SHUSI, STEPANAKERT—Los Angeles-based benefactors Hacop and Hilda Baghdassarians donated homes to several families in Shushi as part of their annual contributions to the development of the city.
Every year, the couple visits the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and for the past several years has been working to enhance and improve the life of residents in Shushi.
The Baghdassarians also met with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian. They discussed the implementation of several projects in Artsakh.
President Sahakian expressed his and the people of Karabakh’s gratitude to the benefactors for their decades of service and contribution to the advancement of Artsakh.
Karabakh Presidential Adviser Grigory Gabrielyants and other officials also attended and participated in the meeting.
For over four decades, Baghdassarian has worked tirelessly to make his businesses successful – his motivations always being providing for his family as well as contributing to the Armenian community to the best of his ability.
Currently, Baghdassarian serves on the board of the Armenian Education Foundation and works with several Armenian charities including Homenetmen, the Armenian Relief Society, and the Armenian Eye Care Project, among a number of other community organizations. Although he has no formal training in construction or engineering, Baghdassarian often travels to the rural villages in Armenia to review plans for the renovation of dilapidated elementary schools. To date, Baghdassarian has been responsible for the construction or renovation of several schools in Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Javakhk. In 2005, Baghdassarian’s philanthropy and dedication were officially recognized when he received the Yerakhtagitutiun Award from the then President of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Arkady Ghoukasian. In December 2006, Baghdassarian was honored by the Armenian Education Foundation and named its Most Valuable Member. In March 2010, he was honored by the Armenian Relief Society’s “Javakhk Fund” Committee for his work raising contributions supporting many worthy projects including the sponsorship of the renovations of eight schools. In 2010, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia bestowed upon Baghdassarian the Knight of Cilicia Medal.
The central tenets in Baghdassarian’s life are his family, abiding faith, and dedication to the Armenian American community. Now approaching the second half of his life, Baghdassarian’s greatest joy is taking time out of his busy schedule to play with his four grandchildren – Anthony, Michael, John and George.
LOVE the man and his family. His dedication to Armenian causes both in US and Armenia (Artsakh and Javakhk) should be an example to every Armenian worldwide.
Great job. If only all Armenian were THIS Armenian!!!
PS He has 5 grandchildren and not 5! 🙂
We are proud of our cousin and his family. Congratulations for all the great jobs you did and you still are doing for Armenia specially for Sushi (our grand father’s land).