PAROS FOUNDATION | Service Armenia 2014


	News Release February, 2014

The Paros Foundation announces its Serve, Tour and Play SERVICE-Armenia 2014 Program. • Visit and tour Armenia, while gaining valuable life experience working on service projects benefiting Armenia • Tour historical, religious and cultural sites throughout Armenia and Artsakh • Meet other 17- 24 year olds from throughout the United States • Travel and adventure together • Serve Armenia with both Diasporan and local volunteers • You do not need to be Armenian to participate. Everyone is welcome to apply. • Work on service projects that make a difference • Professional and experienced staff • English speaking staff and guides • Create a lifetime of great memories and friends!

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SERVICE-Armenia 2014 participants will be implementing several Paros 100 for 100 service projects. Service projects will include renovating village school classrooms and distributing a variety of humanitarian and educational supplies and equipment in Armenia’s rural communities. The Paros Foundation staff responsible for this program has a tremendous amount of experience working in Armenia and successfully implementing and overseeing service projects and tours.	Participants' summer experience in Armenia will be truly remarkable. In addition to planned service projects, a series of interesting lectures, meetings and group activities are planned. Participants will visit Lake Sevan, the Mother See of the Armenian Church at Etchmiadzin, historic and religious sites such as Garni, Geghard, Khor Virab and Noravank. An overnight trip will be organized visiting the majestic Monastery of Tatev and Karahunj and spending the night in Stepanakert, Artsakh. Whether a long hike through a breathtaking canyon or spending the day at Armenia's History Museum, participants will be pleasantly overwhelmed by the amount of culture, history and fun to be experienced!	Accommodations in Yerevan will be secured depending on group size in a rented home or apartments. Emphasis will be placed on well-located, clean and secure housing that will allow participants to cook meals and do their laundry during the program. Participants will stay at hotels during out of town service and tourist trips to Artsakh. Participants will be able to choose from eating at one of the many excellent Yerevan restaurants, or preparing meals for themselves on a daily basis. Meals will be provided during most out of town service and tourist trips.
$1,500 per person plus a $500 minimum charitable contribution towards defraying service project material costs. ($2,000 total--$1,000 due at time of application, and $1,000 due by April 1, 2014.)  Included is airport pick up and drop off, accommodations, group travel to and from service projects and tours and some meals. Air travel to and from Armenia is not included. Please contact Sima Tours at 610-359-7521 or via email at info@simatours.com or Peter Abajian (310) 400-9061 or via email at peter@paros-foundation.org to inquire about flight arrangements. Deadline to apply is April 1, 2014, however all interested parties are asked to contact Peter Abajian (310) 400-9061 or via email at peter@paros-foundation.org to make an initial reservation.  Click here to download the online application. Your $500 minimum contribution will be used to fund needed construction materials and classroom furnishings for the School Classroom Remodel service project and to assist with other costs with regards to the other Paros 100 for 100 Projects we will implement over the summer. Give or Get!  Give--The minimum $500 contribution to The Paros Foundation (a 501 c 3 private foundation) is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. The cost associated with a typical classroom renovation is $4,000 and a classroom remodel that is fully funded by a participant will have a plaque installed in the classroom stating "Classroom Adopted by the (your name) Family". or Get!--Participants who wish to be begin their service in advance of the trip are encouraged to reach out to family and friends to help raise the minimum $500 contribution. Small fundraising events or a simple written request could help attract donors to this important cause. The Paros Foundation staff can help assist with ideas and fundraising materials. Feel free to contact Peter Abajian (310) 400-9061 or pabajian@gmail.com to discuss ideas. Whether you choose to "give" or "get," this contribution will benefit children throughout Armenia and will greatly enhance the SERVICE Armenia--2014 project.

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About The Paros Foundation
Officially launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation has identified and partnered with six organizations in Armenia (The Paros Chamber Choir (www.paros.am), Unison NGO (www.unison.am), Vanadzor Arts School (www.vanadzormusic.org), Manana Youth Center (www.mananayouth.org), Vanadzor Museum of Fine Art (www.vanart.org) and the Ghoghanj Children's Center (www.childrenscenter.am).) These organizations serve as leaders in their respective fields of children, people with disabilities and the arts. Foundation support comes in the form of organizational operating funds, office space and organizational resources and mentoring. The mission is to help these modest size projects manage their growth and attract more financial, human, and physical resources to their respective causes.

To honor the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, The Paros Foundation launched The Paros 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity initiative 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. The Paros Foundation underwrote all administrative expenses allowing 100% of donor contributions to go directly to the projects. Donations to The Paros Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

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