Armenian Missionary Association of America 
A Special Evening in Support of Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian School
By Ani Nigoghosian
The AMAA Boston Child Care Committee successfully presented “Hyeminds” as over 130 guests and supporters gathered at the Wellesley Country Club in Wellesley, MA to benefit and support the Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian School in Yerevan, Armenia.
Special guests included Pamela Avedisian, keynote presenters Garen and Emiliya Bagdasarian of APRIS Wines, and a representation of area clergy. Per its website, the “Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian School (AHS) is an educational institution that provides outstanding K-12 holistic, tuition-free education in a modern, environmentally friendly building, using state-of-the-art facilities in the low-income southwest Yerevan district of Malatia-Sebastia. AHS was established in 1998 by the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) thanks to the vision and generosity of its benefactors, Edward and Pamela Avedisian.”
Event Co-Chairs Talin Abidian and Cara Haleblian created a beautiful evening of entertainment with a purpose. The event began with a lively cocktail hour, where guests were treated to musical entertainment provided by John Baboian while having the opportunity to view and bid on an extensive variety of silent auction items, including sports memorabilia, a wine-pull including Armenian wines, and a variety of Armenia related items.
Read More
UPCOMING FUNDRAISING EXHIBITION
MAKE THIS SEASON YOUR REASON TO GIVE & BE MERRY
Please join for a private tour of this groundbreaking exhibition led by
Contemporary Art Advisor Aileen Agopian and The Brant Foundation’s Docent, Mario Fasani
Your generous donation will help the AMAA NY/NJ Orphan & Child Care Committee to raise critical funds for the displaced families of Artsakh!
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Exclusive After-Hours Tour
TRANSPORTATION x CURATED TOUR x DINNER INCLUDED
ABOUT THE ARTISTS: According to the Brant Foundation, “Basquiat x Warhol, an exhibition of works from the artists’ influential collaboration in the early eighties. Curated by Dr. Dieter Buchhart and Peter M. Brant in collaboration with Dr. Anna Karina Hofbauer, this is the first time this iconic collaboration has been the subject of a major New York exhibition in over twenty-five years.
Basquiat and Warhol occupied two distinct spaces in New York’s 1980s art scene. After their formal introduction in 1982 at Warhol’s Factory, the two would meet regularly, working on multiple monumental canvases at once, resulting in over 160 collaborative works created in the short period of from late 1983 to 1985. This enthusiastic exchange of energy is exemplified in their paintings, which illustrate a back and forth that is both tense and complimentary. The paintings are rife with both artists’ unique iconographies: Warhol’s screen-printed advertisements and cultural symbols are effaced by Basquiat’s iconic figures and signs; newspaper headlines included by Warhol are obscured and rewritten by Basquiat; scenes painted in Basquiat’s conceptual Neo-Expressionist style are joined by Warhol’s precise appropriations of brand logos. The artists also influenced each other: Warhol at times returned to his painterly beginnings, and Basquiat increased his use of the silkscreen-printing technique.
“In their collaboration, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol came together and opened new ideas and spaces of thought that mirror both our present time as well as the past and future. The results are brilliant artworks that continue to have an impact in our own time as they appear to address pressing and highly relevant contemporary topics such as racism and consumerism. Their collaboration was a unique project and probably one of the greatest and most enduring in all of art history,” says Dr. Buchhart.”
CURATED TOUR: The private tour of this groundbreaking exhibition will be led by Contemporary Art Advisor, Aileen Agopian, and The Brant Foundation’s Docent, Mario Fasani.
About Aileen Agopian: Named by ARTnews as one of the top art advisors in America, Aileen Agopian formed AGOPIAN inc. as a full-service bespoke art advisory firm that helps seasoned and new collectors build art collections of Contemporary Art. Prior to this, Agopian worked at Sotheby’s as the Senior International Director of Post-War & Contemporary Art as well as the Co-Head of Contemporary Art Auctions in Doha, Qatar. She was also the Director of Contemporary Art at Phillips and began her career as the sales director at White Cube Gallery London. As an accomplished auctioneer at both Sotheby’s and Phillips, Agopian continues to conduct charity auctions worldwide. Agopian has a Master’s degree in Post-War & Contemporary Art with Honors from Sotheby’s Institute London, and her B.A. in Art History & French Literature, cum laude from Tufts University.
COMMITTEE: Organized by Vicki Shoghag Hovanessian, Chair, Cultural Advisor to the Armenian Embassy in Washington, Seta Nalbandian, Co-Chair, Lucienne Aynilian, Anita Buchakjian, Christine Kutlu, Magda Poulos, Celeste Telfeyan Helvacian, Jennifer Telfeyan-LaRoe, Kathy Voskian
THE BRANT FOUNDATION: If you will be meeting us at the Brant Foundation, please meet at 5:30 PM, located at 421 E 6th St, New York, NY 10009.
TRANSPORTATION: If you will need transportation, please meet us at 4:30 PM (EST) at the Armenian Presbyterian Church (APC), located at 140 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652. **The Bus will depart APC at 4:45 PM (EST) SHARP!
