PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—From March 12-15, the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR) will host a global conference in Philadelphia, bringing together its chapter volunteers from around the world for the first time to meet and collaborate. The capstone of the weekend is the 10th anniversary gala to be held at the Sheraton University City Hotel on March 14, beginning at 6 p.m.
Evening highlights
SOAR welcomes Sister Arousiag Sajonian, founder of the Our Lady of Armenia Center (Gyumri) and the Our Lady of Armenia Summer Camp (Tsaghgadzor). The keynote speakers for this year’s gala will be Alexis Ohanian and Dr. Ronald Suny. Guests of honor include Mark Geragos, Esq. and Michael Aram. There will also be performances by the Hamazkayin Meghry Dance Group, Artsakh Band, and International Superstar Robert Chilingirian. Chinese and silent auctions will be held throughout the evening.
For more details, visit www.soar-us.org or contact George S. Yacoubian, Jr., SOAR’s Executive Board chairman, by calling (610) 213-3452 or e-mailing gyacoubian@soar-us.org.
SOAR was founded in 2005 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to provide humanitarian relief to orphaned children living in Armenia. Today, SOAR provides assistance to approximately 2,000 orphaned Armenians across 31 institutions in Armenia, Artsakh, Javakh, Lebanon, and Syria. Headquartered in the suburbs of Philadelphia, SOAR has more than 400 volunteers in 75 chapters and junior groups around the world. SOAR made $60,000 in distributions in 2006; $80,000 in 2007; $102,000 in 2008; $111,000 in 2009; $118,000 in 2010; $360,000 in 2011; $469,000 in 2012; $700,000 in 2013; and $865,000 in 2014.
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