, “The Cyprus Children’s Fund was founded in 1975, just months after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The Archbishop of America and the First Lady of the Cyprus Federation are honorary presidents of the Fund and simultaneously its inspirations and guarantors of its smooth operation as a non-profit organization. Over the years, scholarships awarded to students have exceeded two million dollars, and in the last ten years, more than half a million dollars have been given to treat children with cancer and support their families. In 2024, $100,000 was given to various organizations and programs.”

The Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the U.S., Evangelos Savvas, in his message, stated, among other things: “After the inhumane Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the Cypriot community in the United States, believing in the power of unity, solidarity, and determination for change, collectively founded the Cyprus Children’s Fund, an organization with the goal of offering hope and a better future to young people and children by investing in Cyprus’s future.”

The honored members of the Anastasiou family expressed their warm thanks to the Board for the award and emphasized that, as in the past, they will continue to financially support the important work of the Fund.

The Supreme President of AHEPA, Savas Tsivicos, who is from Cyprus, also congratulated the Fund’s charitable and social work, which, as he said, is a source of pride and an example to follow, and called for the unwavering support of everyone so that it may continue to successfully achieve its goals and mission.

The Consul General of Cyprus in New York, Michalis Fyrillas, congratulated the members of the organization for their valuable and multifaceted presence, both in the wider society and in the life of the Cypriot-American community, and called upon all Cypriots in the United States to work together to achieve the best possible outcome for children in Cyprus and here in the U.S.

The president of the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations (FCAO), Kyriakos Papastylianou, expressed his gratitude to the board for their ongoing efforts to help children in need in Cyprus and to support students of Greek descent in the United States.

PSEKA president Philip Christopher emphasized that the struggle of Cypriots for freedom and justice is supported by many American organizations, with the Cyprus Children’s Fund holding a special place for helping children and students.