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$147,000 FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF FUND
asbarez
Monday, September 24th, 2012
All community clergy say the invocation at fundraising event
GLENDALE-The first fundraiser by the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund (SARF)
was held on September 19 at the Phoenicia Restaurant in Glendale. More
than 100 people attended the event, including representatives of the
leadership of the organizations, which make up the coalition.
Sona Madarian, the SARF Executive Committee Secretary, made her
welcoming remarks as the MC and reaffirmed the Armenians' will to
survive, recalling how Armenian Genocide survivors arrived in Syria,
and rebuilt their lives. She invited the clergy, representing the
Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical denominations to bless the food.
Throughout the program, each of the church leaders urged those present
to do their part to help the Syrian-Armenians, during their time
of need.
Rev. Fr. Krikor Chahinian, representing the Armenian Catholic Eparchy
in North America, said that as we live as Christians, our hearts
need to be open; our hearts will be open, when our hands are open,
so that we can reach out to those who need our help.
Syrian-Armenian Relief Fund
Arch. Hovnan Derderian, representing the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church of North America, expressed his concern for the
endangered Syrian-Armenian population, welcomed the creation of the
SARF committee, and hoped that the spirit of giving by the supporters
becomes contagious to the rest of the community.
Rev. Joseph Matossian, representing the Armenian Evangelical Union of
North America, thanked God that Armenians are resilient people and will
endure through the crisis in Syria, and appealed to those present to do
their share as a Christian brotherly responsibility, not as a burden.
Arch. Moushegh Mardirossian, representing the Western Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America, who was instrumental in helping
to bring the SARF coalition together, quoted His Holiness Aram I that
we need to be committed to our responsibility to preserve and safeguard
our communities in Syria. The Prelate recalled that the initial
response to the crisis in Syria was to help the schools. The Prelate
praised the Armenian Relief Society for accomplishing that objective
early on. The Prelacy had called the boards of alumni associations
of the schools in Syria to alert them of the situation, many of whom
were attending the fundraiser. Recalling how the Armenians of Syria
had provided assistance to the Armenians of Lebanon during the civil
war, and noting how so many of the leadership in many communities
have their roots in Syria, the Prelate urged those present to make
their contributions.
Entertainment was provided by the duo "Yergnayin Dagher" (Heavenly
Chants), flutist Sossy and harpist Salpy, who played moving musical
selections.
Zaven Khanjian, SARF Executive Committee Chairperson, thanked
everyone who made the event possible, and remarked, "You are here
tonight because you care, you are a responsible person and whether
you are able or not, you sure are willing to sacrifice, give of
yourself, reach out, extend a hand to a community that has been
devastated and because you realize and believe that the preservation
of that community experiencing a calamity is of the highest national
interest and priority." The Evangelical community representative
recalled his involvement in the assistance to help the Armenians
in Lebanon during the 1970s, and provided information on what the
local Syrian-Armenian emergency committees are doing. He said that
the motto, "Poloren Polorin" (from everyone to everyone) fits how the
various organizations have come together to help the Syrian-Armenian
community, which provided invaluable and immeasurable contributions to
the Diaspora. Khanjian appealed to extend a helping hand, provide hope,
and inspire them to persevere. He ended his appeal with a question,
"Did you contribute to the Syrian-Armenians?"
Meher Der Ohanessian, SARF Executive Committee Treasurer, praised
all the contributors and reported the donations by the SARF-member
organizations, alumni associations and the individual donors during
the program, as well as through the mailed checks and on-line
donations. The total reached $147 thousand.
The evening will be memorable of all the memories it invoked, and
the collective commitment to help where help is needed. Due to the
continuing conflict, the fundraising effort by SARF will continue.
Contributions can be mailed to Syrian Armenian Relief Fund,
P.O. Box 1948, Glendale, CA 91209-1948 or by credit card at
www.SyrianArmenianReliefFund.org.
The Syrian Armenian Relief Fund's mission is to provide immediate
assistance to the Syrian-Armenians, through the generous donations
of the community in the Western United States, and the following
network of churches, political parties and charity organizations,
which operate in the region:
Armenian Catholic Eparchy in North America; Armenian Evangelical Union
of North America; Western Diocese of the Armenian Church; Western
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America; Armenian General
Benevolent Union; Armenian Missionary Association of America; Armenian
Relief Society of Western U.S.A.; Armenian Democratic Liberal Party;
Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Western U.S.A.; and Social Democrat
Hunchakian Party-Western U.S.A.
asbarez
Monday, September 24th, 2012
All community clergy say the invocation at fundraising event
GLENDALE-The first fundraiser by the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund (SARF)
was held on September 19 at the Phoenicia Restaurant in Glendale. More
than 100 people attended the event, including representatives of the
leadership of the organizations, which make up the coalition.
