IOCC: The Orthodox Church in Action
OF ALL the organizations and causes the Rangos Family Foundation supports, perhaps the one closest to John G. Rangos Sr.’s heart
is International Orthodox Christian Charities. IOCC’s prime objective is to combine the
charitable efforts of all adherents to the Orthodox Christian faith (Greek, Antiochian, Russian, Serbian, etc.) – regardless of nationality or ethnic origin –
in order to help people in need, irrespective of their denominational affiliation. IOCC’s first major effort involved two giant airlifts of food and medical
supplies to Russia in early 1992. After the fall of Communism in the former Soviet Union, millions of people were living in poverty, and were without access to basic
medical care. IOCC, in conjunction with the United States Government, airlifted over 115 tons of food and medical supplies from Pittsburgh to Moscow (150,000- and
80,000-plus pounds in two airlifts, respectively). Those supplies allowed countless children and families to receive the medical treatment and humanitarian care that
so many of them needed. The Rangos Foundation gave more than $1 million to transport the goods from American warehouses to U.S. military planes in order to make the
airlifts possible. “If anything in Orthodox Christianity shines out, it’s IOCC. It’s one of the finest philanthropic organizations in the world today.
Its whole purpose is to live the Christian faith. It’s the Church in action,” said IOCC Founder John G. Rangos Sr., who played a central role in forming the
organization. “Christ Himself exemplified faith in action through good works. Taking the Lord as our supreme example, then, if we see people suffering – if we see
our neighbors in trouble – it’s our Christian duty to try to help them out,” he said. “And IOCC is an organization that practices the Christian faith in
the most fundamental way – by helping people in need. It practices what Christ actually taught: ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself (Matthew 19.19).’ It’s a
uniquely Orthodox Christian charitable organization, and I hope people take the time to learn more about it,” Mr. Rangos added.
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In its very first humanitarian effort, International Orthodox Christian Charities airlifted hundreds of thousands of pounds in food and medical supplies to Russia in early 1992. This was done in conjunction with the U.S. Government. Since then, IOCC has actively continued to play a crucial role in directly distributing emergency relief and long-term development aid to thousands of people all over the world.
Metropolitan Theodosios of the Orthodox Church in America (5th from right), Bishop Maximos of Pittsburgh (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America), IOCC Founder John G. Rangos Sr., Jenica Rangos and Allegheny County Commissioner Larry Dunn at the first of two giant IOCC airlifts bound for Russia on February 29, 1992. The U.S. military aircraft carried 150,000 pounds of food and medical supplies. The second airlift carried 80,000 pounds to Moscow a few days later. The Rangos Foundation paid more than $1 million to transport the goods from American warehouses to the planes.