34th Annual KZV Banquet raises over $350,000
SAN FRANCISCO—On Saturday, November 1 more than 250 supporters from the San Francisco Armenian community gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan School at Khatchaturian Armenian Community Center, Saroyan Hall. The total contributions for the event exceeded $350,000.
KZV Alumni and School Board Member, Garin Kantarci, welcomed attendees and presented the School Board’s current mission, as well as its six year strategic plan. “As a board we are very excited about the prospect of ushering KZV into the next phase of its service to the community,” stated Kantarci. “As is always the case, the second generation is expected to carry the torch further than their predecessors and we feel we have begun that journey. This banquet was a great springboard.”
Grace Andonian, Principal of KZV Armenian School, welcomed guests and thanked them for their continued steadfast support to KZV. “As we started our 35th academic year, one more link is added to the chain that symbolizes the continuity of KZV as a bastion of enlightenment for the greater Bay Area’s Armenian-American youth,” stated Andonian. “We are grateful for the partnership with everyone that makes up our KZV family: parents, students, faculty, alumni, school board, friends and community members. As we continue on our journey, I thank you all for your presence here today, but more importantly for your trust and confidence in our shared mission.”
For the third year, the KZV Alumni Association presented its Alumni of the Year Award. The recipient this year was Mrs. Ani Vartanian Boladian. A Stanford and Harvard Business School Graduate, Ani has worked with the United States Department of Treasury and currently runs a commercial real estate company with her husband.
The keynote speaker for the evening, Dr. Yerem Yeghiazarians focused his presentation on the advancements in cardiac stem cell research. In his presentation, he spoke about how he was proud to be a new parent at KZV making his family part of the bigger KZV community. Dr. Yeghiazarians was also proud in mentioning that two young alumni students interned in his lab at UCSF over the summer and was able to see the strong educational foundation that KZV had instilled in these students.
The highlight of the evening was a surprise donation from longtime community members, Mr. and Mrs. Zareh and Lucik Misserlian, in the amount of $250,000.00 to KZV. Mr. Kahren Arzoumanian, School Board chairman, announced the creation of the Zareh and Lucik Misserlian Education Fund. “The establishment of the Zareh and Lucik Misserlian Educational Fund will ensure the long term sustainability of the school as the proceeds from the fund will help families receiving financial assistance,” stated Arzoumanian. “Mr. and Mrs. Misserlian believe in the mission of the school and want to set an example for others to follow in their footsteps in investing in the future of our youth and school.”
The KZV School Board would like to thank the attendees and supporters of the 34th Annual KZV Banquet. The committee is already in the process of planning the 35th Anniversary Gala Celebration that will take place in November of 2015.
Hope they still have enough to support Armenia and Karabakh with their next surprise.
God bless the Misserlians and all those whose generosity has supported our communities at one time or another.
I take exception to your phrase “a surprise donation from longtime community members, Mr. and Mrs. Zareh and Lucik Misserlian”. I have known Zareh in my childhood. He has always been a role model for me, and it is no surprise at all that he and Lucik have made another generous donation to our community.
Lusik and Zareh thank you for your vision and generosity. You help to preserve the important mission of the school. Getseh!
God bless you.
Hi mam lucik and sir zareh.
God bless your good heart.
This is Merl from Philippines, i hope you still remember.