The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) is excited to announce that Evelyn Dinu will receive the UMD Macedonian Heritage Public Service Award during the Macedonian Tribute Ball on Saturday, September 22, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan.
UMD cannot think of a better way to serve our community than by honoring Dinu’s lifelong dedication to Macedonian causes, which has earned her enormous respect and garnered her an iconic status among the Macedonian-American community and beyond. She has shown exemplary public service and leadership in our community through spearheading humanitarian assistance for Macedonia, to helping orphanages in Macedonia, and notably, her efforts to support Macedonia’s independence movement. At UMD, Evelyn Dinu is referred to as a “mover and shaker” in the Macedonian community – a champion for Macedonia.
Evelyn Dinu pictured before a 100 year old Macedonian folk costume from Bouf that belonged to her grandmother.
To purchase tickets for the Ball, click HERE.
To become a sponsor, click HERE.
Proceeds will benefit UMD’s many educational and charitable programs serving the community, including the Bitove Scholarship, Washington, D.C. Internship, Generation M, and Birthright Macedonia.
The United Macedonian Diaspora is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions to the United Macedonian Diaspora are tax-deductible, with the exception of the value of the benefits provided and the meal per person.
Biography of Evelyn Dinu
Evelyn Dinu was born in Detroit, Michigan, the second child of James and Mary Sotiroff who immigrated to the United States in the early 1920’s. Her mother came from Bouf in Aegean Macedonia, and her father came from the village of Vernik, which was relocated to Albania due to the Treaty of Bucharest.
Evelyn has been involved with the Macedonian community her entire life. During World War II, she was part of a youth group that sent cookies, letters and Bibles to Macedonian soldiers. She was a member of a Macedonian Dance Group, and at the age of 12, she began to sing in the church choir, and continues to do so till today.
Evelyn married George Dinu and continued to be involved in her church and Macedonian community instilling her love of her Macedonian heritage in her children Alexander, Deanna, Michael and Andrea and six grandchildren Zander, Syblee, Evan, Parker, Alessandro and Giorgio.
In 1998, while on a visit to Macedonia, Evelyn went to visit an orphanage in Bitola. On her return to the United States she was met at the airport with devastating news: her five-year-old grandson, Nicholas had passed away.
Determined to do something to honor his memory, Evelyn held a fundraiser with the Ladies Club of St. Clement Church for the orphanage in Bitola. They raised more than $50,000. Through their efforts they were able to buy the orphanage a commercial washing machine, a commercial dryer, fix their garage, buy new bedding for the cribs and put a fence around the exterior windows. They have also sent books and toys. The Ladies Club continues to support the Bitola orphanage and the Skopje Orphanage.
Evelyn also helped start the United Macedonian Americans of Detroit, a non-profit organization consisting of Macedonian-Americans with the objective of uniting the Macedonian community. Through fundraising events the organization has provided scholarship money to Macedonian and Macedonian-American college students.
Evelyn continues to work in the Macedonian-American community to help promote Macedonia.