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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

Newsletters
July 1, 2023

This Month at The Paros Foundation – June 2023

Aquaponics Opening
Representatives and supporters from the Austrian Development Agency, the Tavush Regional Government, the Berd Consolidated Community and The Paros Foundation gathered to celebrate the official ribbon cutting and launch of the Ponics Greenhouse and Educational Center adjacent to the village school in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur. The Goshtigian Family from California, who generously supported the project on behalf of The Paros Foundation, were on hand to witness the launch of this cutting-edge agricultural system.

Hianali Has A New Home
We are excited to announce Hianali Beauty Center has moved to a new home! Thank you to everyone who has made this center a success for the past year and a half, especially with the donation and guidance of Dr. & Mrs. Gary & Linda Assarian. Their continued dedication to the people of Gyumri is incredible. We are excited about this next chapter. Stay tuned for more updates once they are fully settled!

SERVICE Armenia 2023
Off To A Great Start
It has been almost one week since our SERVICE Armenia group arrived and they have hit the ground running with touring and service! We are so excited about all that the group has left to do during their two remaining weeks in Armenia!

Med-Aid Armenia 2023
Med-Aid 2023 has officially wrapped! Our group spent their time in Armenia conducting health screenings on children throughout the country. We are so thankful for everyone who volunteered their time for this important initiative.

Journey Through Armenia 2023 Application Is Live!
We are excited to announce the Journey Through Armenia 2023 trip for anyone wanting to visit Armenia this fall! If you are interested please use the link below to fill out an interest form and we will follow up with more information! Register by August 1st, space is limited so don’t wait!
Register Here

Paros Charitable Giving
Did you know that you can add The Paros Foundation to your will? Through charitable giving, you can donate to Paros in various ways. To learn more about this form of giving, listen to our podcast episode with Eric Nikssarian, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional. Please also feel free to reach out with nay questions, we are happy to discuss!

Social Enterprise In Armenia
Our latest episode of Pari Louys With Paros takes a deep dive into learning more about the compelling social enterprise giving model and the impact it’s making throughout the country with Dr. Gary Assarian, who has led the charge in Gyumri.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or Amazon.

 


# of participants currently on SERVICE Armenia 2023

By Narine
Paros Blog
June 11, 2023

Journey Through Armenia 2023 Registration is Now Open!

October 20th-November 1st, 2023

Experience all Armenia has to offer through an exciting 10 day itinerary, which will include several visits to UNESCO world heritage sites, amazing cultural outings and several visits to Paros project sites.

Opportunities to interact with Armenia’s children through service work will certainly leave you with a memorable and lasting impression. Delicious food, premium accommodations and transportation and English-speaking staff and guides ensure all will have a meaningful experience.

Deadline to sign up is August 1st, 2023. Space is limited so don’t wait!

Register Here
By Narine
Newsletters
June 5, 2023

This Month at The Paros Foundation – May 2023

New Kindergarten in Marmashen Village

The Shirak Region community of Marmashen now has a functioning kindergarten thanks to this collaborative project between the local community, Focus on Children Now, The Paros Foundation and its donor Ms. Jeanette Boras (CA-USA). The Gala celebration took place on May 4th, 2023 with representatives in attendance from the local community, FCN, parents, Paros staff and most importantly, the students! Up to 60 children will be able to attend kindergarten for the first time in Marmashen. Not only is this a huge benefit for the children as far as socialization and early education, but it is a direct benefit for their families as the children are there for a full day. This is the third Shirak Region community that has benefited from a kindergarten through this collaboration. The other two kindergartens are located in the communities of Keti and Jajur and were sponsored through the generous support of Mark & Charlene Asdourian (CA-USA) last year. The trilateral partnership on these three kindergarten projects broke down as follows: The local communities renovated the buildings to house the kindergartens, Focus on Children Now provided all of the necessary furniture for the children including lockers, tables, chairs, beds and bedding, and The Paros Foundation provided all of the kitchen cabinets, appliances, and all of the cooking, serving and eating settings.

