About Us

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 37,500 students at 457 school projects, in all regions of Armenia, have received brand new and high quality classroom furniture and equipment.

We are a community-based organization. While we take immense pride in having achieved this number, we realize the road ahead leads far. We rely on the support of the public to assist us in refurnishing the remaining schools in Armenia.

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.