Fund for Armenian Relief
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: [email protected]
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"The Best for Our Children" Event in Yerevan Supports FAR’s Homeless
Children’s Center Yerevan’s Victory Park on June 2 was packed with
business people, activists, politicians and big name celebrities,
volunteers and hundreds of others all gathered in support of one
common cause – child protection.
The event, called The Best for Our Children, which was held in honor
of International Children’s Day, raised proceeds to support the Fund
for Armenian Relief’s Homeless Children’s Center (HCC).
It was only the second year, but participation skyrocketed. More than
15,000 people attended. The event was organized by a group of
committed volunteers led by First Lady Rita Sargsyan and former First
Lady Bella Kocharian, who is also the head of the HCC’s Friends
Advocacy Council.
Philanthropy is a relatively novel concept in Armenia, and to
strengthen its significance organizers coordinated meetings between
celebrities, businesses and artists for their support. By doing this
HCC Director Dr. Mira Antonyan noted that the Center has also helped
to establish and unify a broad charity culture in Armenia.
"Almost all stakeholders in Armenia – public celebrities, businessmen,
art and show business representatives and specialists working with the
children in difficult and risky conditions – gathered in one crossroad
to promote child rights protection.
I hope our benefactors from the Diaspora are going to be encouraged to
see that their peers in Armenia are stepping up too, and will continue
to support us – Armenia’s children are in dire need," she said.
The day was indeed a testimony to the Armenian community’s commitment
to help its children. It was not only a rare event when a nation
united in a grassroots effort, it was also a day when class boundaries
were set aside. All Armenians – rich, poor and middle class – were
united and engaged in a single vision of hope to improve the
protection and education of their children.
Representatives from some of Armenia’s largest companies, including
Coca Cola, Grand Candy, Tamara and Noyan Juice, sold their products at
the event, raising more than 1.3 million AMD ($4,000 USD) for the
Center’s programs. Just five companies donated their time and products
in 2008. This year 11 took a stand to better the lives of their
nation’s children.
For some, like dairy producer Ashtarak-Kat, which has traditionally
supported needy children in its own way, this was the first time the
company had collaborated with others for this cause. This newfound
partnership will make their impact even stronger.
Nearly 70 art and culture representatives, celebrities and government
leaders also attended. So did national assembly members and
representatives from Yerevan government.
Specialists who work with at-risk children were also in attendance and
media companies like Shoghakat TV, Ardzagank Radio and Radio Van
helped to sponsor the event.
Celebrities, including singers Arsen Grigoryan, Alla Levonyan and
Gayane Hovhannisyan participated, as did comedian Ashot Ghazaryan and
actress Nazeni Hovhannisyan.
Through the HCC, FAR’s work on child welfare and protection has been
extensive, and groundbreaking, and all made possible through its
supporters. The Center has provided homeless and abused children a
safe haven since it opened in 2000. Initially started as a temporary
shelter that offered crisis intervention and rehabilitation, the
Center is now a full-service facility where abused and abandoned
children can access shelter, counseling, outreach services, healthcare
and legal assistance 24 hours a day. Since 2000, FAR has opened more
branches of the Center to serve even more of Armenia’s families. More
than 4,500 have been helped through its services and the number of
beneficiaries increases each year. In 2008, the Center served 924
children, the highest number ever.
Working in cooperation with the government and with local and
international organizations, the HCC has also addressed the complex
needs of at-risk children in other ways, including establishing the
nation’s foster care system. FAR’s staff has also played an integral
role in setting the national standard for childcare by assisting in
writing child welfare legislation and greatly influencing the
government’s approach to child protection.
Yet, while FAR’s work has expanded in the last few years, the need is
still great and it has been compounded by the global economic
crisis. Thousands of Armenian children still fall prey to abuse,
neglect and abandonment every year. With more households stretched
thin, more parents are leaving their children in the care of grossly
under-resourced state institutions. There, opportunity to better one’s
life is slim. The number of institutionalized children in Armenia
reached 12,000 in 2008 – a dramatic increase from roughly 15 years
before when there were none.
When they are forced to leave these orphanages, children are often
left with no other option than to live on the streets surrounded by
drugs, begging and prostitution.
The Best for our Children called together all facets of Armenian
society to combat these circumstances. Together, they took a
concentrated step forward in the development of their nation. And
through the HCC, this support will help the entire Armenian community
further ensure proper care of its children.
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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 [email protected].
Fund for Armenian Relief | 630 Second Avenue | New York | NY | 10016