Armenian Heritage Foundation Embarks on Final Campaign Phase for Park’s Care

As the Armenian Heritage Foundation—the sponsor of Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway—gets closer to concluding its successful fundraising campaign, funds are now being raised to fully fund the endowment for the park’s ongoing care so that it is impeccably cared for year round. There are several ways to support and participate with either a first-time gift or with a gift to increase your level of support before the campaign’s conclusion in June 2016. To date, $1.7 million has been raised of the $2-million goal to fully fund the park’s endowment for care, with $300,000 remaining. The focus is both on securing major gifts, and encouraging everyone to participate at all levels of support. A few remaining naming opportunities at the park are available with a contribution of $50,000 and above. “This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to be a part of this living legacy in a major metropolitan city,” said Gail Talanian O’Reilly, on behalf of the Charles Talanian Family, one of the park’s first benefactors. Annually, the park’s endowed funds for care, collectively, need to generate the annual interest to both support its year-round care and reinvest a portion of the monies raised to allow the fund to grow and keep pace with inflation. The annual cost of care and maintenance is close to $82,000, which includes landscaping, cleaning of fountains, litter removal, plantings, snow removal, and utilities. The utility costs at the park are minimal as the lights are LEDs (light emitting diodes), lasting hundreds of hours and consuming very little energy. In addition, the waters from the reflecting pool, upon which the abstract sculpture sits and the fountain at the center of the labyrinth, are re-circulated, reducing water costs. All supporters will be acknowledged in the park’s Commemorative Book in the category of giving that combines all contributions since the campaign’s inception and received by June 1, 2016. A Thank You Reception and Celebration for all supporters of the campaign will be held in November 2016, when all contributors will receive the Commemorative Book. Contributions may be made online at www.ArmenianHeritagePark.org or by mail, with a check, made payable to the Armenian Heritage Foundation, to the Foundation, 25 Flanders Road, Belmont, MA 02478. For more information regarding the naming opportunities, call Jim Kalustian (781-643-7758), Charles Guleserian (617-484-6100), Haig Deranian (617-489-9465), Walter Nahabedian (781-891-7249), Astor Guzelian (781-326-5764), George Elanjian (781-888-2227), or Barbara Tellalian (617-803-8785). The campaign was successfully launched in 2005 when every parish and organization and individual serving on the Foundation’s Board of Directors made a commitment of financial support. In addition, through the extraordinary generosity and support of the park’s lead and major gift supporters, funds were raised to both construct and maintain the park, and endow numerous public programs. These programs include the Annual Reconfiguration of the Abstract Sculpture and Park’s Care endowed by Charles and Doreen Bilezikian, Najarian Lecture on Human Rights at Faneuil Hall endowed by K. George and Dr. Carolann S. Najarian, and public programs endowed by Anna and Noubar Afeyan. Several other public programs, including the Sunday Afternoon at the Park for Families and Friends, are offered with thanks to generosity of gifts in kind. “These programs have attracted visitors from all walks of life, Armenian and non-Armenian, to enjoy our community’s gift to the city of Boston, as well as serving as the epicenter of our community’s gathering place,” said Arlette Yegumians, a supporter actively involved with the Friends of Armenian Heritage Park. Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway, a gift to the City of Boston and the Commonwealth from Armenian Americans, is designed to celebrate the immigrant experience and contributions made to American life and culture. The abstract sculpture reconfigures annually; it is symbolic of the immigrant experience and is dedicated to the lives lost during the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 and all genocides that have followed. The sculpture sits atop a reflecting pool; its waters wash over its sides and re-emerge as a single jet of water at the labyrinth’s center, representing hope and rebirth. The labyrinth celebrates life's journey. Art, service, science, and commerce are etched around its circle in tribute to contributions made to American life and culture.

Armenian Heritage Foundation Embarks on Final Campaign Phase for Park’s Care

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