Hellenic ladies honor Karas on service

The Hellenic Womenʼs Club of Bergen County has honored Mary Karas of Closter with its Presidentʼs Award, with appreciation, for her dedicated service as president and co-president of the club for more than 25 years.

The award was given June 14 at a charity luncheon at Lefkes restaurant in Englewood Cliffs. Claire Sadigianis and Voula Pituras presented Karas with a plaque and bouquet.

The Hellenic Womenʼs Club, a social, cultural, and philanthropic organization, holds various lively events and donates to many charities, such as Ronald McDonald House New York; St. Michaelʼs Home for the Aged in Yonkers, N.Y.; St. Basil Academy in Garrison, N.Y.; a childrenʼs fund in Ukraine; local food pantries; and many others.

Karas told Northern Valley Press on July 31, “Twenty-five years! Ilove it! I enjoy it. I meet people from all over: New York, the Northern Valley, Paramus, Wyckoff… We have people from all over ”

She said, “The list of chari- ties we help — Iʼve given you only a small list. We do so much. The club does so much, and we love every bit of it.”

The Hellenic Womenʼs Club Inc. (also known as EOK, Epsilon Omicron Kappa) was established in Boston in 1936 by seven women of Greek descent and is believed to be the oldest Greek American organization of its kind in the United States. Originally, these ladies got together as a sewing club to raise money for orphans during the Greek war relief effort.

For more information visit hellenicwomensclub.org tions” by parents, siblings and police officers.

Special thanks went to Lorenzo Food Group, which donated lunch almost every day, and to Land Rover/Jaguar of Englewood, which donated breakfast for the graduation and supported almost all of the events.

Space Odyssey also gener- ously donated a day of fun for the kids.

Thanks also went toFirst Student Charter Transportation, BergenCounty Regional SWAT, theBergen County Sheriffʼs Department,NJSP Aviation Unit and the FBIʼs Newark office.

— Hillary Viders