Press Releases
Tavush, Armenia–Opening day in the Tavush border village of Nerkin Karmir Aghpyur was filled with excitement and celebration as the students, staff and families first viewed their school’s newly renovated wing.
Jean-Marie and Lori Atamian and their family made this work possible with their generous support, through the Paros Foundation’s Projects for Prosperity. The Atamian family and the Paros Foundation have worked together for more than four years to improve the quality of life here for the families of Tavush.
“This investment brings the total to almost $200,000 which we have directly invested in this strategic border community,” said Peter Abajian, Executive Director of The Paros Foundation. “By addressing the educational, safety, health and economic development issues facing the residents here, we hope to bring a greater level of prosperity to this village.”
The renovation of this wing of the primary school included the complete reconstruction of six classrooms, the large hallway and two new bathrooms including new classroom furniture for the children. A plaque installed in the hallway reads “Reconstruction of this wing of the Nerkin Karmir Aghpyur School is in honor of our brave soldiers, who defend the borders of Armenia and Artsakh on a daily basis, and their families.” Last year, through the efforts of Michael & Patricia Starzer, the elementary school wing of this school was completely renovated. The final phase of the work at the school will include the renovation of the kitchen and dining hall and the school’s entryway and locker rooms and will be completed in the coming months.
“I invite other families to invest in a border village as my family and friends have and to share in the satisfaction of positively impacting the lives of our brothers and sisters in this strategic manner,“ said Jean-Marie Atamian.
In the coming weeks, the Paros Foundation will launch its “Prosperity on the Border” initiative focusing on investing in Armenia’s border villages in the Tavush and Gegharkunik regions. This campaign will target economic development, educational and infrastructure projects in strategic border communities. Prosperity on the Border will invest in border communities to improve the living standards and economic conditions for families.
Formally launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation and its staff in Armenia and the United States have earned a reputation as the “go to” organization to oversee small and medium-sized project implementation in Armenia. Beginning with our support for seven exemplary local non-government organizations working with children, people with disabilities and the arts, the foundation works towards helping build a sustainable and vibrant homeland while improving living conditions for its most vulnerable populations.
With an aggressive goal of identifying, vetting, fundraising for and ultimately implementing 100 special projects, The Paros Foundation launched the Paros 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity in October of 2011 to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. Following the successful completion of this initiative, the Foundation’s leadership agreed to continue operating via this project-based model of philanthropy, and launched the “Paros Projects for Prosperity.”
To facilitate volunteerism, The Paros Foundation launched its SERVICE Armenia program in 2013. This Armenia-based service program provides participants an opportunity to travel to, and experience all that Armenia has to offer while helping make a difference.
Donations to The Paros Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. The Foundation underwrites100% of administrative costs allowing all donor contributions to be allocated directly to the projects.
To learn more about the Paros Foundation or its projects or to sponsor a project of the Paros Foundation’s Projects for Prosperity initiative, please visit www.parosfoundation.org or call (310) 400-9061.