SHOES: We encourage you to wear comfortable shoes, as the tour runs approximately one hour.
DINNER: Dinner is scheduled immediately following the tour at Yara Restaurant located at 319 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022. There will be no assigned seating.
RETURN: The bus will pick-up returning guests from Yara Restaurant after dinner. To best avoid traffic, the bus plans to depart by 9:15 PM. We plan to be back at the Armenian Presbyterian Church by 10:30 PM.
CONTACT: If you have any questions or need assistance, please save the AMAA Marketing & Events Manager, Christine Kutlu’s mobile number (201) 983-1396.
CHANGES/CANCELLATIONS: If there are any changes to your confirmed transportation or attendance, please let us know right away.
The Christmas season will soon be upon us and the AMAA has already begun preparations to bring ‘Christmas Joy’ to children in Armenia and Artsakh!
AMAA’s treasured Christmas Joy Program is on track to once again bring smiles and fun celebrations to thousands of needy children in Armenia and Artsakh. But this can only be fully accomplished with the loving donations of our generous donors!
Your donation of a Christmas Joy package is delivered directly into the hands of children who are delighted with their special gift. Each gift bag is filled with toys, school supplies, personal care items, candy and a Christmas story activity booklet and crayons. For some children, this special package given by the AMAA may be the only Christmas gift they receive, as their families cannot afford to spend what little income they have on presents.
For as little as $15 per package, help spread the joy of Christmas and share God’s love to our precious children in the Homeland!
By Zaven Khanjian, AMAA Executive Director/CEO
We are passing through difficult times.
Very difficult times.
The shocking loss of Artsakh is an immeasurable agony. It is the most piercing national tragedy faced by the nation since the genocide. Artsakh has been the homeland ever occupied by Armenians for several millennia. Countless churches, monasteries, and schools have punctuated the land for many centuries. Prayers fill its skies, and worship embraces the soil. We are speechless and heartbroken, and we can cry a river. But we do not suffer from contemptuous morality. Nor do we pray like the hypocrites on street corners. We realize, that if yesterday, we faced threats, assault, blockade, starvation, incitement, hatred, and occupation, today we are facing an existential threat of invasion of the motherland. With the toothless condemnation of friends near and far, we are the sole guarantor of our destiny.
Our consolation is in our faith in God, who is in control and trust that all is within his plans. In our weakness and defeat we find strength in Him.
We will not sit idle as we have work to do. A God entrusted mission to attend to. Besides our commitments to sustain countless educational, spiritual, humanitarian and youth-oriented institutions globally, we have one hundred thousand forcibly displaced families to care for. We cannot do it alone and we cannot do it all, but we will do the best of our ability.
My outlook is positive. We have endured much pain in history, borne the distress and resurrected. Our resilience and persistence have prevailed.
Despite all evil, AMAA steadfastly continues to spread the Word and reflect His love, goodness, and hope around.
Our weapon is our faith, love, service, and the pen. We are good at building, educating, enlightening, and spreading the Word.
God has called on the AMAA to bear the yoke of our people and assume a humble role of service.
This is our commitment, this is our promise, this is our culture, this is our mission, this is our faith, and this is our prayer.
‘ՍԻՐՏՍ ՍԱՓՈՐՆ Է ԴԱՏԱՐԿ’
‘ՈՒ ԵՍ ԿԵՐԹԱՄ ԴԷՊԻ ԱՂԲԻՒՐԸ ԼՈՅՍԻՆ’
‘AND I GO TOWARDS THE SOURCE OF THE LIGHT’
THANK YOU.
