By Vicken Sosikian
As I watched the ANCA Endowment Fund Telethon, each announcement of a large donation further instilled a sense of strength in me. With each major donation came the realization that our beloved organization will be taking yet another step towards the achievement of our goals. Yet, the announcement that spoke to my heart and earned my absolute respect was that made by the AYF Orange County and Crescenta Valley chapters. It reminded me of the story in the Bible of the old lady and her offering of two coins.
The two chapters jointly pledged $3,000. This sum was nothing special—a mere fraction of the total collected and quite small compared to the larger donations made throughout the program. Yet, I still felt most moved by this donation, mainly because I am familiar with the efforts that go behind making such a pledge.
As an alumnus of the AYF Crescenta Valley “Zartonk” Chapter, I try to follow and support the work of the chapter I spent 10 years in. I watched the members of the chapter plan two events to help raise money for the telethon—a local car wash and a booth selling coffee at the Armenian Independence Day Festival in Little Armenia.
During the festival, I was impressed by the sales tactics chapter members used to increase revenue from the coffee sales. Instead of waiting for people to approach the booth, they approached the people. Two members paired up in shifts and circulated the crowd advertising their delicious Armenian coffee. The revenue per sale: $2.
Little big things.
The car wash was even more impressive. Representatives of the chapter visited our agoump and solicited their pre-sale tickets. The outpour of support from the local gomideh and members of the “Zavarian” gomidehutiun displayed the faith and trust the elders have in our youth.
The dedicated AYFers told the community that they will labor for hours washing cars under the hot sun in exchange for an $8 donation to the ANCA Endowment Fund. Seeing their activism and motivation, the community was inspired and contributed to the AYF effort greatly.
Little big things.
I would estimate that, collectively, the members of the chapter spent about 100 hours physically working to reach their goal; joined by the efforts of the Orange County chapter they contributed $3,000.
Little big things.
Days prior to the telethon, President Barack Obama was in Los Angeles. In less than 72 hours, amid college and university finals, the AYF was there demonstrating and demanding that the president keep his promise to the Armenian people.
Little big things.
Weeks prior to that, with brooms and paint buckets in hand, the AYF descended upon Little Armenia for the sixth annual “Little Armenia Beautification Project”—to clean the streets of an area of Los Angeles that bears the name of our homeland.
Little big things.
And a few weeks from now, the AYF, through its Youth Corps program, will travel to the homeland to organize its second annual camp for the children of Gyumri. The camp, a free service, offers children a fun and healthy atmosphere where they are taught basic English and vital computer skills.
Little big things.
The little things the AYF does are in fact quite massive. The AYF goes where no one else wants to be. The AYF delivers where it is most needed. The AYF speaks out when others want to remain quiet. The AYF acts while others are still thinking. The AYF teaches our children what is not taught in school. The AYF creates leaders. The AYF empowers its members. The AYF develops skills.
The AYF does this and much more.
No matter how hard I try, my days as a member of the AYF will never return; so I will satisfy myself by supporting and encouraging the dedicated young men and women of the organization I love so much.
Guest Contributor
Great article about the importance and value of the AYF. No other organization places so much responsibility and hope in young Armenians’ lives. I like Vicken miss being in the AYF and am so proud when I hear about the amazing work that the AYF members do for our communities in the diaspora and for Armenians in Armenia, Karabagh and Javakh.