Sswweeeeeet! The Honey Project is Expanding!

Thanks to individual family sponsorships and a generous donation from Dr. & Mrs. Gary & Linda Assarian (MI-USA) the Armenian Honey Project will be expanding into the Shirak Region village of Gusanagyugh near Gyumri. Generous individual support helped fund 32 new beehives. The Assarian family is not only funding 18 more, but their support is sponsoring a new beekeeper’s salary for one year along with field preparatory work that needs to take place prior to the new 50 hives being located within this new community. In addition to creating new jobs in this community, the locally produced honey will ultimately be packaged in the Assarian Clean Kitchen at the Aygepar Business Incubator in Tavush, thus creating new employment opportunities there as well. The economic impact of this project so generously supported by both the Assarian Family and individual donors around the country is significant through both the creation of these three fields of hives, the education taking place in local school curriculums and the packaging and selling of the honey. All in all, this is a pretty sweet project!

$4,000 Remains to Complete Matching Grant

Following a major matching grant funded generously by Mr. & Mrs. Hovhannes & Anahit Mardirossian (NJ-USA) aimed at installing a proper heating system on an emergency basis at the school in the Tavush village of Getahovit, enough funds have been raised over the last 18 months to rebuild the school’s boiler room, replace two boilers, replace all of the school’s heating pipes and radiators, rebuild the school’s chemistry lab and store room, and build a new administrative office for part of the school’s administrative team. Because of the number of students at the school, the school now plans on utilizing a wing of the school that was previously not in service. A third boiler needs to be installed to properly heat that portion of the school. Hovhannes and his wife, Anahit, have again agreed to match all contributions needed to complete this important project of $8,000. We currently need donations of $4,000 to purchase and install the boiler at the school. Learn more and donate here.

Scholarship Fund Created for Komitas Conservatory
Thanks to the vision of the Cultural Society of Istanbul Armenians in Detroit, Michigan, and in memory of one of their supporters, a new scholarship fund is being created that will help a few select students on an annual basis attend the Komitas Conservatory. The Komitas Conservatory is the premier institution in Armenia for musical and vocal education. More on this exciting new fund next month!

Working Towards a New X-ray Machine for Nor Hachen

On May 21, an enthusiastic group of Paros friends and supporters gathered at Momed restaurant in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Los Angeles to both enjoy one another’s company, an excellent meal and raise funds towards purchasing a new x-ray machine for the Nor Hachen Poly Clinic located about 30 minutes north of Yerevan. During last year’s Med Aid Medical Mission to Armenia, our team of healthcare professionals led by Dr. Krikor Deramerian, spent the day at the clinic and learned of this tremendous need and committed to helping raise the necessary funds to purchase a new machine. The event itself, along with additional support from donations made that evening and contributions from people who were unable to attend, has raised more than half of the funds required to complete this important purchase. The community of Nor Hachen serves more than 30,000 residents and their existing machine from Soviet times is unsafe to use. Learn more and help support this important initiative here.

Journey To Armenia 2023 Interest Form

Experience all Armenia has to offer through an exciting 10 day itinerary, which will include several visits to UNESCO world heritage sites, amazing cultural outings and several visits to Paros project sites. Opportunities to interact with Armenia’s children through service work will certainly leave you with a memorable and lasting impression. Delicious food, premium accommodations and transportation and English-speaking staff and guides ensure all will have a meaningful experience. If you are interested please fill out the form here and we will follow up with more information as it is available!

Adopting a village in Armenia has become an increasingly popular philanthropic model. By rallying efforts around one village, donors are able to make a big difference for people of one community in a meaningful way. Join us as guest Stepan Piligian shares his experience leading the charge on adopting a village in Armenia.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or Amazon.

The Birthright Armenia program brings together Armenians from all over the world to experience their ancestral homeland, give back, and ultimately fulfill their birthright. Join us as we interview country director, Sevan Kabakian, about this incredible organization.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or Amazon.

