About Us
Maria’s Love Foundation is an organization based in Brooklyn, NY and was founded by Antri Orfanos in memory of her mother, Maria Papanikolaou. Maria was a sweet and caring wife and mother who had to fight a common battle: CANCER. After five years of numerous surgeries and chemotherapies, melanoma took her life, but her memories still live with us.
Who We Are?
Maria’s Love Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization aimed to helping families who are in need due to serious illness to alleviate some financial burden from medical expenses. Our goal is to reach out to local churches, hospitals and organizations to meet families and determine those who are in need and help to our best ability.
What we do?
Maria’s Love Foundation finds families who are struggling due to medical expenses and alleviates some or all of their financial burden through generous donations.
Why we do?
We know first hand the emotional and financial burden that illness can bring to a family. We try our best to alleviate some of this burden to deserving families.
Board of Directors
Antri Orfanos Founder & President
Antri founded Maria’s Love Foundation in memory of her mother, Maria Papanikoloau. Antri has been fundraising for years for other organizations, such as the American Cancer Society, but finally decided to start her own charity in April of 2014. Antri and her two sisters, Eva and Panagiota, have lived in Astoria their whole lives. All three attended, PS85, IS141 and LICHS, as well as attending St. Demetrios Greek Afternoon School.
Antri currently holds a Bachelors of Science in Health Sciences from Stony Brook University and a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy. She is working in the NYC Public School System helping children with learning and physical disabilities.
James Orfanos Vice President
James has always been an essential part of fundraising with Antri. He has consistently supported all of the charity organizations and fundraising events.
James has earned his Masters of Science in Global Finance from Fordham University. He is currently the COO of New York Martial Arts Academy, which has always been a huge sponsor in all of our previous fundraising events.
Eva Kalamaras Secretary
Eva is the oldest of the three sisters and has always supported all of the fundraising events in the previous years. She holds the Secretary position on the board due to her vast experience in bookkeeping and computer programs.
Eva has her Masters of Science in Childhood General and Special Education and is currently teaching at St. Demetrios School in Astoria, Queens.
Panagiota Papanikolaou Treasurer
Panagiota, or Yiota, is the second oldest of the three sisters. She has always been supportive and involved in the fundraising events. Yiota has her Bachelors of Science in Accounting from Baruch College and is a Certified Public Accountant in Manhattan. It only makes sense that she holds the Treasurer board position!
Dimitra Kotsiotas
Marketing Director
Always having a passion for helping people, Dimitra is a perfect fit for fundraising. Dimitra has worked with people of all ages and feels at home reaching out and lending a hand to those who need it most.
Dimitra currently has a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy.
Kelly McCoy
Event Coordinator
Kelly has been involved with Maria’s Love Foundation since its inception. She has worked with other non-profit organizations and brings extensive knowledge and experience to this new venture.
Kelly’s love for helping others begins first with her first career as a Middle and High School Health Educator. She hold’s a Bachelors degree in Health Science and a Master’s in School Health Education.
Panagiotis Papanikolaou
Board Member
Dino Orfanos
Board Member
Irene Orfanos
Board Member
Nikolaos Kotsiotas
Board Member
Paul Pavlatos
Board Member
Peter Bouzalakos
Board Member