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The Paros Foundation underwrites all administrative and overhead costs allowing 100% of all donor contributions to go directly towards projects and supported organizations.

Donations to The Paros Foundation Projects for Prosperity are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. To sponsor a project through The Paros Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 organization (Tax ID 20-5094630), or learn more about specific projects in need of funding, please contact us using the information below.

Contacts

2217 5th Street

Berkeley CA 94710

info@parosfoundation.org

(310) 400 9061

Paros Blog
March 25, 2024

Online Auction To Support The Nor Hachen Clinic Is Now Live!

Help us revamp healthcare delivery for residents in the greater community of Nor Hachen!

Support by bidding on our online auction, or if you are in Los Angeles, join us for an enjoyable, informational, and elegant gathering to raise funds to help equip the clinic.

SUPPORT OUR AUCTION

Explore these and other beautiful items here.
Online Auction

YOU’RE INVITED!

If you are in Los Angeles, join us for an enjoyable, informational and elegant gathering to raise funds to help equip the clinic.

$250 Donation – Individuals
$150 Donation – Students
– RSVP by April 15th –

RSVP

Can’t Attend?
Support by bidding on our auction benefiting the clinic!

For inquiries, please contact Peter Abajian
peter@parosfoundation.org or (310)400-9061

By Narine
Newsletters
March 19, 2024

This Month at The Paros Foundation – February 2024

Artsakh Refugee Support Fund

Our team has been distributing coats, shoes, and necessities to Artsakh refugees throughout the country with volunteers from the United States who helped make the distributions possible. Our support fund is still active and we are working tirelessly to permanently house and provide much-needed items for displaced families. Please consider joining our efforts here.

Meds Masrik School Improvements

Meds Masrik is a village in the Gegharkunik region of Armenia. It is a border village with a population of 3,000 with 420 children in attendance. With the recent population growth because of families displaced from Artsakh, the school has a shortage of available classrooms. Join us as we renovate classrooms and create a computer center for learning. Donate here.

Developmental Services For Armenia Event

Join us in supporting Developmental Services for Armenia in their relaunch event benefitting the Meds Masrik School Improvements project on March 17th! Thousands of children will benefit from the renovations completed at the school. RSVP by contacting Raffi directly (626) 818-2969.

SERVICE Armenia 2024

June 23, 2024 – July 14, 2024

Priority deadline is March 15th! Young people ages 17-22 are able to join us for three amazing weeks in Armenia. Serve, tour and have fun! Applications are now available, register here. If you or someone you know is interested contact Peter Abajian (310) 400-9061.

Nor Hachen Polyclinic Fundraiser

Funding for the Nor Hachen X-Ray machine was raised primarily from the May 21, 2023 fundraiser held in Los Angeles.

SAVE THE DATE: Please join us on
April 28, 2024 to support the continued efforts to improve the clinic and its patient services. More information on tickets coming soon!

Med-Aid Armenia 2024

June 23, 2024 – July 5, 2024

Dr. Krikor Deramerian, leader of The Paros Foundation’s upcoming Med-Aid 2024 Trip, spent time in Armenia this month working on plans for this summer’s mission. Learn more and get in touch to help make a positive difference this summer! Learn more and apply here.

SERVICE Armenia Young Professionals

SERVICE Armenia Young Professionals is open to ages 24-40 and is a great opportunity to discover Armenia through a new lens, meet other young adults, and give back. If you are interested in a potential SERVICE Armenia Young Professional for Fall 2024 please fill out this form here and we will follow up with more information as it is available!

Wake up to the sweet smell of soorj and learn about different regions in Armenia as we give you a quick dive into life throughout the country. Pari Louys with Paros is your connection to the motherland, where we will learn, grow, and better Armenia, together!

Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or Amazon.

 

 

The number of students in Meds Masrik who will enjoy the new classrooms and computer lab

By Narine
Paros Blog
March 15, 2024

Update on Artsakh Refugee Support Fund

Dear friends and supporters,

As part of the Paros family of friends and supporters, I would like to present to you our third update on The Paros Foundation’s relief and resettlement activities surrounding the devastating Artsakh situation.