 

 

The number of kindergartens
Paros has renovated

By Narine
Newsletters
April 30, 2023

This Month at The Paros Foundation – April 2023

Nor Hachen Poly Clinic X-ray Fundraiser
The Nor Hachen Poly Clinic is a full-service medical center, and its existing x-ray machine is unsafe to use and more than 50 years old. A quality portable X-ray will cost approximately $50,000 USD. Our goal is to raise the funds necessary to purchase and deliver a quality machine to the clinic. Any excess funds will be used to purchase additional needed equipment for the clinic. Learn more and donate here.

Sponsor-A-Hive
Sponsor-A-Hive is back for a second time! We are raising funds to launch 50 hives in a new community through the Aygepar Business Incubator and have 16 hives left to sponsor. Expanded honey production will create commercially viable quantities of honey both for local consumption and export. With every $300 donation, you will be able to support one hive, as well as receive a jar of honey with a customizable label. Donate here. Customize label here.

Getahovit School Heating System
Work on expanding the heating system at the Getahovit School is progressing. To complete the expanded heating system we need to raise $4,000. Thanks to the generosity of the Hovhannes Mardirossian & Anahit Ghazaryan, this amount will be matched. Learn more and donate here.

Tavush Wrestling Program
Schools involved in the Tavush Wrestling project with border communities in Tavush have begun their training. Students and coaches are excited and preparing for their upcoming intramural competition in September. Thank you to the Armenian Sports Hall Of Fame for making this happen! Learn more here.

Save The Date Fundraiser For Nor Hachen
Join us in Los Angeles on May 21st for a fundraiser benefiting the Nor Hachen Poly Clinic. This clinic serves an area that includes almost 13,000 people. Although the Clinic is a full-service medical center, its existing X-ray machine is unsafe and more than 50 years old. Contact Peter Abajian (310) 400-9061 or learn more and RSVP here.

Med-Aid Armenia 2023
Med-Aid Armenia is back again this summer from June 19th – June 29th, 2023! Join our medical group as they make an impact throughout Armenia through medical exams, research, and more! This trip is open to all medical professionals and medical students. Learn more here.

Join us as we hear firsthand what life is like for a tour guide in Armenia with Marine Khatchatryan, a freelance tour guide working with SIMA Tours and also a member of the Paros Team.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or Amazon.

The percentage of women that participated in one of our free vocational training courses at the Hianali Beauty Center and vocational training program sponsored by Dr. Gary and Mrs. Linda Assarian and are now earning money in their new career.

By Narine
Paros Blog
April 14, 2023

Speak Up Against Formula 1 In Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is gearing up for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the end of this month. 

They are preparing to open up roads in Baku, while at the same time keeping roads closed to Artsakh.

Please take a moment to send our pre-filled email to the race organizers to make them aware of what is taking place. Feel free to also share on social media.

Send Pre-Populated Email
By Narine
Newsletters
March 31, 2023

This Month at The Paros Foundation – March 2023

Matching Challenge Nor Ughi School Gym
162 students attend the village school which is in overall poor condition. Currently, students cannot utilize the gym in its entirety because of the fact that the existing wood flooring is rotten and unsafe to walk on in many areas. Mr. & Mrs. John & June Mangassarian from Rhode Island have pledged to match any contribution to this important project to help. $30K is needed to make this project a reality! Donate here.

Fitness Training For Village Kids
The DaVArd Gym in Arshaluys Village was established by Davit Vardumyan, a worldwide Taekwondo competitor. Davit provides 70 children from his, and nearby communities, with free of charge training and use of the facilities. Davit is hoping to expand and offer boxing classes and is in need of some equipment. Sponsorship of this project will help raise the amount needed in order to help obtain 150 floor mats and heavy bags. Donate here.

New Home In Maghavuz, Artsakh
Manvel Nersisyan, his wife and four kids moved into their newly renovated home in Artsakh, which was completed during the start of the blockade. Despite the blockade, we are very happy to have been able to move a family into their new home after losing their previous home during the war.

