PRESS RELEASE

Regional Executive
Armenian Relief Society of Western U.S.A., Inc.
517 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale, CA 91202-2812
Telephone: (818) 500-1343
Fax: (818) 242-3732
Web Site:
Contact: Rita Hintlian
Email: Executive@ARSwestUSA.org

Heading for an UAF Flight,
Gifts for Armenia and Artsakh leave the ARS Offices in Glendale

Glendale, CA.- On March 10, official ceremonies of the Centennial of
the Armenian Relief Society are set to begin in New York City. As over
85 ARS of Western U.S.A. members from Northern to Southern California
converge to New York City to attend Centennial ceremonies, a truck
load of 27 boxes (weighing half a ton) has already started to make its
way to New York, to eventually reach Yerevan through the next United
Armenian Fund flight.

The boxes include mostly educational and fun toys, school supplies and
new clothing for the ARS Sosse Kindergartens in Artsakh (Karabagh) and
needy children in Armenia. Other than items for children, the boxes
also include clothing for their teachers.

Numerous individual and group donor contributions are included. Some
groups started new traditions of sharing their gifts through the ARS,
others have been doing it for many years. Donations for local children
were already distributed during early January. Two examples of how the
community contributed to this shipment follow.

Homenetmen Ararat Chapter `Arenoush’ Troop #5 (girl scouts), who are
11 to 18 years old, hosted a long-term toy and clothing drive starting
in late October 2009. Over four months, on a weekly basis, scouts from
other `Ararat’ Chapter troops generously contributed to their drive.
The girl scouts delivered the donations to the ARS headquarters, where
Jasik Jarahian, General Manager, hosted a reception for them.

`We hope to make this an annual event’ wrote Elena Mirzaians, one of
the Homenetmen Ararat Arenoush troop 5 members, who added `We send our
deepest thanks to ARS for all of their work and for making this
possible.’

Continuing many years of tradition, gifts also arrived from
Fresno. The AYF `Kevork Chavoush’ Chapter, with the help of other AYF
chapters, Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian
Students Organization of Fresno State, completed another successful
toy drive. Chapter members, while visiting Armenia, were deeply moved
by the children in the orphanages and learnt not to takes things for
granted. The Sevag Jierian, AYF chairperson, noted that they take the
toy drive very seriously and that they have touched people’s hearts.

It is encouraging that young members of our society have been
instilled with such attitudes, which inspire them to give of
themselves to gain the joy of giving, especially, when it comes to
helping children. For the ARS with a century-old tradition to serve
those in need, it is a pleasure to observe educational toys and
supplies helping to build self-esteem, making learning a joy, and
bridging the gaps between the Diaspora and the homeland. We are
grateful that as a member-agency of the UAF, the ARS is entrusted with
the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the new
generation, locally and globally.