Since our brothers and sisters in Artsakh were first held hostage via blockade for almost 10 months, and then subsequently driven from their ancestral homeland, with the generous support of Paros donors, we were able to accomplish both a significant amount of humanitarian relief work and work on resettling these families into Armenia.

Last month when our team and I, and additional volunteers, were in Armenia, we worked tirelessly to move our relief efforts forward. The situation overall remains heartbreaking. While more than 100,000 people fled Artsakh and were immediately accepted into Armenia, the lack of employment and quality housing is making it difficult for these people to restart their lives. The Government of Armenia has provided rental assistance for these people, and will continue this assistance through the end of 2024. We met several people who have secured meaningful employment, however the majority of people in Yerevan are still looking for work. During my last trip in October to Armenia, we met with refugees and our general feeling was that a regular flow of humanitarian aid was being coordinated and reaching the refugees including food, clothing and some other necessities. During this trip, it was clear that most of that aid had ended.

The following is a detailed report on our work regarding Artsakh and the refugees since December 2022.

LIFELINE SUPPORT

During the blockade of the population of Artsakh (12/22-9/23), The Paros Foundation helped facilitate the urgent delivery of more than 740 tons of food to families in collaboration with other major Armenian organizations.

HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT

  • Following the forced exodus of our brothers and sisters from Artsakh, The Paros Foundation facilitated the delivery of more than $80,000 in direct financial assistance to displaced families from Artsakh. This was done in collaboration with a major Armenian-American organization.
  • In collaboration with Zadur Shoes, 500 pairs of high quality, made in Armenia, winter boots were distributed to refugees throughout Armenia. Additionally, thanks to a generous donation of St. Mary’s Armenian Church, Costa Mesa, CA, 250 pairs of new, high quality, made in Armenia, children’s winter boots were distributed to refugees in Goris, Kajaran, Vardenis and Gyumri.
  • 170 new warm winter coats were distributed to refugees in Goris, Kajaran and Gyumri with the generous financial support of St. Mary’s Armenian Church Costa Mesa, CA.
  • More than 4,500 articles of new and used clothing were distributed to over 1,200 refugees in the cities of Gyumri, Vanadzor and Berd. This effort was completed in collaboration with the leadership and parishioners of Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston.
  • Distributed firewood monthly to more than 25 Artsakh refugee families in the Vardenis village of Meds Masrik for heating and cooking. This effort was made possible both through the support of Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston and donors of The Paros Foundation.

RESETTLEMENT

We have identified permanent housing as perhaps the most critical need for the 101,000 refugees driven out of Artsakh. Permanent housing will be the largest expenditure Paros will be making. Our efforts to date include:

  • Conducting interviews with more than 100 families displaced from Artsakh. These interviews are ongoing both to determine these families’ needs as well as to determine their potential candidacy for our housing program.
  • Moving three families into new permanent homes. One of these homes is in the Vardenis village of Meds Masrik and the other two are in the Syunik community of Kajaran. The home in Meds Masrik was in need of furniture and appliances and thanks to the efforts of Mr. Eric Hacopian via his podcast, and a partnership with the Organization of Humanitarian Services for Armenia, both furniture and appliance funding was received.
  • Moving one family into the village of Aygepar into a fully renovated apartment. This apartment was originally damaged by shelling from Azerbaijan and was renovated following the 2020 attacks along with 14 other apartments in this same building. Furniture and appliances were provided for this apartment through our current fundraising efforts.
  • The purchase and current renovations of six homes for refugee families. This includes four homes in the Vardenis communities of Meds Masrik and Geghamasar, one home in the Berd community of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur, and one home in the Kajaran community of Babikavan. Four of these homes will be ready to be occupied by early April. All of these homes are in need of appliances and furniture.
  • Plans to build 10 new homes for displaced families in the Kajaran community of Qeti. Our team spent two days there while I was visiting to finalize the location and to meet with the construction company. A plot of land was secured and a mutually beneficial partnership was created with the local community. Each home will have a 10,000 square foot lot to farm and construction on these homes will be ready by early summer.

Sincerely,
Peter Abajian
Executive Director

Support Now
By Narine