Sponsor-A-Hive
Sponsor-A-Hive is back for a second time! We are raising funds to launch 50 hives in a new community through the Aygepar Business Incubator. Expanded honey production will create commercially viable quantities of honey both for local consumption and export. With every $300 donation, you will be able to support one hive, as well as receive a jar of honey with a customizable label. Donate here. Customize your label here.

Aygepar Incubator Feed
The production of high-quality pig food is now being produced locally and distributed to stores in the Berd Area of Armenia’s Tavush Region. In addition, local alfalfa was grown on previously abandoned nearby land specifically for use in this feed creating additional employment opportunities for local villagers. This project, along with the Dr. & Mrs. Gary & Linda Assarian sponsored honey project and the orchard and aquaponics project in the village of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur are all part of our economic development efforts designed to create job opportunities and prosperity on the border.

Apelian Dental Clinic Re-Opened
The Apelian Dental Clinic at the Prkutyun Disabled Children & Young People Center NGO has been providing free dental services to disabled children and impoverished families and is now back after a brief hiatus. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today to support the expenses of the Apelian Dental Clinic and put a smile on a child’s face! The monthly expenses to operate the clinic amount to $1,500. Donate here.

Spots still open for SERVICE Armenia
We still have room for more people to participate in SERVICE Armenia this summer! Join other participants on a meaningful trip to Armenia, giving back, touring, and connecting with the homeland! The trip will take place from June 24th-July 15th for participants ages 17-23. Apply here.

Med-Aid Armenia 2023
Med-Aid Armenia is back again this summer from June 19th – June 29th, 2023! Join our medical group as they make an impact throughout Armenia through medical exams, research, and more! This trip is open to all medical professionals and medical students. Learn more here.

Save The Date Fundraiser For Nor Hachen
Join us in Los Angeles on May 21st for a fundraiser benefiting the Nor Hachen Poly Clinic. This clinic serves an area that includes almost 13,000 people. Although the Clinic is a full-service medical center, its existing X-ray machine is unsafe and more than 50 years old. Contact Peter Abajian (310) 400-9061 for more information.

Learn more about opportunities to make an impact while also creating a tax benefit in our newest podcast episode exploring charitable giving strategies with CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional, Eric Nikssarian.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or Amazon.

 

 

The # of hives still available to sponsor through our Sponsor-A-Hive initiative

By Narine
Paros Blog
March 17, 2023

Sponsor-A-Hive Back Again!

Economic opportunities for rural Armenian communities are scarce. To help address this important issue, The Paros Foundation has launched several initiatives aimed at job creation in rural communities. This includes planting more than 800 fruit-bearing trees, establishing a pig farm, fertilizer production, small animal feed production and honey production. These economic development opportunities are all administered under the auspices of the Aygepar Business Incubator, which provides rent-free space, sanitary conditions and marketing and technical expertise to local businesses.

The Paros Foundation successfully launched a high quality honey production just outside of the village of Verin Tsakhavan and later, in the village of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur in the Berd area of Armenia’s Tavush Region with 200 bee hives. The immediate goal is to expand this production adding 50 more bee hives in a new community. This will both add to the commercially viable quantities of high-altitude, raw honey, and will lead to expanded job creation and opportunities in the market place. All components of this important project are manufactured locally in the Armenian market including the hives, bee families, wax starter sheets and concrete block stands. Even the glass jars for sale are manufactured in Armenia!

In addition to this project’s job creating and economic benefits, as with the hives in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur, these new hives will serve as an educational curriculum for students at the school in the new village that is ultimately selected. This living classroom approach has proved very successful to date.

Donate Here
Customize Your Label
By Narine
Paros Blog
March 12, 2023

SERVICE Armenia 2023 Application Deadline Extended!

June 24th – July 15th, 2023
Ages 17-22

This trip will be three weeks with the same programming as past years. Participants aged 17-23 will serve, tour, and play in Armenia. Participant fees are $2,250 per person including a $400 charitable contribution, not including airfare.

Deadline to apply extended to March 31st!

