PRESS RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
Press Office
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
email: press@farusa.org
web:
_________________________
Four bright and intelligent
Armenian young professionals have joined Fund for Armenian Relief
(FAR) as volunteers and are assisting the organization in many
noteworthy ways.
Robin Barone, Lucy Hayrabedian, Celine Kaladjian and Talene Najarian
are all working in the development sector at FAR, with Robin working
as the Development Director for FAR’s Continuing Medical Education
(CME) program, and Lucy, Celine, and Talene as Development Officers.
In her position as Development Director, Robin Barone raises awareness
of the CME program that provides unique on job training to Armenia’s
young doctors from remote provinces, organizes fundraising events to
maintain and grow the program, and recruits a team of professionals
for the program’s leadership committee.
Lucy Hayrabedian’s main responsibilities are to research and identify
donor prospects and to actively seek funding for FAR projects from
private foundations.
Celine Kaladjian is working on several projects with a special
emphasis on communication in new media outlets, the Children of
Armenia Sponsorship Program, and Young Professionals Trip projects.
Talene Najarian will support FAR in a variety of tasks aiming to
enhance donor communication and raise awareness for FAR programs.
Robin’s involvement with FAR dates back to 2002 when she was a
participant in FAR’s Young Professional Trip to Armenia and left
impressed with FAR and the significant impact it makes in
Armenia. When she was awarded the ability to take a sabbatical for a
year when her group at CIT closed last year, she thought of FAR. "I
decided that I wanted to apply my business skills to organizations
where I would add value during a time in which my industry suffered
from a recession," said Ms. Barone, who has over 10 years experience
in the commercial real estate industry and is a graduate of the
University of Pennsylvania and NYU. "After several trips to Armenia, I
was searching for a way to help Armenia with my time and talent, and I
think I have found it."
Lucy’s professional background is in bank compliance and real estate
investment.
She is a graduate of Hunter College and Cass Business School in
London. With some free time on her hands due to the banking crisis,
Lucy wanted to use her time constructively.
"When I lost my job a few months ago, I realized that the best and
most efficient way to utilize my free time is to volunteer for an
organization which would benefit from my skills," said Ms. Hayrabedian
who was introduced to FAR by Robin Barone.
"I choose to work for the Fund for Armenian Relief because of their
ambition to redevelop Armenia. I wanted to be part of their mission
and make a difference."
Celine is currently studying International Solidarity Project
Engineering which involves project methodology and coordination. An
undergraduate student in Marseilles, Celine is volunteering with FAR
for four months as part of her university studies in which she plans
on pursuing refugee studies. "Since my Armenian great grand-parents
were refugees themselves, I strongly desired to support an Armenian
NGO with my work," said Ms. Kaladjian. "While researching for an
internship FAR seemed to fulfill my desires both on personal and
professional perspectives. Indeed, it did!"
Since receiving her MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management last
June, Talene has been pursuing various volunteering
opportunities. Regarding her volunteering with FAR she said, "I hope
to contribute to an organization currently making a tangible impact on
the well-being of people in Armenia." She has positive impressions of
FAR, noting that the organization manages a variety of successful
programs that are diverse in their goals. "Under the FAR umbrella,
there are programs aimed at improving the social welfare of the
Armenian people, and also helping Armenia achieve long-term economic
sustainability," said MS. Najarian, who spent three years working at
an investment bank on Wall Street and one year working in the finance
department of her family’s business (an environmental engineering
firm) prior to attending business school. She will also support FAR
educational projects.
"For years FAR has been blessed with support from volunteers, both: in
the US, and in Armenia. We have seen all of them grow personally and
professionally. The "class of 2009" is very special to us. These young
professionals brought so much talent, enthusiasm, and innovation to
FAR in just a few short weeks," said Garnik Nanagoulian, FAR Executive
Director. "Joining FAR family and becoming part of our mission in the
homeland, supporting underprivileged and vulnerable people will
eventually, I am sure, turn into fulfilling and gratifying experience
for all of them."
# # #
About FAR
Since its founding in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served
hundreds of thousands of people through more than 220 relief and
development programs in Armenia and Karabagh. It has channeled more
than $265 million in humanitarian assistance by implementing a wide
range of projects including emergency relief, construction, education,
medical aid, and economic development.
For more information on FAR or to send donations, contact us at 630
Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016; telephone (212) 889-5150; fax (212)
889-4849; ; e-mail press@farusa.org.
— May 18th, 2008