Chicago ANCOP holds walk-benefit for PH scholars

 CHICAGO – The Chicago area chapter of ANCOP (Answering the Call of the Poor) resumed its annual walk Aug. 13, after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic, and raised $1,000 to help scholars in the Philippines.

This year’s event will benefit student scholars of the group’s Education Sponsorship Program (ESP), disaster relief program and community development program. ANCOP is the social action unit of Couples for Christ (CfC) headed locally by Danny Dizon.

Answering the Cry of the Poor (ANCOP) Walk on Aug. 13, was founded by COUPLES for Christ. In photo is Danny Dizon, (third from right) ANCOP Illinois Chapter head and Mia Pacheco (fifth from right), ANCOP Regional Manager. A picnic was held afterward by the Couples for Christ. CONTRIBUTED

“We have 59 scholar beneficiaries right now,” said Lynn Olopre, ANCOP’S finance manager. She said two of the former ESP recipients are now working, one as an attorney and the other as an IT Professional.

The Walk was held in Redmond Park in Bensenville, Illinois. Participants walked or jogged a one-mile loop around the park’s water reservoir. The event was followed by the CfC picnic.

“It is a blessing to be together as one community again [after the pandemic],” said ANCOP Regional Manager Mia Pacheco, whose region includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Pacheco is currently sponsoring two college scholars of its ESP program. The walk benefits a scholar. The fund is used for tuition, books and supplies, uniform, annual checkups and values formation for parents and students

“Education is the biggest blessing you can give to someone that can last a lifetime,” Pacheco said. She said her group has three fundraisers annually, but the biggest one is the ANCOP Walk.

 “It’s nice to see faces of CfC members again,” said Layla Doctor,a CfC member who works from home as an IT Consultant. She said that her entire family was infected with COVID last February but thankful they recovered and joined the walk once again.  

ANCOP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit worldwide organization and its mission is to uplift the material

and spiritual welfare of the poor with the key principle that Christ is the center of the work. According to ANCOP’s website, the foundation has benefited 9,400 students since 2010.  (GGS reports)