SERVICE Armenia Application

If you have any questions about our SERVICE Armenia 2023 program please call Peter Abajian, Executive Director at (310) 400-9061 or contact him via email pabajian@gmail.com. For flight inquiries, please contact Shake at SIMA Tours SimaTours@gmail.com

By Narine
Press Releases
March 9, 2023

Finally, A Gym For Abovyan School #8

Since Soviet time, children at Abovyan’s School #8 did not have a gym for their physical education. The gym at the school had a leaky roof, broken windows and no heat. This made the facility too dangerous for students to use. Physical Education classes were held in regular classrooms and limited to individual sports or simple exercise. On February 20th, the newly renovated gym was officially opened thanks to the efforts of The Paros Foundation and supporter Seda Melkoni.

“Thanks to the leadership of Seda Melkoni, and her circle of supporters, this large gym project which will serve almost 500 students is now a reality. Together with her supporters, we have now completed the renovation of three of the six building’s roofs and now this large L-shaped gymnasium.”
-Peter Abajian, Executive Director

While the work on the medical center was completed in September of 2022—and the staff began work at the new center–the official ribbon cutting was delayed until mid-February because of the September attack on Armenia by Azerbaijan.
Before
After

During the opening celebration, Lusine Baghdasaryan, Principal of the school spoke about the challenges of not having a gym for students to use. She praised the work of The Paros Foundation work crew and staff, contributions from the Kotayk Regional Governor’s office and Abovyan Municipality. Students performed an exhibition of dance, song, gymnastics and martial arts for the guests.

The renovation of the gymnasium included the installation of a new ceiling, new smaller (energy efficient) windows, new electrical system and lighting, new heating system, new doors and the restoration of the flooring. New safety netting was installed throughout to protect the ceiling and windows from breakage. In addition to the renovation work overseen by The Paros Foundation, the Kotayk Regional Government provided funding for the new windows and the Municipality of Abovyan provided new sporting equipment for the school’s use. This work was all made possible through the support of the Berejikian and Melkonian Families with a special thanks to ELSO Foundation and donations in memory of Sogomon Dordulian.
By Narine
Newsletters
February 28, 2023

This Month at The Paros Foundation – February 2023

Abovyan School #8 Gym Opening
We are so excited to announce that the Abovyan School #8 gym is now complete! A huge thank you to Seda Melkoni for leading the charge on raising funds for these renovations, and a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to making this a reality. The students and families can now enjoy many extracurricular activities in their new facilities for years to come! Learn more here.

Akunk Medical Center Opening
The Paros Foundation completed the reconstruction of this partially renovated facility with the support of Mr. Alex Cherchian (TX-USA), installing the center’s heating system, completing the plaster and painting, installing flooring throughout and completing the plumbing systems and bathroom. Learn more here.

Aquaponics On The Border Training
Facing the challenges of limited water, limited access to land, and the challenges of weather, an aquaponic growing system for food is a perfect solution for border communities. Participants were sent to trainings to learn more about the operation and management of the aquaponics system in anticipation of our launch in the near future. Learn more here.

Medz Masrik Nurse’s Room Opening
We are excited to announce that the Nurse’s room at the Medz Masrik School is now open! Thank you to Audrey Bogosian, SERVICE Alumni for supporting this important effort!

Med-Aid Armenia 2023 Dates Announced
Med-Aid Armenia is back again this summer from June 19th – June 29th, 2023! Join our medical group as they make an impact throughout Armenia through medical exams, research, and more! This trip is open to all medical professionals and medical students. Please reach out here for more information.

SERVICE Armenia 2023
For the past ten years, The Paros Foundation has provided a space for youth from around the world to experience Armenia in extraordinary ways. With a focus on service, this trip provides participants with a deeper connection to Armenia and its people. The trip will take place from June 24th-July 15th for participants ages 17-23. Apply here.

Stay tuned for our newest episode coming out tomorrow! In this episode, we interview Teny Avakian, CEO of GOALS, Girls of Armenia Leadership Soccer, to learn more about life for girls in villages throughout Armenia and how sports is now an integral part of instilling a strong female future for Armenia.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or Amazon.

 

 

The # of days Artsakh has been blockaded by Azerbaijan

By Narine