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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.
WE MUST ACT NOW. Here is how you can help:
1. Send a note to NATO via email.
Here is pre-filled email template you can use:
Send NATO an email to eject Turkey
*Remember to sign your name at the bottom
2. Donate to Armenia Fund. If you already donated, call someone you know and ask them to donate.
Donate here!
Photos courtesy of AFP – Aris Messinis
Surprise, Surprise — Not many of us in the Armenian community were surprised to learn that within minutes Azerbaijan for the third time broke the humanitarian ceasefire set to take effect this past Monday morning, which this time was brokered by the United States. While Azerbaijan and Turkey laugh and snub their noses at the efforts of Russia, Europe and the United States to reach a humanitarian ceasefire, more than 100,000 Armenian civilians are displaced creating a humanitarian crisis and more than 1,000 of our heroes have been martyred defending our homeland. Azerbaijan’s actions combined with Turkey’s support cannot go unchecked. WE MUST ACT NOW.
Here is what you must do immediately:
Azerbaijan and Turkey have made it perfectly clear that they intend on fighting until no Armenians are left in Artsakh and possibly even Armenia. We must continue to rally the 10 million strong diaspora into a new global Armenian army to fight for our right to survive. Please act now, again tomorrow, the next day, until Azerbaijan and Turkey agree to allow Armenia and Artsakh to live in peace.
The defenders of our homeland need our help! As the weather gets colder and the war with Azerbaijan continues, thousands of volunteers have enlisted to help–and they need warm, quality winter coats.
Our goal is to supply a minimum of 1,000 coats via air freight to Armenia in the coming weeks. Please consider making a $75 donation to help us purchase a warm winter coat, liner and cover shipping toArmenia. This is an urgent and time sensitive need.
Let’s work together to reach our goal and provide over 1,000 heroes with coats this coming week!
With your generous support, and that of the generous anonymous support of those donors who established and increased the challenge match, we raised $100,000 for the Armenia Fund!
Make no mistake, our fight has just begun. On October 10th, a humanitarian ceasefire was brokered in Moscow between Armenian and Azerbaijan. It is unclear if this ceasefire will stick, or only be used as an excuse to give Azerbaijan a chance to regroup. The Armenian Defense Ministry was announcing heavy attacks on civilians in Hadrut beginning 30 minutes after the start of the agreed upon time. Drone strikes also took place in Armenia’s Syunik region’s Yeritsvank village.
Once the attacks have stopped, we will turn our attention to the task of rebuilding these communities. In the coming days we will extend our Emergency Reconstruction Fund that was established in July following the brutal attacks against civilian communities in Armenia’s Tavush Region to help address the monumental task ahead of our community in rebuilding Artaskh.
We must remain active and support the aggressive effort spearheaded by the Armenian National Committee and Armenian Assembly to cut all military aid to Azerbaijan and Turkey along with their other critical initiatives.
This war is being fought on the battlefield, in the media and in diplomatic circles and we must do whatever we can to win.
Help us meet our match! We have received a challenge grant from an anonymous donor, who is matching donations up to $25,000, which will allow us to donate $50,000 to Armenia Fund in support of Artsakh with your help!
*Only donations made through our website will be matched. Please use the link above to donate.
The Azeri attack on civilian targets throughout Artsakh and parts of Armenia have created a humanitarian crisis. Turkey’s involvement, and that of confirmed jihadist fighters threatens the Armenian nation’s existence. The time is now to support Armenia and Artsakh’s humanitarian needs by joining the worldwide effort to support Armenia Fund. Donate now and donate generously to help our brothers and sisters in this time of need.
All donations made through this link will be matched up to $25,000 regardless of the amount. Please visit our website to donate or mail checks to the following address with a note saying “challenge grant”:
The Paros Foundation
2217 5th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
Funds from this challenge grant will be donated to support Armenia Fund in their entirety. For more information about this effort, please contact (310) 400-9061 or email: info@parosfoundation.org.
Dear Friends:
As you are reading this brief update, our brothers and sisters in Artsakh and in parts of Armenia are under heavy artillery attack by the Azeris. Official sources have acknowledged at least 200 Armenian casualties including civilians. Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in a statement released earlier today said that this battle is not about land or territory, it is about the elimination of the Armenian people.
Reports have been released by the Armenian and Artsakh Governments that Turkey has recruited upwards of 4,000 Syrian mercenaries to fight for Azerbaijan. In addition, American made, Turkish deployed F-16s are attacking targets in Artsakh and Armenia proper. In fact, it is reported that Turkey is now leading Azerbaijan’s air campaign from Kars and Erzurum. The Armenian Government reports that 150 high ranking Turkish soldiers are on the ground in Azerbaijan coordinating attacks.
Civilian populations in Stepanakert, Martakert, Martuni and Hadrut have come under attack. Civilians in Armenia’s Vardenis and surrounding villages have also been shelled. Two French journalists have been injured (one of them in critical condition) as a result of the Azeri attacks. In addition to the tragic loss of life, homes and infrastructure in these communities have been significantly damaged. Azeri surveillance drones made their way all the way to Armenia’s Kotayk Region just outside of Yerevan before they were shot down.
The OSCE Co-Chairs of Russia, France and the United States have called upon Armenia and Azerbaijan to end hostilities and loss of life and return to the negotiation table. Azerbaijan has refused and Turkey has publicly stated that they wish Azerbaijan will fight on until Artsakh is Armenian free. Russia and Iran have both offered to help facilitate peace talks. The US Congress has introduced a Resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s attack.
What must you do?
1. Visit the Armenian Assembly & Armenian National Committee’s Websites
Send letters and make phone calls to your elected officials to support the Resolution in Congress and immediately cut military assistance to Azerbaijan and sanction Turkey for their actions.
