Communiqué
TEKEYAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF MONTREAL
SARO MANOUKIAN FUND
2016 CHARITY
We would like to keep you updated on the charity through the “Saro Manoukian Fund”. To immortalize his memory, the family created a charity fund under his name. The fund’s generated income is periodically allocated to a charity. We hereby announce that this year’s contribution was distributed to 28 families in Armenia, whose main bread winner has voluntarily joined the Armenian army to guard Karabagh against Azerbaijan’s aggression on April 2-4 this year.
These 28 heroes have put all priorities aside and have joined the army to protect our homeland. They all fought in the trenches and returned back safely. The idea behind this year’s contribution was to express some gratification for what they have done and show that the diaspora appreciates their devotion.
As in the past year, Mr. Antoine Terjanian of Ottawa volunteered to make our wish come true. He did the leg work and with the help of a local NGO and the Defense Ministry, he could locate these soldiers.
As a measure of respect and anonymity, the identity of the volunteers, some family members as well as the donated amounts are not announced, and some faces of the Defense Ministry soldiers in the adjoining photograph are blurred on purpose.
The distribution took place on May 8th and a group photo was taken on this occasion.
Saro was a young Canadian born Armenian. He would have surely appreciated the gesture of these great men who risk their lives for the protection of our HAYRENIK.
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Previous years’ contributions:
· École Armen-Québec (purchase of library books);
· Montreal Children’s Hospital (Framed painting by Roxana Kibzey, medical equipment, fundraising cards and monetary donation);
· Hundreds of trees planted in Armenia (Armenia Tree Project);
· Supporting a group of Armenia resident musicians with monetary rewards;
· Donation to the ’’Children’s Wish Foundation’’;
· Tekeyan Center’s illuminated sign;
· Donation to clear land mines in Artsakh (via Halo Trust);
· Monetary assistance to 3 families of fallen soldiers.
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These charities were made possible through donations given to the “Saro Manoukian Fund”. Your generosity serves as seed money to such charities. We sincerely extend our thanks.
Arto, Annie, Aren et Lori Manoukian
