Luncheon to Benefit St. Illuminator’s Day School in NY

On Jan. 4, the ARS “Mayr” and “Erebouni” Chapters of New York jointly organized an elegant luncheon to benefit the St. Illuminator’s Armenian Day School at the “Sevan” restaurant in Bayside, N.Y. The ARS regularly supports Diasporan schools, as it believes that outside of the homeland, it is one of the key ways to keep the Armenian heritage alive.

Ungerouhi Sandra Vartanian, chairperson of the “Erebouni” Chapter, provided the opening remarks, welcoming the guests and wishing everyone an enjoyable afternoon. She then gave a toast to the upcoming ARS Centennial Gala Celebration.

The atmosphere in the restaurant was exhilarating, with group singing at the tables, and abundant and delicious Armenian food.

After the dinner, the organizers unveiled a short cultural program. Veh Bezdikian, a graduate of the 1984 class of the Holy Martyrs Day School, recited a poem by Jacque Hagopian titled “Odar Shemin.” It tells of the torment Hagopian experienced when he first took his son to a non-Armenian school.

Ani Matevossian, a member of the Yeraz Dance group of St. Sarkis Church, presented two solo performances, both gracefully and professionally performed. Our thanks to the young and talented guest artists.
Immediately following the cultural program, Dr. Herand Markarian, chairperson of the St. Illuminator’s School Board, spoke about the importance of the Armenian school, which “not only teaches language but fuels the system with Armenian soul and spirit,” he said. He then thanked the guests and both chapters for their continued support.
ARS “Mayr” chairperson, Ungerouhi Sonia Bezdikian, spoke about the ARS with passion. “This noble organization was founded in 1910 right here in New York City,” she said, “and today holds a proud record of over 230 chapters and 22,000 members around the world. It is an organization that has helped the needs of our Armenian people and has walked with the times.”

“After the 1915 genocide, the ‘one meal a day’ program was fully enforced. Later, the scholarship programs, both graduate and undergraduate. After the earthquake in 1988, the ‘sponsor an orphan’ program was initiated, and the health centers in the Middle East and the Medical Center ‘Mor yev Mangan’ in Akhourian, Armenia, were built. The ARS has established and continuously supported Armenian schools in the Diaspora and Camp Haiastan in Franklin, Mass.,” said.

She then asked the guests not to miss the Inaugural Gala Banquet celebrating the ARS’s centennial, schedule for March 28, at 7 p.m., at the prestigious Yale Club of New York.

After the program, many happy lottery winners went home with beautiful gifts donated by the ARS members. It was overall a wonderful and successful joint venture

Guest Contributor

Guest Contributor

Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.

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