CENTER FUNDED THROUGH THE DADOURIAN FOUNDATION

Yerevan, Armenia
On October 27, the second Ghoghanj Children’s Center opened its doors in the community of Nor Nork. The beautiful new center will provide “at-risk” children with the opportunity to learn and thrive in afterschool and summer school enrichment programs free of charge. This important project was sponsored by the New York based Dadourian Foundation through The Paros Foundation’s 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity initiative to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. To date 74 Paros projects have been completed or are in progress.

The new center in Nor Nork is modeled after the first Ghoghanj Children’s Center located in central Yerevan. The first center has been operating since 2004 under the leadership and vision of its founder and director, Diana Grigoryan. She and her professional and dedicated teaching staff have provided over 400 children with countless hours of mentorship, counseling and tutoring aimed at academic success.

“Our mission is to help children who come from very poor families, often times from single parent households, who are not likely to receive proper supervision at home,” said Diana Grigoryan. “Children are nurtured through our programs with the goal of helping them reach their dreams.” The Ghoghanj Children’s Center has achieved many successes including helping 13 of the center’s previous students attend and graduate from college.

Recently, the need for a second center was identified in order to help more “at-risk” children in yet another neighborhood. The new center will provide several core classes including English, Russian, Computer, Design, Painting, Theater and Dance and can accommodate 100 children. The goal of this project is to broaden the services offered to socially vulnerable children and families and to provide them with the proper support and guidance needed to excel in school and become self-confident and successful young adults.

“The decision to establish a center in Nor Nork was made with consideration for the large number of economically challenged families and children who could benefit from their services,” said Roger Strauch, Paros Foundation Chairman and Founder, who visited and evaluated the new center in early December.

The building, which houses the Nor Nork Ghoghanj Center, is located in a commercial plaza and is close to the street and public transportation. The building required minor upgrades. Furniture and supplies were also purchased with the Dadourian Foundation donation.

The Paros Foundation underwrote all administrative expenses associated with this project, allowing 100% of the Dadourian Foundation’s contribution to be allocated to the Ghoghanj Children’s Center in Nor Nork. Donations to The Paros Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Formally launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation supports six exemplary local NGOs in Armenia and launched the Paros 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity in 2011 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. With an aggressive goal of identifying, vetting, fundraising, and ultimately implementing 100 special projects, The Paros Foundation and its staff in Armenia and the United States are quickly earning a reputation as the “go to” organization to oversee small and medium-sized project implementation in Armenia. For more information and to get involved visit www.parosfoundation.org or call (310) 400-9061.

To sponsor a Paros 100 for 100 Project for Prosperity, please visit www.parosfoundation.org.

About The Paros Foundation

To honor the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, The Paros Foundation launched The Paros 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity initiative in the fall of 2011 to benefit Armenia and her people. 100 pre-screened projects in the areas of development, education, cultural and humanitarian will be implemented to help make Armenia stronger and improve the lives of her people.

Donations to The Paros Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. To find out how you can sponsor a project and for more information about how to get involved, please visit www.parosfoundation.org or call (310) 400-9061.

Formally launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation supports six exemplary local NGOs in Armenia and launched the Paros 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity in October of 2011 to commemorate the upcoming centennial of the Armenian Genocide. With an aggressive goal of identifying, vetting, fundraising for and ultimately implementing 100 special projects, The Paros Foundation and its staff in Armenia and the United States are quickly earning a reputation as the “go to” organization to oversee small and medium-sized project implementation in Armenia.

To sponsor a project of the Paros Foundation’s 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity, please visit www.parosfoundation.org.