2. Donate to the All Armenia Fund.
The Governments of Armenia and Artsakh have asked the entire diaspora to NOT start individual fundraising efforts, but to rally around the All Armenia Fund and make all donations to this organization. Please visit www.armeniafund.org to make your donation.
According to consolidated media reports, almost 3,000 people have been killed on the Azeri side, and they have sustained more than 3,300 injuries. Armenian forces have destroyed 114 drones, 14 helicopters, 247 Tanks and armored vehicles, 3 TOS systems, 1 smerch system and 11 aircrafts since the start of the attack.
It is our hope that a ceasefire can be quickly reached to prevent further loss of life among our brothers and sister and at that point, we will determine how best to help rebuild. Please act now!
Emma A. and her son, Vartan, live in the border village of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur. On the morning of July 12, the Azeri’s launched a cross border attack on the Berd area of Armenia’s Tavush Region utilizing attack drones, tanks and other heavy artillery. Although the Azeris ultimately lost control of strategic military posts to the Armenian defense forces, a considerable amount of damage was inflicted upon the villages of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur, Aygepar, Movses and Chinari.
In response to this assault, The Paros Foundation immediately committed to improving these villagers’ homes well beyond the damage sustained during this recent shelling. Work to rebuild Emma’s home began more than two weeks ago, thanks to the on-going generosity and sponsorship of Jean-Marie Atamian and his family, who have adopted this important border village and made major investments in its infrastructure since 2012.
No one should underestimate our resolve standing with our villages; for every house the enemy destroys, we will build 10 new homes.
– Jean-Marie Atamian
To support other home and infrastructure improvements in these border communities that were attacked by Azerbaijan, The Paros Foundation created the Emergency Reconstruction Fund. In addition to completing the repairs to the damaged Aygepar kindergarten, other residential projects in the neighboring border village of Aygepar will be addressed with monies raised from the Emergency Reconstruction Fund. #RebuildingTheBorder
Aygepar Kindergarten reconstructed after being shelled.
We are pleased to announce the reconstruction on the Aygepar Kindergarten in the Tavush region is now complete! With the quick support of our diasporan communities we were able to survey the damage and begin reconstructing days after the destruction occurred by Azeri forces. As we acknowledge this milestone, we look forward to our continued efforts in this region as we continue to #RebuildTheBorder through our Emergency Reconstruction Fund. Join us as we keep making a positive impact for these brave border communities.
We are sad the SERVICE Armenia 2020 trip won’t be happening this year, but we wanted to still make a positive impact and continue with the project for this summer, renovating the Drakhtik Village School. In an effort to raise money for the SERVICE Armenia project, we will be holding a fundraiser with new SERVICE Armenia shirts!
Proceeds from this t-shirt fundraiser go towards the renovation of the Drakhtik School.
We are accepting donations of any amount.
Why Drakhtik?
Drakhtik Village is home to almost 1,100 people, with 160 students who attend the school. It is located in one of the most isolated and poverty-stricken areas of Armenia’s Gegharkunik region, along the northern shore of Lake Sevan. The village’s school is in very poor condition. It needs to have seismic upgrades made to parts of the building, along with a complete interior remodel including the school’s roof, windows, heating, plumbing, and electrical systems. This is a large project that we hope we will be able to begin this summer. Please consider supporting this important project with a donation of any amount.
Berkeley, CA— With stay-at-home orders in place for communities throughout Armenia, The Paros Foundation has risen to the challenge of helping feed Armenia’s elderly, at-risk and impoverished populations. 
In the Berd Consolidated Communities, which is comprised of 17 towns and villages in Armenia’s North Eastern border with Azerbaijan, The Paros Foundation responded to an urgent need for food packets to be distributed to 800 elderly and disabled residents in these communities. With financial support from the Armenian diaspora, Paros staff quickly contracted with food suppliers to get the food staples delivered to the Berd municipality where staff and volunteers coordinated this massive distribution effort. This process has been repeated twice to date.
Food packages for the families of children at the Debi Arach Children Center ready for distribution.
When the spread of Covid-19 closed schools throughout Armenia, the staff at the Debi Arach Children’s Center took similar safety precautions and closed its doors temporarily. This, however, created another problem. Many of the children that attend this academically focused after school program count on the nutrition they receive as their main meal of the day. The Paros Staff worked closely with leadership at the Debi Arach Children’s Center to prepare and distribute food packets based on the number of children in each household to all the Debi Arach families. This process has been repeated twice to date.
“We launched the #FeedingArmenia campaign to immediately respond to this important need,” said Peter Abajian, Executive Director of The Paros Foundation. “Our next challenge is how to reopen and operate centers like Debi Arach in a safe and effective manner, while staying true to its core mission. While this challenge presents itself to every organizations, I am proud of the fact that our team is already engaged in these discussions and planning.”
An elderly resident of Tavush’s Verin Tsakhavan Village receives a food packet distribution.
In the town of Nor Geghi, the mayor led an effort to provide food support for his town’s elderly and at risk population. With support from the Nor Keghi Association and its Detroit-based leadership and members, 25 families in need received a large food pack to support them for approximately one month.
Armenia’s current stay-at-home order is slowly being lifted, and the hope is that the virus will not spread, but it is unclear when the need for #FeedingArmenia will cease. While much still remains uncertain, one thing is becoming clearer—Armenia will reopen to a new reality. Masks, greater personal space and distancing and enhanced personal hygiene will all become part of Armenia’s future. To support #FeedingArmenia, or other projects of The Paros Foundation, please visit www.parosfoundation.org.
