LINCY FOUNDATION DONATES $250,000 FOR ARMENIAN AMERICAN WELLNESS CENTER

AZG DAILY
20-03-2009

Diaspora-Motherland

The Lincy Foundation, based in Beverly Hills, California, has
donated $250,000 to the Armenian American Cultural Association
(AACA) to be used toward completion of the renovation, expansion,
and seismic reinforcement of its humanitarian project in Yerevan,
the Armenian American Wellness Center.

This gift is the latest by the Lincy Foundation – a supporter of the
Wellness Center project since its establishment in April 1997 . In
March 2008, Donna Evans, chair of the AACA Board (and wife of former
U.S. ambassador to Armenia John Evans), and Maria Princi, secretary of
the AACA Board, conveyed the AACA’s appreciation for the support that
Lincy has provided and discussed the importance of additional funds
to continue the work being done. As Mrs. Evans explains: "The Lincy
Foundation has played a key role in Armenia’s rise from the ruins
of the Soviet Union to become a country that now has a future. I am
so pleased that the foundation has recognized the importance of the
work and future goals of the Armenian American Wellness Center."

AACA established the Wellness Center to address Armenia’s need
for early and accurate detection of breast cancer – which was, and
still is, the leading cause of cancer deaths among the country’s
women. A state-of-the-art healthcare facility, the Wellness Center
has introduced basic gynecology, pathology laboratory services, family
medicine, and bone density screening in addition to promoting its core
mission – educating the public on the importance of preventive health
care and early detection of breast cancer through annual mammograms,
Pap smears, monthly breast self-exams, and clinical check-ups.

>From April 1997 through December 2008, the Wellness Center provided
160,769 services to 119,432 patients, and helped save, prolong,
and improve the lives of over 3,200 women. In addition, the center
helped give life to over 50 "Miracle Babies" born to couples who had
struggled with infertility problems for several years.

he center’s renovation, expansion, and seismic reinforcement –
currently in its final phase – has been budgeted at around $5.5
million. The project has been financed by the AACA through its
Armenian-American grassroots donors, individual and family foundations,
and two grants from USAID (the U.S. Agency for International
Development) through its American Schools and Hospital Abroad (ASHA)
Division. In addition to the Lincy Foundation’s generous donation
of $250,000, the AACA must still raise an additional $750,000. The
AACA is hopeful that despite the worldwide economic downturn, the
Armenian-American community will support completion of the center’s
vital construction project.

The initial architectural plans for the center were conceived and
coordinated by the late Vartkess Balian, a well-known architect and
builder in the metropolitan Washington area, and by Osep Sarafian,
a retired architect from the Detroit-based Yamasaki Group, in
consultation with architectural, structural, and seismic reinforcement
companies throughout the United States and Armenia.

The AACA’s objective is to finish the project in October 2009. When
complete, the Wellness Center will be a state-of-the-art primary
healthcare facility built in accordance with Western building standards
and norms. It will serve as a regional healthcare center providing
quality diagnosis and basic treatment for the entire family – women,
men, and children in Armenia as well as in the Caucasus region.

The Wellness Center, which strives to promote a corruption-free
workplace in Armenia, has won the trust of the public and the respect
of the medical community for its high quality services and caring
approach of the medical team.

Rita Balian, AACA President and Chief Volunteer Officer (CVO) and
Wellness Center co-founder said, "I am grateful to the Lincy Foundation
for another generous donation. They understand the need for quality
healthcare services and health education based on Western standards
for the women of Armenia. The gift will help the AACA offset a large
part of the cost-sharing obligation of its USAID grant to complete
the Wellness Center’s construction/renovation work."