Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Mirak Family Pledges $200K Leadership Gift to St. Stephen's Elem.

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Mirak Family Pledges $200K Leadership Gift to St. Stephen's Elem.

    St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School
    47 Nichols Avenue
    Watertown, MA 02472
    Tel: (617) 926-6979
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: http://www.ssaes.org/


    PRESS RELEASE

    February 9, 2009



    Mirak Family Pledges $200,000 Leadership Gift to St. Stephen's Armenian
    Elementary School


    WATERTOWN, MA--The Mirak Family Foundation has generously pledged a
    leadership gift of $200,000 to the St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School
    of Watertown, MA. Following a meeting between Robert Mirak and Julia Mirak
    Kew and school principal Houry Boyamian, the Miraks offered to support the
    school's mission to educate a second generation of Armenian Americans.

    The Mirak Family was enthusiastic about the quality of bilingual education
    at the school, the low student to teacher ratio, the quality of the teaching
    staff, and that since 2003 the school has been accredited by the Association
    of Independent Schools in New England.

    Upon accepting the first installment of the five-year gift, Principal
    Boyamian emphasized, "we are honored that the Mirak Family has made such a
    generous commitment to our school. This leadership gift will help ensure
    that generations of Armenian Americans will continue to be able to access a
    quality bilingual bicultural education."

    Since its establishment in 1984, more than 400 students have been educated
    in Armenian language and history and 177 students have graduated from St.
    Stephen's Armenian Elementary School. Students in several grades score in
    the top 10-15 percent nationwide on the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills
    for Language and Math, and graduates have attended prestigious universities
    with full scholarships and gone on to become community leaders.

    Dr. Mirak is the son of the late John and Artemis Mirak, who were survivors
    of the Armenian Genocide from Arapkir. His book, "Torn Between Two Lands:
    Armenians in America, 1890 to World War I" was published by Harvard
    University Press. As a scholar and community leader, he expressed the
    importance of preserving an Armenian identity in the diaspora. "As the son
    of Genocide survivors, I understand the challenges of bicultural living and
    identity in America," explained Dr. Mirak. "Our family is grateful that St.
    Stephen's School is investing resources in educating young people in
    Armenian language and history."

    Dr. Mirak's granddaughter Christina Kew attends the school, and daughter
    Julia, trustee of the Mirak Family Foundation and the Armenian Cultural
    Foundation, has commended the staff and school leadership for providing a
    nurturing environment and helping her family preserve their Armenian
    heritage. "My sister Jennifer Mirak Leach is also part of our family
    foundation, and she is envious that I can send my daughter to St. Stephen's
    School," Julia confided. "I can speak for all of us when I say our family is
    proud that we can help the school upgrade its existing space, keep tuition
    affordable, and enhance the school's library so students will have access to
    cutting edge resources."

    "Our goal is to continue recruiting and retaining qualified teachers and
    administrators, building and maintaining a growing enrollment, ensuring the
    school's long term sustainability, and creating the best possible school
    campus," explained Principal Boyamian. "The commitment of the Mirak Family
    gives us great hope that we will be successful. We are currently
    implementing a multi-year strategic plan for growth, and we hope the Mirak
    Family gift will also inspire others to invest in our unique programs."

    The Mirak Family has supported a number of charitable and education
    institutions, including Arlington's hospital, libraries and the preservation
    of historic structures, the Armenia Tree Project, and the Armenian Cultural
    Foundation in Arlington, MA.

    St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School is a private pre-kindergarten
    through grade five school dedicated to educational excellence in an
    environment rich in Armenian culture.

    ####

    Caption: Mirak Family Foundation Trustee Julia Mirak Kew, daughter Christina
    Kew and SSAES principal Houry Boyamian
Working...
X