United Armenian Fund donates $4.5 Million to all 28 Armenian schools in Lebanon

Glendale, CA ? The United Armenian Fund, through a generous grant from The Lincy Foundation, is donating a total of $4.5 million to all 28 Armenian schools throughout Lebanon.

 

This contribution is prompted by the economic crisis of the past few years, which was aggravated by the devastating attack on Lebanon last Summer. Thousands of needy Armenian families could no longer afford the tuition for the Armenian schools their children attended. Consequently, most of these schools were in no position to pay the salaries of their teachers and staff.

 

The UAF funds contributed to these schools are designated for three specific purposes:

 

1) $3.2 million to pay full or partial tuition for 5,092 needy Armenian students, which constitutes close to 75% of the 7,029 students enrolled in all 28 schools during the 2006-07 academic year;

 

2) $757,000 to cover the salaries owed by most of the schools to 536 teachers and staff for the past academic year;

 

3) A total of $513,000 for the general operating expenses of these schools.

 

Harut Sassounian, the President of the United Armenian Fund, is currently in Lebanon to visit all 28 Armenian schools, meet with their principals and educational councils, and deliver the earmarked sums to each school.

 

“The UAF?s contribution will be allocated to all Armenian schools in Lebanon, without exception,” Sassounian said.

 

The schools receiving financial assistance are:

 

Nine Prelacy schools: Sophia Hagopian College; Haratch C. Gulbenkian School; Apkarian School; Aksor Kassarjian School; Yeghishe Manoukian College; Roupinian ? Sahag Mesrobian School; Souren Khanamirian College; Noubarian ? Khrimian School; and Forty Martyrs School.

 

Seven Evangelical schools: Central High School; Gertmenian School; Anjar Secondary School; Torosian School; Armenian Evangelical College; Shamlian Tatigian School; and Trad School.

 

Six Catholic schools: Harboyan School; Mekhitarian School; Sisters School of Anjar; Mesrobian College; St. Agnes School; and Hripsimiantz College.

 

Three AGBU schools: Garmirian School; Tarouhy ? Hovagimian School; and Nazarian School.

 

Armenian Educational & Cultural Society (Hamazkayin) school: M & H Arslanian College (Jemaran).

 

Tekeyan Cultural Association school: Vahan Tekeyan School.

 

Armenian Educational Benevolent Union school: Sahaguian ? L. Meguerditchian College.

 

“This unprecedented gift of $4.5 million should alleviate a large part of the heavy financial burden of the schools shouldered by the struggling Armenian community of Lebanon. Armenians worldwide should lend a helping hand to this most vital community which has many other needs. Few things are as important for the future of the Armenian people as the education of the next generation. By supporting Armenian schools, we are investing not just in the survival, but the revival of Armenian culture,” Sassounian said.

 

Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $447 million of humanitarian assistance to Armenia on board 140 airlifts and 1,359 sea containers.

 

The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Relief Society, Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America and The Lincy Foundation.

 

For more information, contact the UAF office at 1101 North Pacific Avenue, Suite 301, Glendale, CA  91202 or call (818) 241-8900.

 

UNITED ARMENIAN FUND

1101 N. Pacific Avenue #301

Glendale, CA 91202

Tel:  818-241-8900

Fax:  818-241-6900

 

For Immediate Release

2 November 2006