PRESS RELEASE

    The Paros Foundation

    2217 5th Street

Berkeley, CA  94710

Contact: Peter Abajian

    Tel: 310-400-9061

    E-mail: peter@parosfoundation.org

    Web: http://

Gyumri, Armenia—Government officials, staff, friends, and supporters all gathered for the official groundbreaking on October 30 th , 2023, of The Paros Foundation’s new housing,vocational training and children’s center building in Gyumri. Once completed, this new facility will have a significant impact on Gyumri’s housing problem with at least 22 new apartments for domik families. In addition, a second location of the Debi Arach Children’s Center will be located on the building’s first floor, which will provide services for more than 150 children daily.
Finally, the Assarian Vocational Training Program and social enterprise consisting of training in the garment making industry will train and employ an estimated 50 people a year. In all, it is
expected that the economic impact of this new facility will top $1 million its first year of operation.

“Today is an exciting day that we have been working towards for the past year,” said Peter Abajian, Executive Director of The Paros Foundation. “I would like to thank the Municipality of
Gyumri for its trust in us by suggesting this project, and to everyone that worked with such dedication in helping to transfer the property to us. Now our work will begin to develop this
exciting project.”

Following seismic upgrades and the construction of one more story, the facility will house three floors of residential apartments. In addition, space on the first floor will be allocated for a
sewing and vocational training center that will be The Paros Foundation’s second social enterprise in Gyumri. The project budget to complete construction on the entire building is
estimated to cost $800,000. $300,000 has already been raised towards this important effort. Construction is estimated to take between 15 and 18 months depending on weather conditions.

The Paros Foundation was launched in 2006 and has implemented more than $15 million worth of projects in Armenia through its unique model of philanthropy and community partnership. 
These projects are located throughout the country with focus on Gyumri and in communities along the border with Azerbaijan.  All administrative expenses are underwritten by The Foundation, allowing 100% of donor contributions to be allocated in their entirety to the projects. To learn more about The Paros Foundation, or to support this project, please visit
 or contact Peter Abajian, Executive Director at (310) 400-9061 or via
email, peter@parosfoundation.org.

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Photo 1: The new Paros building in its current condition as given to The Paros Foundation.

Photo 2: Pictured left to right: Gyumri Mayor Vardges Sansonyan, Peter Abajian Paros Executive Director, Paros supporters Dr. Gary and Mrs. Linda Assarian, Artur Papikyan Gyumri Deputy Mayor, and Paros Project Manager Armen Simonyan.