Daughters of PenelopeHosts Annual Tea

EVERY PRESIDENTIAL R O Y A L VISIT INSPIRES A BIT OF FASHION WHIMSY. Glamorous British-style 'fascinators' (small hats adorned w/ feathers), strands of pearls, 'proper' tea sandwiches, teacups and table settings ruled the day as 60 women of the Daughters of Penelope ("the Daughters") held their Annual Afternoon Tea. The event was to celebrate their highly acclaimed civic project, a Senior Affordable Living Community. Most of us have seen the PENELOPE APARTMENTS on Central St. downtown, but few know the story of how it came to be. The handsome building hosted the event on Sunday, June 2, where speakers told of the journey.

SPEAKERS SHARED THE STORY. In late 1980, Sisters Elaine Rice and Joanna Panagopoulos Merakos and others, having seen 2 similar Daughters' projects in the US, saw a need for a Senior Affordable Living Community here in Peabody. They opened discussions w/ AHEPA National Housing in Washington, DC on building PENELOPE APARTMENTS. Well received by city officials, the idea led to years of dedicated hard work which began w/ tons of research. Then... finding a suitable land space, years of meetings w/ architects & attorneys, unforeseen delays due to archaeological finds on the property(!), and grueling weeks learning the strict HUD (Housing & Urban Development) guidelines.

AND, IN 2002, PENELOPE APARTMENTS, a Senior Affordable Living Community opened. 120 nicely appointed units are home to a bustling community of active seniors of all ethnicities.

SUNDAY'S CELEBRATION SAW HAPPY REUNIONS of several guests who, as teens, were members of the Maids of Athena, the Daughters' sub-group for young women. Now, with grown families of their own, this Afternoon Tea brought hopes of renewing those friendships as new members of the Daughters.

ALSO HONORING THE GROUP were Daughters' District Lodge Officers from Worcester and members of other Massachusetts chapters who also sponsor similar civic projects.

THE DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE ("THE DAUGHTERS") is a Women's Auxiliary of the Men's Order of AHEPA--(American Hellenistic Educational Progressive Association).The Daughters was founded San Francisco in 1929; and, in 1944, twenty-seven women of Hellenic descent from Peabody/Salem launched their own sister group, the Zelia 120 Chapter. Today, with 350 chapters in US, Canada, Greece, Cyprus and Australia, the Daughters of Penelope a worldwide leader in philanthropic, educational and cultural activities.

WIDELY APPLAUDED FOR THEIR GENEROSITY, the Daughters strongly support education with annual scholarship awards. Fostering active interaction and brotherhood is utmost. Projects include: Alzheimers and Autism Research, Bone Marrow Registry, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Special Olympics and many others. Ongoing efforts support our Mass project of Penelope's Place in Brockton, a Domestic Family Violence Center.

THE ORDER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE WELCOMES women 21 years and over who agree to adhere to its mission of advancing Christian ideals, is nonpartisan and non-denominational.

For membership details, please visit www.daughtersofpenelope.org.