SIMON AND MARAL HASRJIAN AS WELL AS YERVANT AND NAIRI SHAHINIAN PLEDGE $500,000 DOLLARS EACH TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ARS ATHLETIC-CULTURAL CENTER AND SECONDARY ARMENIAN SCHOOL. SIMON AND MARAL HASRJIAN PLEDGE ADDITIONAL $500,000 TO ESTABLISH SECONDARY SCHOOL FUND.
TORONTO–The year 2003 will be symbolic for the Armenian community of Toronto as the construction of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Athletic-Cultural Center and the secondary school will begin. Aside from donations received earlier in 2002–the end of 2002 marked two new generous pledges made by Yervant and Nairi Shahinian and Simon and Maral Hasrjian–who donated $500,000 each.
The Hasrjian family pledged an additional $500,000 dollars to establish an ARS secondary school fund. Interest income received from the fund will be utilized to implement the school’s academic programs.
"We express our deep gratitude to both families," said the representative of the ARS Athletic-Cultural Center and Secondary Armenian School construction committee Mher Arakelian–"Thanks to these two donations–the pace of construction will be more rapid and progress more consistent," He also stated that without the two significant donations–the realization of the project–with an estimated budget of more than 5 million dollars–would have been difficult.
According to Arakelian–construction will commence as early as January 2003. He concluded that fundraising efforts continue and expressed hope that the Armenian Community of Toronto will financially and morally support the vital project aimed at preserving Armenian identity in the Diaspora.