BY HERMAN HINTIRYAN
It is hard to believe that we are nearly at the end of yet another year. Before I knew it, it was time to write another newsletter to keep you, the donors, contributors, and Godparents up to date with all that is happening and how your money is being spent at the home.
We had a very busy and productive year. Thanks to all of you individuals and several organizations this year’s daily operations ran more smoothly than any other previous year. First, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. George Yacoubian of the S.O.A.R. Foundation for visiting Terchoonian Home twice this year. The Cultural Society of Armenians from Istanbul (C.S.A.I.-Detroit) along with contributions from S.O.A.R. and Hovnanian Foundation, helped build our new athletic field.
S.O.A.R. was also instrumental in creating a new Robotics Lab in our school. Both projects were vitally important and much needed for the future of our children.
Shortly after that, during the summer, one of our longtime Godparents, Mr. Vicken Arslanian, visited Terchoonian Home, accompanied by his family. It is always very special for the children and staff to get to meet and spend time with one of the donors that they usually know only by name. While visiting the orphanage, Mr. Arslanian noticed some water damage and musty odors in the bedrooms upstairs. Soon after he contacted the Paros Foundation from Berkley, California. The Paros Foundation had several projects they working on in Gyumri so he asked them to take a look and see what was causing this problem. The Executive Director of Paros Foundation, Mr. Peter Abajian, contacted us here in Michigan and we all worked together to correct all of the problems including all new windows and doors upstairs, repairing a leak inside the roof, and changing the siding on the upper level. The most amazing part of this project was that it was all completed during a 1 week vacation that the kids had in the fall without interruption of any school time. A special thanks to Mr. Arslanian, Mr. Abajian and Paros Foundation for their generosity and all their hard work. We could not accomplish any of this without them.
Of course these things are all nice to talk about, but there are several thousands of dollars in expenses each month at the home. Without our devoted donors we would not be able to meet all our financial goals. This year, our major contributor Gulbenkian Foundation once again lead the chain of Godparents followed by C.A.R.S., Ajemian Foundation, C.S.A.I., S.O.A.R. and our 48 dedicated Godparents. Thank you to all.
We had surprise donors this year who wanted to remain anonymous, but I have to give them the recognition that they very much deserve. Their financial help came at a much needed time. That being said, thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Arto Seter from New York and the John & Diane Kim Foundation for matching Mr. Seter’s contribution.
Several people also made donations for Mr. Garo Lacinian’s book “Gates of Constantinople”. Mr. Lacinian has donated 100% of the contributions directly to Terchoonian Home.
We also had another surprise donor. The St. Mariam Church Building Fund from Ann Arbor, Michigan, directed by the late Mr. John Ohanian, made a generous donation to us for the financial courage to prepare our largest shipment ever. This shipment includes clothing, hygiene products, shoes, wheel chairs, blankets, and other daily necessities. It will be shipped in a large 20 foot sea container with the help of the United Armenia Fund (UAF). It will leave in mid-December and arrive in Armenia in February.
Mr. & Mrs. Harout Janjanian also contributed towards this unexpectedly large shipment which contains 3 pallets and 135 boxes, totaling over 12,000 pounds. The contents will be distributed between Terchoonian Home and several needy villages in Armenia, to be determined with the help of UAF. Soon after the container arrives in Armenia the distribution will be done by myself as well as my colleague Mr. Arthur Koncagul and Mr. Peter Abajian from the Paros Foundation (if his schedule allows him to be in Armenia). We will keep you updated on the distribution of this shipment once the container arrives in Armenia.
We also had memorial contributions for the following individual (Dec. 2012 – Dec. 2014):
Mr. Sarkis Demirjian
Mr. Hayrik Kaspar
Mr. Ohannes Torian
Mr. Ara Tanielyan
Mr. Hayik Kasagyan
Mr. Kirkor Urkumyan
Mr. Gazaros Toumajian
Mr. Donik Sarafian
Mr. John Gobelian
Dr. Haig Tashjian
Mr. Hrant Jamgocyan
Mr. Anthony Hamamciyan
Mrs. Mari Aslanian
May God rest their souls.
Once again, special recognition is due to the following:
Gulbenkian Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Ara Chorluyan
Mr. & Mrs. Apraham Djebiyan
Ajemian Foundation (Mr. Peter Sarkesian)
Constantinople Armenian Relief Society (C.A.R.S.)
Cultural Society of Armenians from Istanbul (C.S.A.I.)
S.O.A.R. (Dr. George Yacoubian)
Paros Foundation (Mr. Peter Abajian)
And You! Supporters of Terchoonian Home Orphanage. Thank you once again for you continuous support.
HAVE A HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR & MERRY CHRISTMAS
For all the volunteers and helpers for the children, thank you and God Bless you all.
