History and Mission

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Daughters of Penelope is to promote Hellenism, Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, Family and Individual Excellence.

A Unique Family of Excellence

The Daughters of Penelope was the realization of Alexandra Apostolides’ dream. Her desire was to create a woman’s organization and because of her perseverance and the encouragement of her husband Dr. Emanuel Apostolides, a devoted AHEPAN, she formed EOS Chapter#1 with 25 charter members on November 16, 1929 in San Francisco, California. She was elected the first Grand President of the organization in 1931.

Education – the Key to Leadership

The Daughters of Penelope’s commitment to education has been well documented throughout its history. The Daughters of Penelope Foundation, Inc. continues in its pursuit to develop new and more responsive ways to meet our community’s responsibility in creating a better learning environment for our children. It provides scholarships on an international basis to a wide variety of students. Recipients are high school seniors, college and post-graduate students all looking to become tomorrow’s leaders.

Our Grass Roots Strength has a Voice

Through its members, the Daughters of Penelope communicates to elected representatives at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as diplomatic leaders, the positions of the Greek-American community on issues of concern to it. These positions are based upon our American heritage and ideals with the best interest of the United States in mind. The Daughters of Penelope educates its members about these issues through seminars and conferences, providing expert panelists from the U.S. Administration and from well-respected Washington Think Tanks. The Daughters of Penelope is able to mobilize over 300 chapters (chartered in every metropolitan city) which truly make it a unique organization.

Philanthropy

Philanthropy and Volunteerism have been pillars throughout the country for the Daughters of Penelope over its many years of existence. From natural disaster relief, to raising funds to eliminate life threatening diseases, to making significant contributions to our local municipalities, the Daughters of Penelope is at the forefront of charitable giving. Yet, this only scratches the surface of the numerous philanthropic works of the association. Countless philanthropic projects are also undertaken by Daughters of Penelope chapters and districts and eventually become national projects.

Providing Affordable Senior Housing

It is also our civic responsibility to provide affordable housing to senior citizens. The AHEPA Housing Corporation has been awarded over $400 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The total number of senior housing complexes stands at 91, with 4,753 units complete, and more in development.

Recognizing Athletics

The Daughters of Penelope recognize female athletes at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels with scholarships, accolades and in some cases, induction into our Athletic Hall of Fame.

The Ideals of Ancient Greece Important to All

Throughout the span of its history, the Daughters of Penelope has served as a vital vehicle for the progressive development and emergence of many American citizens of Greek heritage into every facet of society: government, business, education, and the arts. This fulfillment illustrates the promise of the American Dream and symbolizes the hard work ethic of our immigrant forbearers who labored to achieve that dream with the principles of Hellenism rooted deep in their hearts.