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Tufenkian Foundation
Rick Barry
212.475.2475 x384
[email protected]
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HELPING ARMENIA'S DESPERATE POOR
Tufenkian Foundation sets up emergency fund for neediest cases
Dear Friends,
The new economic chaos in the world has already caused rising poverty
in Armenia. Our staff now regularly reports shocking situations where
people lack decent shelter, are unable to make utility payments, or
can't meet basic food and health needs. Due to rising prices and
growing unemployment, the TF-supported Zankagatun NGO is now flooded
with urgent calls for help as alcoholism, abandonment, and starvation
spread.
Just two weeks ago, our staff met a woman named Armine. Unemployment
had driven her husband to alcoholism, which led to abuse. She fled
with two young children and began living in a barn. While trying to
work, Armine left her five-year-old alone each day to care for her
two-year-old. The only food Armine could afford was sweetened water,
so both children quickly reached advanced stages of malnutrition. What
little money she had scraped together cleaning neighbors' toilets was
not enough to avoid being evicted from the barn.
Cases like Armine's are no longer rare. Families that used to be able
to afford the bare minimum are now often left in the streets. To make
matters worse, Armenia's government is denying how bad the problem
is-so far, they have largely ignored or covered up, rather than risk
admitting any failure to protect the people. At this point, most
emergency protection is coming from NGOs and informal support
networks.
With this in mind, the Tufenkian Foundation has set up an emergency
fund for the neediest cases. The fund will disburse small amounts for
occasional help to people with terrible problems. Amounts can vary
from $30 for a utility payment, to $100 to repair someone's roof, to
$300 for emergency health care.
To kick things off, James Tufenkian has contributed $25,000 over and
above the larger funds he gives toward our budget each year. We hope
that you, our friends and supporters, will collectively match and
surpass James's contribution, offering the direct assistance that will
help keep Armenians on their feet until this crisis subsides.
Checks marked as being for the Emergency Relief Fund can be made
payable to the Tufenkian Foundation, 20 Capitol Drive, Moonachie, NJ
07074.
All donations are tax-deductable, and every dollar of your support,
without exception, will go directly to Armenia's neediest. The
Tufenkian Foundation's existing staff and resources will make sure
this is done, and fast.
Thank you all for your continuing support. We appreciate it, and never
more than right now.
Sincerely,
Antranig Kasbarian
Director of Development
Rick Barry
212.475.2475 x384
[email protected]
###
HELPING ARMENIA'S DESPERATE POOR
Tufenkian Foundation sets up emergency fund for neediest cases
Dear Friends,
The new economic chaos in the world has already caused rising poverty
in Armenia. Our staff now regularly reports shocking situations where
people lack decent shelter, are unable to make utility payments, or
can't meet basic food and health needs. Due to rising prices and
growing unemployment, the TF-supported Zankagatun NGO is now flooded
with urgent calls for help as alcoholism, abandonment, and starvation
spread.
Just two weeks ago, our staff met a woman named Armine. Unemployment
had driven her husband to alcoholism, which led to abuse. She fled
with two young children and began living in a barn. While trying to
work, Armine left her five-year-old alone each day to care for her
two-year-old. The only food Armine could afford was sweetened water,
so both children quickly reached advanced stages of malnutrition. What
little money she had scraped together cleaning neighbors' toilets was
not enough to avoid being evicted from the barn.
Cases like Armine's are no longer rare. Families that used to be able
to afford the bare minimum are now often left in the streets. To make
matters worse, Armenia's government is denying how bad the problem
is-so far, they have largely ignored or covered up, rather than risk
admitting any failure to protect the people. At this point, most
emergency protection is coming from NGOs and informal support
networks.
With this in mind, the Tufenkian Foundation has set up an emergency
fund for the neediest cases. The fund will disburse small amounts for
occasional help to people with terrible problems. Amounts can vary
from $30 for a utility payment, to $100 to repair someone's roof, to
$300 for emergency health care.
To kick things off, James Tufenkian has contributed $25,000 over and
above the larger funds he gives toward our budget each year. We hope
that you, our friends and supporters, will collectively match and
surpass James's contribution, offering the direct assistance that will
help keep Armenians on their feet until this crisis subsides.
Checks marked as being for the Emergency Relief Fund can be made
payable to the Tufenkian Foundation, 20 Capitol Drive, Moonachie, NJ
07074.
All donations are tax-deductable, and every dollar of your support,
without exception, will go directly to Armenia's neediest. The
Tufenkian Foundation's existing staff and resources will make sure
this is done, and fast.
Thank you all for your continuing support. We appreciate it, and never
more than right now.
Sincerely,
Antranig Kasbarian
Director of Development