Sona Madarian, the SARF Executive Committee Secretary, made her
welcoming remarks as the MC and reaffirmed the Armenians' will to
survive, recalling how Armenian Genocide survivors arrived in Syria,
and rebuilt their lives. She invited the clergy, representing the
Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical denominations to bless the food.
Throughout the program, each of the church leaders urged those present
to do their part to help the Syrian-Armenians, during their time
of need.
Rev. Fr. Krikor Chahinian, representing the Armenian Catholic Eparchy
in North America, said that as we live as Christians, our hearts
need to be open; our hearts will be open, when our hands are open,
so that we can reach out to those who need our help.
Syrian-Armenian Relief Fund
Arch. Hovnan Derderian, representing the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church of North America, expressed his concern for the
endangered Syrian-Armenian population, welcomed the creation of the
SARF committee, and hoped that the spirit of giving by the supporters
becomes contagious to the rest of the community.
Rev. Joseph Matossian, representing the Armenian Evangelical Union of
North America, thanked God that Armenians are resilient people and will
endure through the crisis in Syria, and appealed to those present to do
their share as a Christian brotherly responsibility, not as a burden.
Arch. Moushegh Mardirossian, representing the Western Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America, who was instrumental in helping
to bring the SARF coalition together, quoted His Holiness Aram I that
we need to be committed to our responsibility to preserve and safeguard
our communities in Syria. The Prelate recalled that the initial
response to the crisis in Syria was to help the schools. The Prelate
praised the Armenian Relief Society for accomplishing that objective
early on. The Prelacy had called the boards of alumni associations
of the schools in Syria to alert them of the situation, many of whom
were attending the fundraiser. Recalling how the Armenians of Syria
had provided assistance to the Armenians of Lebanon during the civil
war, and noting how so many of the leadership in many communities
have their roots in Syria, the Prelate urged those present to make
their contributions.
Entertainment was provided by the duo "Yergnayin Dagher" (Heavenly
Chants), flutist Sossy and harpist Salpy, who played moving musical
selections.
Zaven Khanjian, SARF Executive Committee Chairperson, thanked
everyone who made the event possible, and remarked, "You are here
tonight because you care, you are a responsible person and whether
you are able or not, you sure are willing to sacrifice, give of
yourself, reach out, extend a hand to a community that has been
devastated and because you realize and believe that the preservation
of that community experiencing a calamity is of the highest national
interest and priority." The Evangelical community representative
recalled his involvement in the assistance to help the Armenians
in Lebanon during the 1970s, and provided information on what the
local Syrian-Armenian emergency committees are doing. He said that
the motto, "Poloren Polorin" (from everyone to everyone) fits how the
various organizations have come together to help the Syrian-Armenian
community, which provided invaluable and immeasurable contributions to
the Diaspora. Khanjian appealed to extend a helping hand, provide hope,
and inspire them to persevere. He ended his appeal with a question,
"Did you contribute to the Syrian-Armenians?"
Meher Der Ohanessian, SARF Executive Committee Treasurer, praised
all the contributors and reported the donations by the SARF-member
organizations, alumni associations and the individual donors during
the program, as well as through the mailed checks and on-line
donations. The total reached $147 thousand.
The evening will be memorable of all the memories it invoked, and
the collective commitment to help where help is needed. Due to the
continuing conflict, the fundraising effort by SARF will continue.
Contributions can be mailed to Syrian Armenian Relief Fund,
P.O. Box 1948, Glendale, CA 91209-1948 or by credit card at
www.SyrianArmenianReliefFund.org.
The Syrian Armenian Relief Fund's mission is to provide immediate
assistance to the Syrian-Armenians, through the generous donations
of the community in the Western United States, and the following
network of churches, political parties and charity organizations,
which operate in the region:
Armenian Catholic Eparchy in North America; Armenian Evangelical Union
of North America; Western Diocese of the Armenian Church; Western
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America; Armenian General
Benevolent Union; Armenian Missionary Association of America; Armenian
Relief Society of Western U.S.A.; Armenian Democratic Liberal Party;
Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Western U.S.A.; and Social Democrat
Hunchakian Party-Western U.S.A.