(Excerpt from speech delivered at the AMAA 104th Annual Meeting Banquet on October 21, 2023, in San Francisco, CA)
Դժուար ժամանակներ
Զաւէն Խանճեան, ԱՀԱԸ-ի Գործադիր Տնօրէն
Դժուար ժամանակներ կը դիմակալենք:
Շատ դժուար:
Արցախի ցնցող կորուստը անչափելի կոտտանք կը պատճառէ: Ցեղասպանութիւնէն ի վեր ամենէն խոցող ազգային ողբերգութիւնն է, որ կը դիմագրաւէ մեր ազգը: Արցախը եղած է հայերու կողմէ բնակեցուած հայրենիք, մի քանի հազարամեակներու ընթացքին։ Բազմաթիւ եկեղեցիներ, վանքեր եւ դպրոցներ դարեր շարունակ յատկանշած են երկիրը։ Աղօթքները կը լեցնեն անոնց երկինքը, իսկ պաշտամունքը կը գրկէ հողը: Անխօս ու սրտցաւ ենք, եւ կրնանք յորդառատ լալ։ Բայց մենք անարգական բարոյականութեամբ չենք տառապիր։ Չենք աղօթեր փողոցներու անկիւններուն գտնուող կեղծաւորներու պէս: Մենք կը գիտակցինք,որ եթէ երէկ դիմակալած ենք սպառնալիքներ, յարձակումներ, շրջափակում, սով, հրահրում, ատելութիւն եւ գրաւում, ապա այսօր որեւէ ներխուժման պարագային, մենք կը կանգնինք հայրենիքի գոյութեան սպառնալիքի դիմաց։ Մերձաւոր ու հեռու ընկերներու անզօր դատապարտումով , մենք կը մնանք մեր ճակատագրի միակ երաշխաւորը:
Մեր մխիթարութիւնը կը գտնենք, առ Աստուած մեր հաւատքին մէջ: Ան է որ կը վերահսկէ եւ կը վստահի, թէ ամէն ինչ իր ծրագիրներուն մէջ է: Մեր տկարութեան եւ պարտութեան պարագային, մեր ուժը կը գտնենք Անոր մէջ:
Անգործ չենք կրնար նստիլ, քանի որ շատ ընելիք ունինք. Աստուծոյ կողմէ մեզի վստահուած առաքելութիւն, որուն պէտք է ձգտինք: Բացի մեր պարտաւորութիւններէն՝ կանգուն պահել անթիւ կրթական, հոգեւոր, մարդասիրական եւ երիտասարդական ուղղուածութիւն ունեցող հաստատութիւններ ամբողջ աշխարհի մէջ, մենք ունինք հարիւր հազար բռնի տեղահանուած ընտանիքներ, որոնց պէտք է հոգ տանինք: Չենք կրնար այդ ընել առանձին, չենք կրնար ամէն ինչ ընել, բայց պիտի ընենք մեր կարելիութիւններուն առաւելագոյնը:
Իմ հայեցակէտս դրական է: Մենք պատմութեան մէջ շատ ցաւ ապրած, նեղութիւն կրած, սակայն յարութիւն առած ենք: Մեր յարմարելու ձգտումը եւ հետեւողականութիւնը միշտ ալ գերակայած է ամէն դժուարութիւն։
Չնայած բոլոր չարիքներուն, ԱՀԱԸ-ն հաստատուն կերպով կը շարունակէ տարածել Խօսքը եւ արտացոլել Անոր սէրը, բարութիւնը եւ յոյսը մեր շրջապատին մէջ:
Մեր զէնքը մեր հաւատքն է, սէրը, ծառայութիւնը եւ գրիչը: Մենք լաւ ենք կառուցելու, կրթելու, լուսաւորելու եւ Խօսքը տարածելու մէջ:
Աստուած կը կանչէ ԱՀԱԸ-ին կրելու մեր ժողովուրդին լուծը եւ ստանձնելու ծառայութեան խոնարհ դերը:Այս է մեր յանձնառութիւնը, այս է մեր խոստումը, այս է մեր մշակոյթը, այս է մեր առաքելութիւնը, այս է մեր հաւատքը եւ այս է մեր աղօթքը:
‘ՍԻՐՏՍ ՍԱՓՈՐՆ Է ԴԱՏԱՐԿ’
‘ՈՒ ԵՍ Կ’ԵՐԹԱՄ ԴԷՊԻ ԱՂԲԻՒՐԸ ԼՈՅՍԻՆ’
Շնորհակալութիւն:
(Խօսքը յապաւումներով՝ ԱՀԱԸ-ի 104-րդ տարեժողովի խրախճանքին, 21 Հոկտեմբեր 2023, Սան Ֆրանսիսքո, Քալիֆորնիա)
The cry for help is repeated Loud and Clear!
Our people from Artsakh have suffered the unimaginable. After living for more than 9 months under a blockade, in the face of a clear demonstration of ethnic cleansing, their lives were frighteningly turned upside down by a new axis of terror. Innocent lives have been unethically torn asunder. Families were separated.
Since the September 19th forced exodus from Artsakh, AMAA Centers remain active and diligent in helping to provide temporary housing, distribute parcels of food and hygiene, infant formula, and medical care. Our Pastors and psychologists meet with individuals to help them process their fear, anger, and confusion. AMAA’s commitment to helping those forcibly displaced from Artsakh remains firm. It is the goal of the AMAA to actively secure their future by helping them find permanent housing, employment opportunities, education, psychological and spiritual support.
We appeal to you for your continued support and prayers. Hand-in-hand we will help our brothers and sisters get through this difficult time.
May God bless you.
Zaven Khanjian,
AMAA Executive Director/CEO
Please consider making a donation today to help us provide humanitarian, and any other material or medical assistance.
Read More
As a result of the tragic circumstances arising from the September 19 exodus from Artsakh, 40 new students have been enrolled at the Armenian Missionary Association of America’s Khoren & Shooshanig Avedisian School for the 2023 to 2024 academic year. These students were forcibly displaced from Stepanakert, Martuni cities, as well as from the villages of Chartar, Haterk and Khnushinak of Artsakh. In addition, four children from Artsakh were enrolled in the school’s Kindergarten class.
A welcoming environment has been created for these students, who are enrolled in grades first through 12th. The School psychologist remains involved in helping them integrate and settle into their new school routine and curriculum. The School also assisted these new students with the purchase of school supplies and books.
Read More
