The Armenia School Foundation USA (ASF)
The Armenia School Foundation USA (ASF) was founded in May 2003 in Glendale, California. ASF, a non-profit and non-sectarian organization, was founded on the notion that all children of Armenia need to have a safe and supportive learning environment. It strives to meet this need by providing new furniture to enhance the learning process.
The ASF Board of Directors has approached community members, corporations, and businesses for their support and has received overwhelming response.
There have also been continuous fundraising activities since its inception. Thus far, with strong support of the community, over 38,230 students at 472 schools, in all regions of Armenia, have received brand new and high quality classroom furniture and equipment.
- Number of Projects 500
- Number of Schools furnished 472
- Number of Students impacted 38,230
We are a community-based organization and every board member works on a volunteer basis. While we take immense pride in having achieved this number, we realize that there is still a long road ahead of us. We rely on the support of the public to assist us in refurnishing the remaining schools in Armenia.
Image On The Right: Founding Board Members
Founded on the notion that all children of Armenia need to have a safe and supportive learning environment
Board of Directors
Moneh Der Grigorian
Chair
Maral Dabaghian Anjargolian
Vice Chair
Annette Amirian
Treasurer
Ojeni Panossian Sammis
Secretary
Arax Avanessian
Chair of Events Committee
Araks Hunter
IT
Meline Melconian
Public Relations
Gohar Karahagopian
Communications
Ida Martyrossian
Grants
Greg Sookasian
Advisor
Vahe Aharonian
Advisor
How Was ASF Founded
The Armenia School Foundation was founded by Mr. Levon Aharonian – a visionary philanthropist.
A devastating fire on November 27, 1999, destroyed Yerevan’s school #136 of Qanaquer-Zeytoon district. Mr. Aharonian and his wife Bella, enthusiastically responded to the school’s principal’s pleas to help re-construct the school. Through their unconditional support and unwavering generosity, the school re-opened on September 4, 2001. Several hundred people attended the re-opening ceremony: students, parents, Zeytoon residents, and local and national dignitaries, including the Mayor of Zeytoon; Special Assistant to the President Robert Kocharian; Assistant to His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; and His Holiness Sebu Sarkissian, the Archbishop of Tehran.
The re-construction of the school #136 dawned the idea of establishing the foundation in order to support other schools. The idea was realized with the support of friends and various organizations from different countries. In May 2003, Mr. Aharonian held the first meeting in Glendale, California with community members to plan the activities of the foundation in the U.S.
On September 23, 2006, at a special ceremony, His Holiness Garegin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, citing their humanitarian contributions, awarded Mr. Levon & Bella Aharonian the Medal of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the highest award of The Mother See of Holly Etchmiadzin.
Honorary Board Members
Vahe Aghabegians
Bobken Amirian
President, B & H Foods
Garo Minas
President, Applied Earth Sciences
Dr. Aline Dorian
Nick Hacopian
President, Glen West Management
Armen Janian
Attorney at Law, Janian & Associates Law Offices
Ardashes Kassakhian
Coucilmember, City of Glendale, California
Janet Mirzayan
Anahid Sarian
Armen Abrahamian
Varooj Kureghian
Annette Kiureghian
Ida Moghoyan