The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society Inc. is the official philanthropic women’s organization of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America. The name means “friend of the poor,” being derived from two Greek words philo (friend) and ptochos (poor). The Society was formed in 1931 and currently has grown to more than 500 chapters and 25,000 members, making it one of America’s largest Christian women’s philanthropic organizations.

Stella (Loukas) Yant is a member of the Philoptochos Society of Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church in Westchester. Her family, which emigrated from Greece in 1953, was very proud of its heritage, so it wanted to ensure that the traditions stayed alive.

“My grandfather tells stories of how earlier in the 1900s, the Greeks had to change their names. Our name originally was Loukopoulus,” Yant said.

Yant attended Greek School at St. Constantine & Helen, now in Palos Hills. This Greek school provided her education from first through eighth grades. In school, there were three hours of English, math and grammar and three hours of Greek.

“We had to translate ancient Greek from the Bible,” Yant said.

The daily lessons also included culture, food preparation and needlepoint.

Yant’s mother, along with the other Greek ladies in the community, belonged to the Philoptochos Society. As a grammar-school student, Yant thought it was a group of Greek ladies making baklava. It wasn’t until later she found out the club’s mission.

When Bob and Stella Loukas Yant married, they bought a home in La Grange Park and joined the Holy Apostles Church. There, her husband went to Greek school and learned the language as well as the culture. Yant also got involved in teaching Sunday school to ensure that their children would go to church. While in high school, daughter Valerie (class of 2003) founded the Greek Club at Lyons Township.

After witnessing her mother and her aunts participate in the Philoptochos Society, Stella joined and is active on the publicity committee for the annual luncheon fashion show. The fashion show will be Saturday, Oct. 18, with cocktails and raffle preview at 11 a.m. and the luncheon at noon at The Carlisle, 435 Butterfield Road, Lombard. Tickets are $45 for adults and $25 for children 12 and younger. Proceeds will benefit Community Health and Hellenic Family and Community Services. According to Cathy Magas, Philoptochos President at Holy Apostles, the society donated more than $45,000 to charitable causes in  2007 and 2008. The organizations they support include Hellenic Family & Community Services, Family Shelter Services of DuPage County, Misericordia, Philoxenia House, Greek-American Nursing Home, Children’s Memorial Hospital, MS Research and American Cancer Society.

Women of the Greek Orthodox faith who are at least 18 and in good standing with the church are eligible for full membership. Additionally, nonGreek Orthodox woman who are married to an Orthodox men are eligible for associate membership.

The annual luncheon fashion show “Hats off to Philoptochos” continues the group’s long-standing tradition of philanthropy.

Call Anthoula Pomrening at (708) 588-0258 or Jennifer Govostis at (630) 455-1388 for reservations to the fashion show.

The ladies also invite you to wear your favorite hat.